Classmate response- KS

Explain why Epicurus thinks some pleasures should not be chosen. Discuss which argument in Chapter 1 of Fundamentals best supports hedonism.

Epicurus says that not all pleasures should be chosen because there are pleasures that we should reject because they may bring us pain. The Limits of Explanation explains this argument best. We are willing to put our bodies through exhaustion to obtain an end result of feeling or looking better but if it didn’t make us feel or look better about ourselves how would putting our bodies through exhaustion make us better off?



Does Nozick's experience machine argument (see Fundamentals p. 36-39) show that happiness is not necessary for a good life? What exactly does the argument show?

I think Nozick’s experience machine argument does show that happiness is necessary for a good life but there are also other needs and wants that we have to ultimately increase our happiness. I think the argument proves that we all have certain things that will increase our happiness it is our will and drive to get there.



Most students and others I've asked say they agree with the Life's Trajectory argument in Fundamentals. I find it hard to satisfactorily explain why an upward trending life is better than other trends.  What explanations can we think of together?

When I look at an upward trending life, I see someone that has gone from nothing or hardship to learning from their experiences to improving on their future. I think as we grow older, we do not take happiness for granted; we want to bring those things and people into our lives that make us happy.