From: Bodie (mclarkc@essex.ac.uk)
Date: Sat Jan 12 2002 - 08:21:37 MST
I don't think there is anything wrong with hedonism as long as the
hedonists persuit of pleasure doesn't go so far as to cause others pain.
I used to have a very good friend who was a hedonist, he sat in a bar all
day long and enjoyed it. He was happy and he made other people happy just
through being there because it was good that I could go into the bar at
any time and he would be there. No one likes pain, thats why they seek
pleasure, and it's something everyone does to different degrees. I don't
really think that you can definately say that pleasure is the most
important thing in life though, it depends on what the individual values
most
On Fri, 11 Jan 2002, Blunderov wrote:
> 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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