Pleasure

Last week in class, we discussed the concept of pleasure and how in the Utilitarian ideology maximizing pleasure is the ideal way of life. We discussed the idea that governments are supposed to establish a rule and a way of life that is best for maximizing pleasure and minimizing pain. There main mission is to make a life that has as much of the good qualities of life and very few of the bad. For example, famine and disease would have to be minimized and holidays and relaxation would need to be maximized. Obviously this is an over exaggerated and an over simplified example, however there is some truth in the matter. The things that should be maximized would be the things that people find to be the most pleasurable and the most enjoyable. Things that cause stress and pain would not be liked by any and thus would be virtually killed.

Therefore two questions come to mind when considering this. First, if all things that are considered pleasurable are to be maximized, then wouldn't that possibly lead to laziness and no ambition amongst the people of the area in which the government is exercising this power. Second, if the best government would be that in which pleasures are maximized, how would the Soviet Union and other oppressive authoritarian governments defend themselves in the Utilitarian mind set?