But is a still life of food high or low art?
This week's thought experiment is a real pleasure to contemplate. But which kind?
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It's just typical — you wait years for a career breakthrough then two opportunities turn up at once. Penny had finally been offered two ambassadorial positions, both at small South Sea Island states of similar size, geology, and climate. Raritaria had strict laws which prohibited extra-marital sex, drink, drugs, popular entertainments and even fine food. The country permitted only the "higher pleasures" of art and music. Indeed, it actually promoted them, which meant it had world-class orchestras, opera, art galleries, and "legitimate" theatre.
Rawitaria, by contrast, was an intellectual and cultural desert. It was nonetheless known as a hedonists' paradise. It had excellent restaurants, a thriving comedy and cabaret circuit, and liberal attitudes to sex and drugs.
Penny did not appreciate having to choose between the higher pleasures of Raritaria and the lower ones of Rawitaria, for she enjoyed both. Indeed, a perfect day for her would combine good food, good drink, high culture, and low fun. Choose she must, though. So, forced to decide, which would it be? Beethoven or Beef Wellington? Rossini or Martini? Shakespeare or Britney Spears?
Source: Utilitarianism by John Stuart Mill (1863).
Baggini, J., The Pig That Wants to Be Eaten, 2005, p. 250.
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What do you think? Which island would you choose? Why? Have the islands been set up properly? Why not? For those of you who want to "optimise pleasure" in your lives, what does that really mean? I'll post my thoughts on Friday, but I would be highly pleased to read yours below.
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It's just typical — you wait years for a career breakthrough then two opportunities turn up at once. Penny had finally been offered two ambassadorial positions, both at small South Sea Island states of similar size, geology, and climate. Raritaria had strict laws which prohibited extra-marital sex, drink, drugs, popular entertainments and even fine food. The country permitted only the "higher pleasures" of art and music. Indeed, it actually promoted them, which meant it had world-class orchestras, opera, art galleries, and "legitimate" theatre.
Rawitaria, by contrast, was an intellectual and cultural desert. It was nonetheless known as a hedonists' paradise. It had excellent restaurants, a thriving comedy and cabaret circuit, and liberal attitudes to sex and drugs.
Penny did not appreciate having to choose between the higher pleasures of Raritaria and the lower ones of Rawitaria, for she enjoyed both. Indeed, a perfect day for her would combine good food, good drink, high culture, and low fun. Choose she must, though. So, forced to decide, which would it be? Beethoven or Beef Wellington? Rossini or Martini? Shakespeare or Britney Spears?
Source: Utilitarianism by John Stuart Mill (1863).
Baggini, J., The Pig That Wants to Be Eaten, 2005, p. 250.
---------------------------------------------------
What do you think? Which island would you choose? Why? Have the islands been set up properly? Why not? For those of you who want to "optimise pleasure" in your lives, what does that really mean? I'll post my thoughts on Friday, but I would be highly pleased to read yours below.
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