Pleasures

Pleasures or joys are feelings of delight that arise from some good that has been attained. According to the good achieved, they can be grouped into two types:

• Bodily pleasures: these satisfy principally one of the senses. For example, comfort and sexual pleasures are linked to the sense of touch; music pleases the sense of hearing, etc.
• Spiritual pleasures: these are feelings of joy at spiritual goods, or goods of the soul. For example, scientific discoveries, successes, expressions of affection or support received, overcoming obstacles, peace with God...

The Creator has arranged pleasures to facilitate the search for good, since the hope of a future joy helps to overcome obstacles. The main thing is not the pleasure but the good attained; pleasure is only a consequence.

Rather than good or bad, pleasures are favorable or harmful. If the pleasant action is good, the pleasure is favorable since it invites repetition of something correct (and helps one give thanks to God). On the other hand, if the pleasant action is bad, the pleasure is harmful since it invites repetition of something wicked. Examples:

• Enjoying the possession of a diamond will be harmful if it was obtained by theft, since that pleasure drives one toward other thefts. On the other hand, if it was a husband's gift, that same joy over the diamond fosters love.
• Sexual pleasures within marriage are favorable since they facilitate the great good of a new child. On the other hand, those same pleasures in adultery are harmful since they invite repetition of those bad actions.
• The pleasure from professional success is fitting since it drives one to keep working well. But if the success is due to fraud, that pleasure is harmful since it induces one to keep deceiving.

We have seen that pleasures are harmful when the pleasant action is bad. This is the general rule that covers the other cases; but there are more rules for detecting when a pleasure is harmful. For example:

• When better goods are lost in order to obtain a pleasure. Normally the pleasure is near and the lost good is in the future. For example: the case of someone who enjoys entertainment but fails the school year.
• When pleasure dominates a person, fostering excessive or immoderate desires. For example, the pleasure of eating facilitates nourishment but makes it difficult to stop. For this reason it is advisable to train in self-mastery, lest tastes enslave a person (freedom).
• When pleasure is obtained without obtaining the corresponding good. This is a deception where the pleasure gained conceals the lost good that ceases to be sought. For example, whoever obtains whims without effort will find it hard to learn to make an effort.

Because sometimes wicked things are pleasing. On this see the articles on desire and original sin. There would be no problems if man had perfect mastery over his desires, desiring only good and in the correct measure. This will be so in heaven.