FOOD AND PLEASURE IN NIGERIA: A PRAGMATIC APPROACH TO EPICURUS’ PHILOSOPHY OF GOOD LIFE

Abstract

Man is a pleasure seeking being, he innately seeks pleasure and avoids pain. His key sources of pleasure include: food, arts and beauty, music, wealth acquisition, monetary rewards,sex and other forms of social interaction, amongst other. However, thepleasure of food is superior to all other forms of pleasure, because it is related to needs that are more long-term and vital, embracing the entire life span, from feeding at the mother's breast to the final moment of existence. In Nigeria, pleasure has been greatly misconstrued especially in the expanse of food. It is taken to either mean consumption of tasty/sweet food (junks) or binging on food even to the detriment of the one‟s health. Although, Epicurus maintains that the beginning and root of every good life is pleasure especially of the stomach. Yet, the pleasure he canvasses for is not synonymous with gorge but rather simple satisfaction of desire that will keep the mind and body at peace. In other words, the pleasure man should crave for in any food should be the one that produces happiness to the entire being. This paper suggests pragmatic for through analytical exposition of Epicurus‟ philosophy of good life it offers a practical paradigm to the major challenge of misconception of food pleasure in Nigeria.