Single Idea 3777

[catalogued under 22. Metaethics / C. The Good / 3. Pleasure / e. Role of pleasure]

Full Idea

Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure. It is for them alone to point out what we ought to do, as well as to determine what we shall do.

Gist of Idea

Pleasure and pain control all human desires and duties

Source

Jeremy Bentham (Intro to Principles of Morals and Legislation [1789], I.1)

Book Reference

Mill,John Stuart: 'Utilitarianism (including On Liberty etc)', ed/tr. Warnock,Mary [Fontana 1962], p.33


A Reaction

Ridiculous. Both halves are false. We pursue things for other reasons, and to deny this makes his idea a tautology. Deep ecology has nothing to do with human pleasure or pain.