Why We Do What We Do?
Why we do what we do? Is one of those questions that we ask ourselves when inspecting the nature of human behaviour, trying to understand our own personal habits and behaviour patterns or while trying to rise up from a downward spiraling life. Irrespective of what the reason behind you pondering over this question happens to be, I have the answer to your question.
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'Why we do what we do?' is the second post of the three part guide- 'Pleasure Maximization'. The inception or the base of the whole guide: 'The Purpose Of Life?' lies here. I suggest you read it before you proceed, because it forms the basis of the theories I am about to discuss here now.
So let's begin on why we do what we do, shall we? Lets put on some music first before we proceed though.
Now why would I put a song video totally unrelated to my topic, here? Well because I like the song and because I can. No, I am just joking. The reason I want you to listen to music even as you read this is because my life lately has been nothing less than a grand celebration.
So before you skip this post and jump straight away to the juice of the guide in the next post, or even before I answer your 'Why we do what we do?' question, let me tell you that I have been playing guitar for hours and hours each day lately, listening to a complete album or two a day, writing, enjoying with friends, working out regularly, watching movies, understanding life and doing much more enjoyable things on a daily basis now. I agree that my life does not exactly resemble a Las Vegas style Rockn'Roll lifestyle but I have to say it's better than 90% of the people on Earth who are stuck with a desk job, few addictions, and a downward spiraling life because not only am I doing the things I enjoy, I am enjoying them on a king sized scale. And if life progresses at the speed it is now, the Las Vegas style Rockn'Roll lifestyle seems like a near possibility too. So trust me, what I advise here does work and is working as a model or a framework to the life I am living now.
"All Of Art Is Quite Useless"
Why we do what we do? A lesson from an quote about art: A particular phrase from Oscar Wilde's novel - The Pictures of Dorian Gray, caught attention of a young man by the name of Bernulf Clegg. He asked Oscar Wilde to explain what the famous quote, 'All art is quite useless' meant. To which Oscar Wilde replied in a handwritten note,
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My dear Sir,
Art is useless because its aim is simply to create a mood. It is not meant to instruct, or to influence action in any way. It is superbly sterile, and the note of its pleasure is sterility. If the contemplation of a work of art is followed by activity of any kind, the work is either of a very second-rate order, or the spectator has failed to realise the complete artistic impression.
A work of art is useless as a flower is useless. A flower blossoms for its own joy. We gain a moment of joy by looking at it. That is all that is to be said about our relations to flowers. Of course man may sell the flower, and so make it useful to him, but this has nothing to do with the flower. It is not part of its essence. It is accidental. It is a misuse. All this is I fear very obscure. But the subject is a long one.
Truly yours, Oscar Wilde
Art is useless because its aim is simply to create a mood. It is not meant to instruct, or to influence action in any way. It is superbly sterile, and the note of its pleasure is sterility. If the contemplation of a work of art is followed by activity of any kind, the work is either of a very second-rate order, or the spectator has failed to realise the complete artistic impression.
A work of art is useless as a flower is useless. A flower blossoms for its own joy. We gain a moment of joy by looking at it. That is all that is to be said about our relations to flowers. Of course man may sell the flower, and so make it useful to him, but this has nothing to do with the flower. It is not part of its essence. It is accidental. It is a misuse. All this is I fear very obscure. But the subject is a long one.
Truly yours, Oscar Wilde
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The above reply holds the answer to the question, 'Why we do what we do?' that this post asks. In case, you still haven't figured it out yet, (which I don't blame you for, because I too took a long time to figure out the meaning hidden in the above words), allow me to explain to you the actual reason behind why we do what we do. Forget what those pseudo-intellectual self-help artists tell you to con you into buying their product and let me explain the context of the above text by Mr. Oscar Wilde.
Why We Do What We Do?
You may say that this certain Mr Wilde is only referring to Art and is explaining whatever he is trying to explain by using flower as a example. And yes he certainly is, but for a moment try understanding the depth of the words above. Because I already had the Pleasure Theory, that I discussed in the previous part, imbibed in my life well by now, how I interpret Mr. Wilde's Text is that:
Art is useless if you measure it against the materialistic or monetary gains that you derive out of it because the purpose of every work of art is to create a certain mood or set the spectator in certain state of mind. And if the mood set up within us is a positive one, we acknowledge the feeling of pleasure out of it.
But then the same interpretation holds true for almost every source of pleasure in life and that is why we do what we do. There is no materialistic or monetary benefit to listening music, art, travelling countries, hobbies, emotions, watching movies, love, having friends, experiencing cultures, dancing etc. Rather you are more likely to spend time and money on these indulgences or 'useless things' because it is these 'useless things' that are the very joy of living. A simple example that everyone can relate to is listening music. You must have spent hours and hours listening to music till now, and you are more likely to spend more money and time on music. You are yet to earn a single dime out of the hours you've spent listening to music, but you still love music. Because you love the mood, the state of mind and the feeling you get when you listen the music you like. It simply gives you pleasure. So again in short, why we do what we do is because we gain pleasure out doing those things. Why we do what we do is because we love the 'Mood' those actions create.
Try it yourself. Substitute 'Art' with your interests, actions, habits or addictions and 'Mood' with the word 'Pleasure' in my interpretation of the words above and see if the context still holds true for you. You'll realise that you can't justify your actions, interests and addictions for any other reason other than the sole purpose of getting pleasure out of them. There are few actions that may have to be done due to necessity or compulsion but other than that, every voluntary action, habit and choice is chosen by you because you get pleasure out of it.
That's it. Sweet and simple. Why we do what we do is for pleasure. But the previous two parts are pretty useless without the third and the final part of the serious. Because in the third part you'll learn how to use the theory presented till now and design a system or framework that will help you regain control back over your life by letting you do the things you love the most.
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But before you jump to part three, you have to be a 100% Pleasure Pursuer like me. If you have not completely assimilated the theory I have presented in the previous two guides and have not converted into a pleasure pursuer like me, than tell me why you disagree with my theory, with your arguments and reasons backing them up, in the comment section. You either completely accept my theory that Why we do what we do is for pleasure, or I accept my theory to be wrong and accept your arguments to be true instead and hold them as the new framework for life.
If you agree with my previous theories, Continue to part three: 'The Pleasure Model' : Instant Access To The Best In Life
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