Pleasure, understood by Epicurus not as hedonistic excess but as stable freedom from pain (ataraxia), is phenomenologically given as intrinsically good independent of rational appraisal.

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Epicurus(the originator of Epicurean atomism): An ancient Greek philosopher (341-270 BCE) who argued that the universe is made of atoms moving through empty space, and that this physical process alone could explain everything we observe without needing a god or designer.
Hedonistic excess(as a common misunderstanding of Epicureanism that the statement corrects): The idea of constantly chasing intense pleasures without limit—like eating too much, drinking too much, or seeking endless thrills—often at the expense of other things that matter.
Phenomenologically given(as describing how pleasure presents itself to us): Something that appears to us directly through our own experience—what we actually feel or observe in the moment, rather than something we have to think hard to figure out.
Rational appraisal(as used in philosophy of science): The act of judging or evaluating whether a theory or idea is logical and reasonable based on evidence and reason.
ataraxia(Letter to Menoeceus 128): The soul's freedom from disturbance or mental tranquility; identified as one of the two components of the blessed life alongside bodily health.
intrinsically good(Distinction drawn between intrinsic and instrumental goodness of virtue): Good in itself, independent of any further consequences or instrumental role.

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