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If utilitarianism wasn't practically difficult enough, human perception is adaptable. We don't perceive stimuli in absolute terms, but rather relative to whate

If utilitarianism wasn't practically difficult enough, human perception is adaptable. We don't perceive stimuli in absolute terms, but rather relative to whatever we've normalized. Thus the experience of suffering actually lets us experience pleasure more readily (the reverse is also true). Additionally, due to the quirks of memory, adding some pain to a pleasurable experience at the right time will paradoxically cause people to remember it as being more pleasurable. This is completely at odds with a simple moral calculus. It would be interesting to set a science fiction story in a world where an accurate moral calculus had been developed.

lisper 8y ago
> adding some pain to a pleasurable experience at the right time will paradoxically cause people to remember it as being more pleasurable Even more paradoxical, some kinds of physical pain are actually remembered as pleasurable in and of themselves, like eating spicy food, or running a marathon.
- kudokatz 8y ago
  > Even more paradoxical ... running a marathon As a runner this feels like a statement that shows some (very reasonable) ignorance of feelings and motivations. Achievement through empowerment of hard work can be a very healthy way for a successful marathon to be pleasurable.
  - lisper 8y ago
    How is that different from what I said?
hnisgroupthink 8y ago
Why do you think that experiencing suffering lets you experience pleasure more readily? I think it just sounds good. Most people who experience significant suffering can be damaged beyond repair. The shell shocked war vet doesn't necessarily see life as more beautiful afterwards.
- CuriouslyC 8y ago
  Research demonstrates that it's true in the short term. The long term is another matter. There are plenty of anecdotes about people who grow up with nothing who are more resilient to deprivation as adults because of it, but PTSD is a real thing too, so clearly the situation is complex.

lisper 8y ago

> adding some pain to a pleasurable experience at the right time will paradoxically cause people to remember it as being more pleasurable Even more paradoxical, some kinds of physical pain are actually remembered as pleasurable in and of themselves, like eating spicy food, or running a marathon.

kudokatz 8y ago
> Even more paradoxical ... running a marathon As a runner this feels like a statement that shows some (very reasonable) ignorance of feelings and motivations. Achievement through empowerment of hard work can be a very healthy way for a successful marathon to be pleasurable.
- lisper 8y ago
  How is that different from what I said?

hnisgroupthink 8y ago

Why do you think that experiencing suffering lets you experience pleasure more readily? I think it just sounds good. Most people who experience significant suffering can be damaged beyond repair. The shell shocked war vet doesn't necessarily see life as more beautiful afterwards.

CuriouslyC 8y ago
Research demonstrates that it's true in the short term. The long term is another matter. There are plenty of anecdotes about people who grow up with nothing who are more resilient to deprivation as adults because of it, but PTSD is a real thing too, so clearly the situation is complex.