Quote:
Originally Posted by Erock  Yeah I guess if you really wanted to you could stretch the pain/pleasure model to fit every scenario, but what I was talking about earlier is the difference between the short term pleasure/pain cycle and long term fulfillment (which I guess could be considered a better pleasure?)
For example if you have goals to lose weight, the long term fulfillment of that versus the short term pleasure of eating a cookie.
I think adopting the belief that we are ruled by pain and pleasure is disempowering, although the model could fit.
Erock |
But see, it's choice and belief and conditioning that convince you the cookie is pleasure, or desirable. That is the bane of obesity or too much weight. Some Cultures love to eat grubs and worms, to them they are a delicacy. Some Cultures throw up at the mere thought of it. Same thing, different thoughts and beliefs. The cookie could easily be seen as contributing to poor health, and be considered intensly undesirable.
We have the trait, the sense of discrimination, and the choice to practise it or ignore it. You may take the wisest animal for instance, and know it's instinct is to chase, run or eat. So you can control the animal. If you placed a trap over a hill, you could throw a lure or some food toward it, or scare it, and the instinct driven animal would be none the wiser, and trapped. We have discrimination, the ability to inspect, control the urge to chase, eat, or run, to see the outcome, if we choose to use it. I see pleasure and pain, blended with discrimination as powerful instruments or gauges to direct desire, and in doing so shape creation.