Website owner: James Miller
What are the things, the factors, that determine how people behave, what they do? What role do pleasure and pain play in determining our actions? The pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain determines a very large portion of what we do. We are naturally inclined towards going in that direction that will give pleasure or avoid pain. We are predisposed towards that direction. However, the situation may not be so simple. It may be, for example, that any route available to us includes both pleasure and pain or a high likelihood of both pleasure and pain. For example, a route may include a promise of immediate, momentary pleasure but also a high likelihood of prolonged future pain. Furthermore, other considerations, in addition to those of pleasure and pain, may be involved in our decision of what to do. Like what considerations? To list some: considerations of conscience, right and wrong, duty, potential dangers and risks, long term self-interest, etc.. All these can play a part. And there are yet other factors that are involved in determining what course we actually take. Like courage. We may decide on the course that we ought to take and want to take but not have the courage to take it. Another factor involved in determining the actual action we take is the amount of self-discipline and determination we have. For example, we may decide on a course that we know we ought to take but base appetites or habits carry us into an entirely different course (as in the case of an alcoholic or drug addict). Oct 1986
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