Browsers are
difficult
Please wait, loading your map...
Because
Because
Because
Because
Because
For example
Because
Because
Because
Because
Because
Because
For example
For Example
Because
More specifically:
Because
Because
Because
Because
Because
Because
Because
There is more to life than seeking pleasure
Is there more to life than pleasure?
You decide!
Discussion Questions:
1) Is it possible to construct a hierarchy of experiences? In other words, is it
possible for pleasure to be more or less valuable than another form of
fulfillment?
2) Do the theories of ancient philosophers about the "good life" hold up in the
modern world? Why or why not?
3) Is pleasure the same thing as happiness in your experience? Why or why not?
4) Think of someone who you would say has lived a good life that you would
like to emulate. Is this a person who experiences a lot of pleasure?
The point of a good life is mainly to seek
pleasure
Many influential
philosophers avidly support
the importance of pursuing
pleasure
4th Century Greek
Philosopher Epicurus
posits that pleasure
and pain are the
ultimate measures of
good and bad
John Stuart Mill posits
pleasure as the
highest measure of a
good life
According to Mill,
pleasure is the only
thing we desire for its
on sake, and
everything else we
desire is for the
pleasure it brings us
Mill believes that
different pleasures
exist along a
spectrum, with some
pleasures more
"refined" or valuable
than others
Pleasure leads to
experiencing
happiness
According to
Psychology Today,
"Research suggests
that prioritizing
pleasure correlates
with greater
emotional wellbeing,
at least in the short
run. Simple pleasures
are part of a good
life."
Experiencing
happiness leads to a
life well-lived
Psychologist Paul
Bloom shows the
importance of
pleasure in
satisfaction and
enjoyment of daily life
Experiencing
happiness can help
give you the
necessary tools to
deal with the stresses
and trials of life
By replaying happy
memories, we can
use our good times to
get through
demanding situations
or periods of
adversity
Laughter is proven to
reduce cortisol and
stress levels
Reducing stress is key
to getting the most
out of life
Seeking pleasure
leads us to be present
in the moment
Being present is
linked to a healthier
and happier life
Life is about finding
meaning more than
finding pleasure
Finding meaning in
life enables resilience
According to a study
by University of
Wisconsin-Madison
Psychologist Stacy M.
Schaefer, "Having
purpose in life may
motivate reframing
stressful situations to
deal with them more
productively, thereby
facilitating recovery
from stress and
trauma."
According to
Schaefer, "purpose in
life may afford
protection from
negative events and
confer resilience
through enhanced
automatic emotion
regulation after
negative emotional
provocation."
Resilience is essential
to surviving life's
challenges
According to a 2013
study from the
Journal of Positive
Psychology, finding
meaning enables a
more selfless form of
fulfillment than
exclusively seeking
pleasure
Raising children,
which is a very
worthwhile pursuit,
tends to increase
parents' sense of
meaning even while
decreasing their
short-term happiness
Life is about the
impact you leave on
other people more
than personal
pleasure
Human beings are
defined and shaped
by our interpersonal
relationships; we do
not live in a vacuum
It is better to focus on
cultivating virtues more
than seeking pleasure
Many famous
philosophers, such as
Plato, Aristotle, and
the Stoics, put
forward "virtue
theory," which posits
that happiness is "the
result of cultivating
the virtues-- both
moral and
intellectual-- such as
wisdom, courage,
temperance and
patience."
People can have lived
a fulfilling life while
having experienced
lots of pain and
suffering if they are
virtuous
BACKGROUND:
Considering what truly qualifies as a life well-lived is a question humans have debated
since the beginning of time. What is the meaning of life? How can we assure that we get
the most out of our days? Philosophers such as Plato and Epicurus diverged in their
answers to these questions. While some posit that the main point of a good life is mainly
to seek pleasure, others argue that there is more than that at the core of life such as
leaving an impact, being virtuous, or finding meaning. Yet, there are many proven
benefits to pleasure, such as its correlation with happiness and enjoyment. In a world with
so much uncertainty, maybe all we can count on are the small pleasures that help us stay
present.
×
Created using
MindMup.com
