Pleasure

Mill: Some Pleasures Are Better Than Others

Epicurus isn’t picky about the kinds of pleasures you enjoy, so long as you practice moderation. To him, the value of an activity comes entirely from how much you like it, from tasting fancy cheeses to knitting to doing hard drugs. The 19th-century English philosopher John Stuart Mill (Utilitarianism) takes a more conservative stance, however. He argues that pleasure should be measured by quality as well as quantity, and that some pleasures are better than others. Specifically, Mill emphasizes the importance of active pleasures over passive ones, and of pleasures that stimulate the intellect and/or emotions. Engaging with a moving or thought-provoking work of art is a higher-quality pleasure than engaging with a work of art simply to pass the time. And actively engaging with the art, or even making art yourself, is better than letting it wash over you without giving it much thought. Mill’s understanding of pleasure also more easily allows for longer-term projects that don’t provide immediate satisfaction, like climbing a mountain or composing a symphony. Under a more simplistic form of hedonism, it’s hard to justify the miserable slog through a challenging project when you could just eat a delicious cheeseburger instead for an instant, frictionless hit of pleasure. But Mill would argue that the contentment found in mountain-climbing is worth the pleasure of many cheeseburgers, and therefore is worth pursuing.

Frankl: Pleasure Is Secondary

Now thl]lat we’ve looked at different views on how to pursue pleasure, we’ll turn to a Great Thinker who rejects the idea that pursuing pleasure is life’s main goal: Austrian psychologist Viktor E. Frankl. In Man’s Search For Meaning, Frankl argues that pleasure is a byproduct of other activities, not something we seek out on its own. For example, you don’t say to yourself, “Time to go out and find some pleasure.” Instead, you decide you want to eat a delicious cheeseburger and find pleasure in that activity. Frankl isn’t against enjoying yourself, but believes pleasure is a nice added bonus rather than a main priority. He argues that our main priority is actually finding meaning, or a sense of purpose that defines who we are and what we do. This brings a sense of fulfillment and overall satisfaction with life that’s more permanent and sustainable than pleasure. Frankl explains that our sense of purpose constantly evolves as we have new experiences, and we can’t really define it until we’ve lived a full life and can look back on everything we’ve done. However, you can still pursue meaning in a few different ways. First, pursue challenging goals that are important to you. For example, if you have an idea for a novel you really want to work on, push yourself to start writing. Second, don’t shy away from conflict or fear suffering. By treating hard times as an opportunity to learn and grow, you can find meaning in them. View pleasure as a bonus whenever you experience it, not as your main motivation or reward.

Great Thinkers’ Advice on Pleasure-Seeking

• Sigmund Freud (Civilization and Its Discontents): Our psychology drives us to pursue physical pleasure. But in order to be members of society, we have to repress these desires to some degree.
• Epicurus (Vatican Sayings and other works): By practicing moderation, you can find more pleasure in the long run by avoiding the consequences of over-indulgence.
• John Stuart Mill (Utilitarianism): Pleasure is life’s ultimate goal, but remember that some pleasures are better than others. Prioritize the ones that actively engage your mind, such as long-term projects and deep intellectual or creative pursuits.
• Viktor E. Frankl (Man’s Search for Meaning): Pleasure is nice to have, but not the main purpose of life. Meaningful goals and choices are far more important, so prioritize building a meaningful life. Satisfaction will naturally follow.