Part I Summary and Analysis

Section I: Curiosity is one of the simplest and earliest emotions, defined as a pleasure for novelty. Children are perpetually curious because everything is new, and so they are fascinated by everything before them. But curiosity is very superficial, easily satisfied, borne of restlessness and anxiety. As things cease to become new, curiosity is subject to diminishing returns.

Section II: Pain and pleasure are basic states of being. They are not defined by the other (i.e., pain is a lack of pleasure) but are in fact distinct phenomenon. The three basic states - pain, pleasure, and indifference - are so essential to the human condition that they can hardly be defined.

Section III: Pain and pleasure are not related to one another. The absence of pain is not pleasure.

Section IV: Delight, in this present mode of inquiry...