Peters and White on Pleasure

Abstract

Pleasure is necessary to our well-being even if we do not follow the hedonistic view that pleasure is only good. However, we need to distinguish between a number of different kinds of pleasures. Plato's attempts to do this are inadequate for our discussion of the relationship between pleasure and education. In this paper it has been attempted todraw the distinction of pleasures and explain the nature of each kind of pleasures. Admitting that the distinction depends on the things and activities with which pleasures are concerned, it is significant for establishing the concept of 'well-being' to understand pleasure and have it attained by the pupil in the light of her worthwhile life. Meanwhile, the subjective and objective accounts on what is worthwhile in education for the pupil's well-being seldom coincide. In this context, John White's argument that autonomy is central to the good life and Richard Peters's justification for worthwhile activity shall be examined in terms of the nature of pleasure and its distinction.