The Pleasure Principle and the Pursuit of Self-Interest

The podcast episode explores the concept of self-interest and the pleasure principle in capitalist society. It examines how our understanding of pleasure and pain shapes our psyche and drives our actions. The episode argues that capitalism, while built on the pursuit of self-interest, also creates an existential antagonism and perpetuates social conflict. It suggests that our focus on individual pleasure and the pursuit of personal gain fuels a cycle of alienation and ultimately destroys both ourselves and the society we live in.