“Profligacy is loving base pleasures more than all else—a brutish state.”
— Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Book III, Chapter 10
(Translated by W.D. Ross)
Big Idea
Chasing cheap thrills is like maxing credit cards 💳:
- Brutish Mode = Swipe for fast food/booze/gambling → Credit score nosedives.
- Human Mode = Budget for meaningful experiences → Build life equity.
Digital-Age Scenarios
📱 Social Media
→ Profligate: Binge 6hr TikTok dances → Wasted time + fried dopamine.
→ Temperate: Watch 30min + learn guitar → Viral skills.
🍟 Uber Eats Temptation
→ Brute: Order $40 greasy feast → Heartburn + shame.
→ Civilized: Cook salmon bowl → Clear skin + energy.
🛒 Impulse Buys
→ Animalistic: Buy ASMR gadget haul → Clutter + debt.
→ Enlightened: Invest in pottery class → Master useful art.
What You Can Do
- The 30-Minute Rule
For base pleasures:- Set timer → If still craving after 30min → Allow 1 serving.
- Vice Swap
Replace 1 brutish habit with 1 elegant ritual:
→ Porn scrolling → Classic cinema nights.
→ Energy drinks → Matcha tea ceremony. - Pleasure Ledger
Use banking app to track:- Monthly $$ wasted on base pleasures (junk food/OnlyFans)
- Monthly $$ invested in noble joys (books/music lessons)