Are We Paralysed by Pleasure?

Note to Attendees: Please consider making a $5 donation to contribute to the running costs of this Meetup.

Aldous Huxley once warned that “the civil libertarians and rationalists... failed to take into account man’s almost infinite appetite for distractions.”

From the ancient Roman feasts of excess to the infinite scroll of modern media, humanity has often mistaken pleasure for freedom — only to find itself enslaved by comfort. In an age of instant gratification, dopamine loops, and algorithmic indulgence, are we losing our capacity for depth, struggle, and meaning? At our next Gold Coast meetup, we’ll explore whether pleasure — once a reward for living — has become an obstacle to truly living.

The questions we will address at this meetup are as follows:

1. Do good times create weak citizens?
2. Has comfort made us freer — or just easier to control?
3. Is the pursuit of pleasure the essence of happiness, or the death of it?

The discussion will be held at CSi Southport. All are welcome to join.
PLEASE NOTE:
– Please support the venue by purchasing a drink or meal during the event.
– This is intended to be a good-natured but robust discussion. Please be respectful and prepared to have your ideas challenged. If you are easily offended, this event may not be for you.