Pleasures and Pains: A Theory of Qualitative Hedonism by Rem B. Edwards (review)

170 BOOK REVIEWS the editors. Even those whose primary interest is in the remarkable history of the city of Florence, many of whose medieval institutions continue to this day, will find profit in the study of the life and works of Fra Remigio, who helped in the process of moulding the future of the city. A small but interesting contribution of Fr. Panella is the identification of the Distinctiones written by Fra Remigio, not previously documented. He has edited the fragment discovered which is in the calligraphy of Fra Remigio himself (App. III, in fine). Other interesting and rather lengthy texts are also included from time to time, as the study progresses. Among the works of Fra Remigio there are tracts and quodlibeta which remind us that he is a first-generation Thomist, always a cause of interest. At the same time there are collections of sermons and various works that provide other precious insights into the medieval mentality and modus operandi. He will be found quite original in many points; but, as Fr. Verdi remarks in his presentation of this volume, further critical editions of his works are needed before a synthesis of his personality is attempted. In recommending this excellent and rather complete introductory study, we would like to express encouragement to the author and the sincere hope that his work will be emulated by other capable scholars who will faithfully present all the works of Fra Remigio to modern students. St. Gertrude Priory Madeira, Ohio EDWARD M. McDONALD, O.P. Plecu;ures and Pains: A Theory of Qualitative Hedonism. By REM B. EDWARDS. Cornell University Press, 1979. In Plew;ures and Pains: A Theory of Qualitative Hedonism, Rem Edwards presents but does not argue for the hedonistic view that pleasure and only pleasure is intrinsically good. Moreover, he argues that qualitative as opposed to quantitative hedonism provides the best answer to the question of what makes life worth living. Quantitative hedonism is understood as the theory that pleasures qua pleasures and pains qua pains differ only in respect of their (i) temporal proximity or remoteness, (ii) duration, (iii) intensity, and (iv) causal connections. The linguistic and normative correlates to this thesis are: (LCI) The referent of the word 'pleasure ' is a single quality of feeling; and (NCI) Some pleasures are better than, and ought to be chosen in preference to, other pleasures, but only when the former pleasures provide a greater balance of intensity and duration over the latter. Qualitative hedonism is understood as the theory that pleasures qua pleasures and pains qua pains differ not only quantitatively but also qualitatively . The correlates to this thesis are: (LC2) The word ' pleasure' BOOK REVIEWS 171 refers to many different inner qualities of feeling which we find interesting and desire to sustain, cultivate and repeat; and (NC2) Some pleasures are intrinsically better than, and ought to be chosen in preference to, other such feelings, even where the duration and intensity of the former pleasures is less than or equal to that of the latter. The book consists of six chapters. Chapter I lays out several preliminary distinctions between hedonism, antihedonism, pluralism, egoism and universalism . Chapters II to IV provide the heart of Edwards's account. In chapter II he begins a critique of quantitative hedonism by showing that this view is strained by the apparent phenomenological fact that some pleasures are localized whereas others are not. A pleasure is localized when it is meaningful to ask where it is. If this question is meaningless, then that pleasure is nonlocalized. In chapter III it is argued that the theory of quantitative hedonism is false because it entails the (seemingly) false 'Replaceability Thesis', viz. that since all pluralistic goods are merely instrumental goods each pluralistic good is replaceable by an equally efficient or more efficient cause of pleasure without loss of intrinsic worth. Chapter IV addresses several pertinent issues, but perhaps its most interesting claim is that most, if not all, pleasures involve intentionality. The intentionality of pleasure provides a second reason for rejecting the Replaceability Thesis. In Chapter V, Edwards addresses the questions: Is qualitative hedonism really a disguised form of pluralism? By what criterion can we tell which pleasures...