Abstract: The anecdote of Lycas shows that the task of philosophy is to make man aware of his own illnesses. Stoics, Epicureans and sceptics, however, do not provide satisfactory means. Making Lycas aware of his dreams means killing him by killing his illusions. The annihilation of voluptas causes the birth of new diseases. The human condition defeats the effectiveness of the bittersweet medicine that philosophy claims to be.
