Bentam's 14 Pleasures of Man - if you don't have any of these it means that
This is an essential term in Justice.
a. The pleasures of the taste or palate. -
b. The pleasure of intoxication.
c. The pleasures of the organ of smelling.
d. The pleasures of the touch.
e. The pleasure of hearing.
f. The pleasure of sight.
g. The pleasure of the sexual sense.
h. The pleasure of health.
i. The pleasures of novelty.
j. The pleasure of necromancy.
2. THE PLEASURE OF WEALTH - you surrender your health for your wealth if you value this one more than your senses
With money, you have control and status which, as basic needs, can lead to greater happiness.
Bentham describes the pleasures of wealth as those which:
...a man is apt to derive from the consciousness of possessing any article or articles which stand in the list of instruments of enjoyment or security, and more particularly at the time of his first acquiring them; at which time the pleasure may be styled a pleasure of gain or a pleasure of acquisition: at other times a pleasure of possession.
3. THE PLEASURE OF SKILL -
You need special tools to be able to work on Fords these days. The special tools do not certify you however. With a Ford certified mechanic, you don't have to worry about
4. The pleasures of amity
Friendship is a classic route to happiness and those with good friends (and who are good friends) can expect to have a longer, more fulfilling life.
Bentham described this as follows:
The pleasures of amity, or self-recommendation, are the pleasures that may accompany the persuasion of a man's being in the acquisition or the possession of the good-will of such or such assignable person or persons in particular: or, as the phrase is, of being upon good terms with him or them: and as a fruit of it, of his being in a way to have the benefit of their spontaneous and gratuitous services.
5. THE PLEASURE OF A GOOD NAME
The pleasure of having a good reputation.
6. The pleasures of power
Power gives one the ability to influence others and is a key contributor to one's sense of control.
Bentham noted the pain-pleasure aspect of power, describing the pleasures as those that that accompany:
...the persuasion of a man's being in a condition to dispose people, by means of their hopes and fears, to give him the benefit of their services: that is, by the hope of some service, or by the fear of some disservice, that he may be in the way to render them
7. The pleasures of piety
Almost in contrast to power, piety is about being reverent and dutiful, including to family, state and church. Social values describe what 'good' is and complying to these rules can make you feel good, particularly in contrast to those wicked people who do not follow the rules as well as you.
Bentham said:
The pleasures of piety are the pleasures that accompany the belief of a man's being in the acquisition or in possession of the good-will or favour of the Supreme Being: and as a fruit of it, of his being in a way of enjoying pleasures to be received by God's special appointment, either in this life, or in a life to come. These may also be called the pleasures of religion, the pleasures of a religious disposition, or the pleasures of the religious sanction.
8. The pleasures of benevolence
When you have power in the form of resources you can use to whatever end you choose, you can find happiness in service to others, helping those who are less able to help themselves.
Bentham described these as:
...the pleasures resulting from the view of any pleasures supposed to be possessed by the beings who may be the objects of benevolence; to wit, the sensitive beings we are acquainted with; under which are commonly included, 1. The Supreme Being. 2. Human beings. 3. Other animals. These may also be called the pleasures of good-will, the pleasures of sympathy, or the pleasures of the benevolent or social affections.
9. The pleasures of malevolence
In contrast to benevolence, power may be used to harm others and it is a sad indictment of the human condition that we can find pleasure in the discomfort of others (what the Germans call 'Schadenfreude'). If we are honest, most of us have wished ill of others and have also done things to hurt them.
Bentham said that the pleasures of malevolence come from:
...the view of any pain supposed to be suffered by the beings who may become the objects of malevolence: to wit, 1. Human beings. 2. Other animals. These may also be styled the pleasures of ill-will, the pleasures of the irascible appetite, the pleasures of antipathy, or the pleasures of the malevolent or dissocial affections
10. The pleasures of memory
Having a good memory can be a blessing for many reasons. At least there is the utility in being able to remember things learned. In addition, past pleasures can be recalled and one is able to indulge in nostalgic enjoyment.
Bentham described these as:
...the pleasures which, after having enjoyed such and such pleasures, or even in some case after having suffered such and such pains, a man will now and then experience, at recollecting them exactly in the order and in the circumstances in which they were actually enjoyed or suffered. These derivative pleasures may of course be distinguished into as many species as there are of original perceptions, from whence they may be copied. They may also be styled pleasures of simple recollection.
11. The pleasures of imagination
The human imagination is remarkable in its ability to create a virtual reality that, in extreme, is more real than the real world. At the very least imagination lets you indulge in fantasies. It may also help you dream up futures that you can practically implement.
Bentham described the pleasures of the imagination as:
...the pleasures which may be derived from the contemplation of any such pleasures as may happen to be suggested by the memory, but in a different order, and accompanied by different groups of circumstances. These may accordingly be referred to any one of the three cardinal points of time, present, past, or future. It is evident they may admit of as many distinctions as those of the former class.
12. The pleasures of expectation
Imagination helps you to think about the future and create expectations for pleasures to come. This anticipated pleasure can be as good, if not better, than the enjoyment of things happening.
Bentham described these as:
...the pleasures that result from the contemplation of any sort of pleasure, referred to time future, and accompanied with the sentiment of belief. These also may admit of the same distinctions
13. The pleasures dependent on association
The human brain works by linking neurons into thoughts and dreams that can lead to pleasant reveries. In daydreaming, for example, we wonder about what may be and may come up with associated ideas that are further benefit to us.
Bentham explains:
...pleasures of association are the pleasures which certain objects or incidents may happen to afford, not of themselves, but merely in virtue of some association they have contracted in the mind with certain objects or incidents which are in themselves pleasurable. Such is the case, for instance, with the pleasure of skill, when afforded by such a set of incidents as compose a game of chess. This derives its pleasurable quality from its association partly with the pleasures of skill, as exercised in the production of incidents pleasurable of themselves: partly from its association with the pleasures of power. Such is the case also with the pleasure of good luck, when afforded by such incidents as compose the game of hazard, or any other game of chance, when played at for nothing. This derives its pleasurable quality from its association with one of the pleasures of wealth; to wit, with the pleasure of acquiring it
14. The pleasures of relief - how wise one can be is limited
there's truth and then there's wisdom.
the truth
Relief is a form of closure where an expected unpleasant event does not happen. In such cases, the lack of unpleasantness is experienced as pleasantness in itself.
Bentham's comment on this is:
To the catalogue of pleasures may accordingly be added the pleasures of relief: or, the pleasures which a man experiences when, after he has been enduring a pain of any kind for a certain time, it comes to cease, or to abate. These may of course be distinguished into as many species as there are of pains: and may give rise to so many pleasures of memory, of imagination, and of expectation.