Richard Holton, "What's the Point of Pleasure?"

Duration: 12 mins 15 secs

Share this media item:

Embed this media item:

<iframe width="_width_" height="_height_" src="https://sms.cam.ac.uk/media/2590791/embed" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Choose size:

About this item

Available Formats

About this item

Description:	This is a talk from Richard Holton (University of Cambridge). It formed part of Session Two of The Human Mind Conference, "The Human Agent: Intention & Action." This forms part of a joint presentation with Anthony Dickinson.


Created:	2017-10-24 18:48
Collection:	The Human Mind Conference
Publisher:	University of Cambridge
Copyright:	Richard Holton
Language:	eng (English)


Abstract:	Philosophical accounts of desire tend to treat it functionally: anything is a desire that moves an agent to action. But the empirical findings suggest diversity under this blanket label. We distinguish two different kinds of desire or want: one which has its place in the stimulus-response system; and another which features in more cognitive goal-driven behaviour. These in turn we distinguish from pleasure (and from other motivationally relevant features, intentions and self-control). Given such diversity, the question arises as to the role of pleasure. We outline the Hedonic Interface Theory: pleasure provides the means by which the S-R wants can be brought into the goal-based system.

Abstract:

Philosophical accounts of desire tend to treat it functionally: anything is a desire that moves an agent to action. But the empirical findings suggest diversity under this blanket label. We distinguish two different kinds of desire or want: one which has its place in the stimulus-response system; and another which features in more cognitive goal-driven behaviour. These in turn we distinguish from pleasure (and from other motivationally relevant features, intentions and self-control). Given such diversity, the question arises as to the role of pleasure. We outline the Hedonic Interface Theory: pleasure provides the means by which the S-R wants can be brought into the goal-based system.

Available Formats

Format	Quality	Bitrate	Size
MPEG-4 Video	640x360	1.94 Mbits/sec	178.44 MB	View	Download
WebM	640x360	565.99 kbits/sec	50.85 MB	View	Download
iPod Video	480x270	520.36 kbits/sec	46.69 MB	View	Download
MP3	44100 Hz	249.94 kbits/sec	22.46 MB	Listen	Download
Auto *	(Allows browser to choose a format it supports)