RE: Neo-Epicurean Life Hacks
November 9, 2014 at 2:35 am
(This post was last modified: November 9, 2014 at 2:46 am by bennyboy.)
Your description of Epicurean hedonism causes me suffering. What should I do? 
-How does one determine what behavior, right now, is most likely to achieve a positive hedonic state in the future? By following animal desires? If not, then what?
-What about the greater good? If I can spend my life building schools in Africa, doing fundraising work, and saving the lives of perhaps hundreds by distributing mosquito nets, but DO NOT GET PLEASURE from doing so, should I do it? Or should I say, "Fuck those little African kids. Starbucks is waiting for me."
-What about morality? If I can maintain positive social relationships while secretly back-stabbing all those around me, why shouldn't I?
-Isn't the complete obliteration and subjugation of our animal desires the most sure way to eliminate suffering? Should I not therefore consider all the suffering required to achieve such a goal an investment in the only long-lasting secessation of suffering and subsequent positive hedonic state?
-What about drugs?
-What if I'm a sociopath? Should I act in a way that will maximize my chances to rape, kill and mutilate young women?
It seems to me you are going to have to make a lot of bald assertions about what is good, what constitutes pleasure, and about how these relate to change over time, in order to make any kind of a useful lifestyle out of this philosophy.
-How does one determine what behavior, right now, is most likely to achieve a positive hedonic state in the future? By following animal desires? If not, then what?
-What about the greater good? If I can spend my life building schools in Africa, doing fundraising work, and saving the lives of perhaps hundreds by distributing mosquito nets, but DO NOT GET PLEASURE from doing so, should I do it? Or should I say, "Fuck those little African kids. Starbucks is waiting for me."
-What about morality? If I can maintain positive social relationships while secretly back-stabbing all those around me, why shouldn't I?
-Isn't the complete obliteration and subjugation of our animal desires the most sure way to eliminate suffering? Should I not therefore consider all the suffering required to achieve such a goal an investment in the only long-lasting secessation of suffering and subsequent positive hedonic state?
-What about drugs?
-What if I'm a sociopath? Should I act in a way that will maximize my chances to rape, kill and mutilate young women?
It seems to me you are going to have to make a lot of bald assertions about what is good, what constitutes pleasure, and about how these relate to change over time, in order to make any kind of a useful lifestyle out of this philosophy.
