The Pleasure Principle

In class we discussed whether or not it is a bad thing to die, if we are not immortal. This discussion was based on Lucretius’ On the Nature of Things, we Lucretius would debate that it is indeed not a bad thing to die. One half of the class argued that he is correct, and the other half argued that he was incorrect.In this discussion there were two rounds, the first one allowed both teams to state points for their argument, and then the second allowed each team to rebuttal against the opposing…

society has deemed it that it is right to do this because it would elevate a kind of suffering from the world that ill will has a high probably of causing. Voice 1: However, that reasoning to cause the most pleasure is in effect a good will. Our will must be good to want to cause the most pleasure and minimize suffering. Since one has a good will, they will most likely carry out the right act, whether that is an effective act is irrelevant. Voice 2: And here we come back to one of our first…

Fed Up goes into depth on how big private corporations and the American government benefits from the exploitation and miseducation of it’s citizens as it relates to health. What the government does to hide the truth about food, sugar, and its relation to obesity is in direct violation of the Social Contract Theory. The Social Contract Theory argues that people should put their self-interest behind them and make decisions that benefit everyone rather than just make them better off. Corporations…

Quantitative Pleasures Qualitative and Quantitative pleasures come out of Utilitarianism. Utilitarianism can often be thought of as dangerous and wretched because it allows for seriously immoral acts to take place. Utilitarianism argues for maximum pleasure to take place, but in doing so can allow such acts as rape, torture etc. Therefore many disregard the act because of its possible immoral acts that could take place. However the Philosopher Mill has come up with two different levels of…

mentions that if the distressing stimulation were real life as opposed to fictional it would not be received as pleasure, so Dubos' solution to the paradox of tragedy fails. Hume then mentions another idea by French author Fontenelle. Fontenelle’s solutions consists of the idea that pleasure and pain come from the same source, tickling as an example when pushed is first onset as pleasure but if pushed far enough can induce pain. Hume acknowledges that the argument holds some weight but he…

based off subjective experience in terms of emotion and bodily sensation. Therefore, happiness corresponds to a pleasant experience while unhappiness corresponds to an unpleasant experience. Classical Utilitarianism relies on the Greatest Happiness Principle, which states that the right action is the action that produces the greatest net happiness of all available actions. James Rachels introduces three main commitments for this ideology of Classical Utilitarianism: consequentialism, hedonism,…

Well-being Diener (2000) proposed in an article which title was ‘Subjective Wellbeing: The Science of Happiness and a Proposal for a National Index’ theorizes that the objectification of wellbeing is hidden within satisfaction of life. His points to a construct of wellbeing called happiness. He cited that: “People's moods and emotions reflect on-line reactions to events happening to them. Each individual also makes broader judgments about his or her life as a whole, as well as about domains such…

Pleasure can often times be the driving motive for the actions of an individual seeking a good, successful experience of life. Though it is not always as simple as making the choice that will bring you immediate joy; one must weigh out the different choices that they make and how these choices affect their paths towards their future. Sometimes, this can mean giving up one pleasure for another that you may find more rewarding and meaningful to you. Making these difficult decisions can torture and…

right just because they would be required by social rules that are created to promote overall well-being" (Garcia, Slide 6). In addition to Utilitarianism's break down it has a moral standard that is true to both forms, known as the Principle of Utility. The Principle of…

superhuman virtue. A virtuous person’s wishes are aligned with a reasonable rationale so that virtuous act is satisfying and leading to happiness. According to Aristotle, one of an essential condition for a person to be virtuous is that he takes pleasure in acting virtuously. Whereas, a continent individual acts according to virtue and does so for the right reason but his desires are wrong. A virtuous person desires and actions are aligned along reasonable motives leading to happiness. On…