Ø Is
it better to have pleasure when we desire instead of waiting tomorrow?
According to Aristippus,
I believe it is better to have pleasure when we desire because we do know if it
will be the same when we have it. We
need to live the present and not think about tomorrow since we do not know if
tomorrow might come or not. You never know what will happen tomorrow. “Only physical pleasure makes life
exciting, dynamic, worth living. Not only that, but actual pleasures of the
moment are much more desirable than are potential pleasures that might (or
might not) occur in the future. In the first place, we are certain only of the
present; the future might not even come. And besides, things may be different
for us in the future.” (Section 7-1a)
Ø There are many examples that can
clearly illustrate my answer to my question. An example is:
An individual name Kevin would really want to go snowboarding today on
his day off. Today is snowing; he wouldn’t
have another day off until two weeks from now. Within two weeks there will be
no more snow for Kevin can go snowboarding. Tomorrow the individual would have
to go to work. Kevin should go snowboarding because it is something he desires
and enjoys doing. Kevin, will not be able to go snowboarding tomorrow because he
will have to attend work or you do not know what will happen tomorrow. Anything
can happen like an accident. This example show how we should do thing when we
desire and live our present. Doing what we enjoy would make us feel good and be
happy.
Ø The example provide it clearly illustrates
what Aristippus means, that pleasure desire at the moment it much better than
future pleasure because we do not know how our future looks like or if the
future might occur. As in the example,
Kevin will have to attend work the next day or any accident can occur tomorrow.
We do not have control over our future or what will happen. Therefore, going
snowboarding when he desire will give him pleasure by doing what he enjoys at
the moment.
Ø In conclusion, I believe life that
the meaning of life is pleasure and it’s better to have pleasure when we
desire. It is better this way because
like I said before we do not know if the future will occur or not. Also, having
pleasure when we desire will make us feel good and we will be happy. “Any
distinction between good and bad pleasures was as absurd and contradictory as
distinguishing between good and bad sins or good and bad virtues. The only
difference among pleasures is their intensity: Whatever
pleases me most at the moment is the highest good there can be. No pleasure can be “sick” in such a value
system. No enjoyment can be wrong. No passion is evil in itself. Only loss of
self-control that leads to less pleasure is wrong.” (Section7-1a)
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