A THOUGHT FOR NOW - IS THE PLEASURE OF THE RICH BETTER THAN THAT OF THE POOR?

Is the pleasure of a wealth person qualitatively better than that of a poor or less well-off person?

Essentially, as humans, we are able to derive pleasure from the same kinds of things, even if there are some dissimilarity between them. Take the basics, for example, such as food, clothing, shelter, warmth, leisure and knowledge.

I believe that I am correct in saying we all derive pleasure from eating food, drinking water and other beverages, learning about new things and places, being kept warm when we are cold, having a comfortable place in which to live, wearing nice clothes, and having fun.

While we humans will get pleasure from the above, there could be some qualitative differences which are due to things like personal, cultural – in terms of customs, language, traditions, etc – and class factors.

On the one hand, saying pleasure is pleasure, might indeed be a truism, with the pleasure not necessarily being heightened, because, say, it was derived from an exhilarating sports car drive, as opposed to, say a similarly exhilarating speed boat ride. Or, for that matter, is the pleasure which a person gets from earning or winning a million dollars, euros or pounds, necessarily greater, e.g., ten times greater than that of a man who had won a hundred thousand. 

The former might be able to buy more things, yes, from which he will derive more pleasure, than the person who has won one hundred thousands, but it is still ‘pleasure’ and we do know that the rich or wealthy can be just as unhappy as the poor. Money can buy you only so much happiness – in terms of possessions and experiences – but if you are not in the mood, possessions are not going to infuse you with feelings of euphoria. You cannot drive the car at the same time as you sail your speed boat or fly your airplane.

Similarly, the rich might think of nothing more exquisite than to indulge themselves with champagne and caviar, and such ostentatious delights, but the poor or ordinary citizen can derive similar pleasure from ‘delights’ which are just as appealing to their more to their rustic taste.

Pleasure is an heightened state of mind resulting from an interplay between mind or the senses, body, and contributory objects in ones environment. Its quality is not necessarily enhanced or diminished by the monetary value of the experience.

Do not wait to become rich before you begin to enjoy your living, as it is not a precondition to having pleasure.