Pleasure [H]

Pleasure is said to be either sensible (that is, resulting from gratification of the senses) or intellectual (the spiritual delight from possession of truth). Either or both may accompany uninterrupted activity which is directed towards an end. Aristotle indicates that one tends to do best what one most enjoys doing, the pleasure arising in a given activity possibly an indication that one was morally wise in adopting that activity. Although no value judgement is put on the experience of pleasure (goodness or badness depending more on what a person finds pleasurable than on the pleasure itself), most religions agree that the pursuit of pleasure as an end in itself is not morally defensible. For example, in the Katha Upanishad, death says, "The good is one, the pleasant another; both command the soul. Who follows the good, attains sanctity; who follows the pleasant, drops out of the race. Every man faces both. The mind of the wise man draws him to the good, the flesh of the fool drives him to the pleasant". Christian teaching indicates that in order to be honourable one must sometimes forgo pleasure; nevertheless the honourable course brings with it its own pleasure. In contrast, hedonism looks on pleasure as the ultimate goal of mankind, to be sought everywhere, while utilitarianism requires moral and religious tolerance in a framework where each person has increasing overall satisfaction, or has his or her individual pursuit of happiness free from interference by those who would menace the kind of life which would tend towards such happiness.