Hedonism good = pleasant Bad = painful Claims: We all have one, and really only one motivation, to seek pleasure and avoid pain The only thing good is pleasure; the only thing bad is pain. So, the right thing to do is to ALWAYS pursue solely my own pleasure. (EH); (~UH) Two types Egoist Hedonism – I only care about my pleasure and pain Utilitarian Hedonism – I care equally & impartially about everyone’s pleasure and pain

The “Experience machine” thought experiment Imagine that in the future, scientists and engineers develop an ‘experience machine’. People can program into the machine whatever experiences they want to undergo, and hook themselves up to this machine such that once inside, the experiences are indistinguishable from reality. Subjects can choose to live out their entire lives in the machine, experiencing whatever joys and achievements their hearts desire just like it were really happening.  Once in the machine the person is ignorant of the fact that they are really just lying in a vat or on a table having their brains manipulated according to the plan they had previously invented.

Would we & should we plug in? A machine like this seems sufficient to ensure a person’s happiness, but would a life in the experience machine be a good life?  Assuming that the machine is without flaws, would you agree to be hooked up to the machine and live out your dreams? Why or why not?

Nozick’s claim that we should not & would not plug in We don’t want just pleasure. We value accomplishment, struggle, complexity, achievement; in short, we value reality. The Anti-Hedonism argument P1: If Hedonism were true, then a situation where we have nothing but pleasant experiences should be wonderful P2: Such a situation would not be wonderful; it would boring meaningless, and empty C: So, Hedonism is false.

Higher vs Lower pleasures Higher pleasures engage the mind Things like friendship, art appreciation, music Lower pleasures engage the body - sex, food, comfort …

Epicureanism Epicurus (341-271 BCE) A life devoted to worldly happiness based on materialist account of nature. Encouraged withdrawal from political life into communities of like-minded individuals (Gardens in Athens) Rational humanism, influence on Romans, revived in 16th/17th century with rise of science and renaissance humanism.

Epicureanism Materialism (Atomism) Ethics All things are atoms & void; shape & size Atoms are eternal (nothing from nothing), universe is boundless Ethics Aim: eudaimonia = happiness is a mind free from disturbance (ataraxia) and a body free from pain. Means: fear and ignorance cause disturbances in mind and body, so ataraxia achievable by understanding the true nature of things; removal of source of fear and disturbance.

What causes fear? The gods Fear punishment and arbitrary interference a type of superstitious belief… But, gods are immortal and blessed, Not celestial bodies aiming to pass judgment; Not vengeful; Only concerned with their own domain, not humans. So, no need to fear gods

What causes fear? Death Fear the pain and misery of life after death. Either the punishment or dreary ‘life’ of death But, death is nothing but cessation of life. Atomism (death is separation of body and soul; only through body is sensation possible; dissolution of material components, including soul. So, in life there is no death; in death there is no life to be concerned with.