AGAINST PLEASURE
Bentham says that nature has put human beings under two sovereign masters Pain and Pleasure. Man wants to avoid pain and seek pleasure. Epicureans and other hedonists put us under an obligation to seek pleasure. There are many people who want to prove that pleasure and objective of life.
- Bentham equated happiness with pleasure and the absence of pain.
- This was an empirical observation - people desire pleasure and seek to avoid pain
- His scientific mind led him to believe that the study of ethics could be undertaken in a practical way, carefully measuring the possible consequences or outcomes of an
- action before deciding which choice to take.
- Bentham's theories led to extensive social reform affecting Parliament, criminal law, the jury system, prisons, savings banks, cheap postage, etc.
- What was revolutionary about Bentham's theory was that it resulted in all people being considered when making laws.
- His hedonistic calculus was especially helpful in determining how to measure different amounts of pleasure.
This blind race is the foundation of all kinds of establishments. Human slavery and establishments mastery lies in search of pleasure. The establishment puts this idea in our mind that we seek pleasure is the cause of our slavery.
There is nothing wrong with living a life without pleasure. We have no obligation to avoid pain. I am not concerned whether I live in pain or pleasure. Pain or pleasure is nothing, but a social or mental construction. Neither I seek pleasure, not I want to avoid pain. It is my life and my choice if want to live in Pain. There is nothing wrong. It is my freedom.
