Compare The Ways In Which Pig Is Mightier Than Meat

Is it better to be a content pig or a discontented philosopher? This is a question posed by John Stuart Mills, this quote has been a great debate in philosophy. To answer this question, we must ask ourselves which we would rather be. The pig is content to eat its food and roll in the mud all day long, the pig gets pleasure out of the simple things in life. Humans have many worries and stress and have to work hard in their 9 to 5 jobs. However, the human has a much greater awareness of the world, potential to achieve much greater things and high ambitions.

Pleasures in life are divided into upper pleasures and lower pleasures, some pleasures are more desirable and valuable than others. Happy pigs can only seek the lower pleasures or sensual pleasures in life. Lower pleasures are those that are not hard to obtain, in a pig’s life that is food and rolling around in the mud. To be a happy pig is simply to satisfy the immediate pleasures or basic needs in life, rather than the distant pleasures. The immediate pleasures are those of food, water, and health. The complex pleasures are lifelong goals and commitments.
The higher pleasures can be those of intellectual ability. A human’s life is more valuable than a pig’s life because the human gains superior pleasure from intellectual elements in his/ her life such as emotions, ability to think, understanding and even when he/ she is dissatisfied. Humans are capable of expanding their knowledge and social network than a pig who cannot get past the sensual pleasures. Humans ponder on life at times and spend their whole life to obtain one great pleasure. They see pleasure as quality rather than quantity. To have a number of less pleasurable pleasures over one’s life span like a pig or to have one great pleasure in one’s life time like a discontented