Single Idea 5271

[catalogued under 22. Metaethics / C. The Good / 3. Pleasure / b. Types of pleasure]

Full Idea

Prejudice apart, the game of push-pin is of equal value with the arts and science of music and poetry.

Gist of Idea

Prejudice apart, push-pin has equal value with music and poetry

Source

Jeremy Bentham (Constitutional Code I [1827], p.139), quoted by J.R. Dinwiddy - Bentham p.114

Book Reference

Dinwiddy,J.R.: 'Bentham' [OUP 1989], p.114


A Reaction

Mill quoted this with implied outrage, but Bentham was attacking public subsidies to the arts when he said it. It is a basic idea in the debate on pleasure - that pleasures are only distinguished by their intensity, not some other value.