I think we also get pleasure from non-drug related processes, though I'm really sure.
It does seem strange that we have the long convoluted process (please someone correct if this isn't true):
1) Brain instructs body to release chemical.
2) Receptor processes chemical and sends signal to brain.
3) Brain interprets this and gives itself a pleasure response.
There are quite a few things like this in evolution where the solution isn't the most obvious or direct, however it works and is clearly the result of change over time (like the nerve in the Giraffe's neck).
It also reaises the question why is pleasure necessary? Does something like an Ant feel pleasure, or is just following pre-programmed algorithms in its brain? (These algorithms having evolved over time). The likely answer is it isn't necessary, but it is how we have evolved.
It does seem strange that we have the long convoluted process (please someone correct if this isn't true):
1) Brain instructs body to release chemical.
2) Receptor processes chemical and sends signal to brain.
3) Brain interprets this and gives itself a pleasure response.
There are quite a few things like this in evolution where the solution isn't the most obvious or direct, however it works and is clearly the result of change over time (like the nerve in the Giraffe's neck).
It also reaises the question why is pleasure necessary? Does something like an Ant feel pleasure, or is just following pre-programmed algorithms in its brain? (These algorithms having evolved over time). The likely answer is it isn't necessary, but it is how we have evolved.
