From: Michelle (michelle@barrymenasherealtors.com)
Date: Fri Jan 11 2002 - 12:39:02 MST
You know, I think you've got a point there...
I think the core of the difference between those who live mainly for the possibility of finding romantic couplehood love (the Hollywood kind) and those who live for other things is the focus on the importance of the individual vs. the group. If you don't believe in the goodness of society and see humanity as a group worth working for, what else is there but individual comfort and pleasure? But if you see society as a whole and you feel a part of that group and hope for its future, then you can take purpose and energy from the work of elevating the group in any sense (art, science, standard of living, whatever). That's what I've filtered from the related discussion(s). Loner vs. herd, as has also been discussed.
-----Original Message-----
From: Blunderov <squooker@mweb.co.za>
To: virus@lucifer.com <virus@lucifer.com>
Date: Friday, January 11, 2002 11:22 AM
Subject: RE: virus: more important than love?
I am deeply complimented that L'Ermit was amused by my 2 pence worth on
Hedonism. I am enjoying the warm waters here at the CoV but must confess to
feeling more comfortable in the shallow end. That said:
I thought, at first,that I must have shot my bolt on the proposition that
pleasure is the most important thing in life.(I must agree by the way that
it isn't likely that there could be any single thing that is "the most
important thing in life". Except maybe life. Let's not go there for now.)
But cannot a case be made for the proposition that: no (conscious!)action
can ever be entirely devoid of self interest? If action requires intention,
and intention is the purpose of a unique individual, it must follow that
every action is intended to abet the purpose of that individual.
I realise that "self-interest" is not necessarily the same as "pleasure",
and I am mindful of your post on the reversible polarity of pleasure and
pain, but if you will allow me a broaden the concept of pleasure to include
"perceived self= interest", then perhaps I can claim that, because it is
impossible to perform and altruistic act, pleasure is the most important
thing in life because it informs every action ever undertaken.
(BTW even a suicide could be said to be acting in in own perceived self
interest. Sort of)
Does altruism exist and if not, what does this mean to the huddled masses of
hedonists?
Yours not quite ready to resign.
Excelsior
Blunderov
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