How to Think about Pleasure

Re:How to Think about Pleasure by andelu on Wednesday June 23, 2021 @06:47AM (#27602968)

I love this quote, but can someone explain to me what is meant with "Unless suffering is the direct and immediate object of life, our existence must entirely fail of its aim."?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:How to Think about Pleasure by gwd on Wednesday June 23, 2021 @07:15AM (#27603126)

I would read that sentence as: "If the whole point of life is to experience suffering, and nothing further, then life has achieved its goal. If the point of life is anything else, however -- even 'experience suffering to achieve some higher purpose' -- then regardless of what the point is, life has completely failed."

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:How to Think about Pleasure by beaconstudios on Wednesday June 23, 2021 @07:45AM (#27603314)

I think it means that the most notable aspect of life is suffering, so if we're aiming for something else to be the focus of life then we're not doing very well.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:How to Think about Pleasure by hammock on Wednesday June 23, 2021 @10:38AM (#27605053)

It's a way of saying suffering is the only guarantee in life. If you spend your life trying for anything other than suffering, you will inevitably fail.

This is again paraphrased at the end of the quote: "misfortune in general is the rule."

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:How to Think about Pleasure by travisgriggs on Wednesday June 23, 2021 @11:02AM (#27605350)

So Putin was right, huh?

[ Parent | on HN ]