Cassandra asked:

Currently I am enrolled in an Ethics class at my college, and we have been debating major subjects
that our country is held in controversy today. I was involved in a Pornography debate, which seeked
to limit the use of Pornography. I took the approach that Pornography is like a drug because it
becomes addictive using the case of Ted Bundy as my example.

One thing which I have found as I have searched within the bounds of Philosophy is that Pleasure is
something that is questioned, and continuously strived for. My question is why is this. Why does one
have to seek pleasure? For me pleasure is farthest away when one is seeking for it. Whereas if one
sits back and enjoys life one finds automatic pleasure and happiness. With a relaxed approach, there
is no competition. It seems to me that when one strives to find happiness one spends more time
searching for it then actually involving oneself in it. I was just wondering what someone else thought
of this argument.

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If the line is taken that people seek pleasure or happiness as an end, then it would follow that
pleasure and happiness are the ultimate values. To achieve the ultimate end of pleasure or
happiness there must be a means such as becoming rich or attaining goals which will provide you
with the satisfaction that constitutes the end condition. You do not search for happiness in itself, but
search for ways of becoming happy.

But as you say, we do not actually seek pleasure as an ultimate value. Happiness and pleasure are
feelings and we can feel pleasure in the pursuit of goals or simply by doing nothing but wander in the
garden in the sunlight.

Pleasure may be distinct from happiness. You can take pleasure in doingsomething while happiness
is brought aboutby something such as an achievement or the sunshine.

Rachel Browne