Higher and Lower Pleasures
John S. Mill developed two different levels of pleasure. These two levels are higher
pleasures and lower pleasures. The higher pleasures consist of intellectual, arts, and
culture; and the lower pleasures consist of instincts, water, food, and sex. These higher and
lower pleasures relate to the five different core values here at Kaskaskia. The five core
values at Kaskaskia College are respect, responsibility, honesty, compassion, and justice.
The value of respect relate to the higher pleasures because people need to respect those
types of pleasures. It is good for people to respect arts and culture. In addition, respect also
relates to the lower pleasures, but in a more negative way. It more relates because there is
less respect in the lower pleasures.
Responsibility relates to the higher pleasures because as people grow older, and as they
become more intellectual, they need to have responsibility. Also, it relates to the lower
pleasures because although sex is considered a lower pleasure, people must be responsible
when considering sex, or any of the other lower pleasures.
Honesty can relate to the lower pleasures because it is important to have honesty when
dealing with the lower pleasures, especially sex.
Compassion can relate to higher pleasures, especially with culture, because typically,
culture ties in with family and different cultures shared within the family. Compassion
relates to this because it is important for each member of a family to be compassionate
toward the culture and different traditions of the family.
Justice relates to either of the different levels of pleasure because it is an important value to
have at any time in any situation, no matter what type of pleasure is being dealt with;
lower or higher.