"Pain and Pleasure" by Seth Blevins
At what cost is our own pleasure worth? Does our own personal pleasure exceed the wants and needs of others? According to British philosopher Jeremy Bentham and his theory of utilitarianism, if consequences are good, then the action is right. But who is to say which actions are right or wrong? Just because the consequence is good for one person doesn't mean everyone gained something positive from the initial action. Culture, and what is socially acceptable varies across the globe. Morals do not always align across cultures and to some, actions that are considered right can be considered an act of inhumanity to others. All of our choices are guaranteed to be accompanied by one thing: consequences. They can be good and they can be bad. They could also be both. One person may gain from an action that leads to a pleasurable experience while on the other hand, another person is suffering because of the exact action that was taken. If someone knowingly takes an action that they know will benefit them but harm another, is it still right to do it since the outcome is good for at least one person? Or is it considered morally wrong because at least one of the people involved has to suffer. Where do we find the line in the grey midst between two points? It seems that morals are relative to ones own culture and life experience.