The Desire Satisfaction Theory: Desire Provides For A Good Life?

The desire satisfaction theory (DST) describes that the good life is one where desires are satisfied. I agree that the desire satisfaction theory provides for a good life because I believe that the good life can only be determined from within, ultimately suggesting my strong agreement with Taylor’s view of the DST, and its ability to provide long-term satisfaction.

While critics attempt to expose the ambiguity of DST, I believe their efforts actually strengthen the value of DST by showing how essential it is to create meaning for ourselves, rather than having it imposed upon us.

I found Richard Taylor’s viewpoint on the DST to be the most important/beneficial compared to his critics. Taylor found that the meaning of life is not formed by our surrounding, rather, life’s meaning comes from within the individual. For example, Taylor uses Sisyphus and his desire to roll rocks up a hill as a frame of reference to display DST. Taylor provides us with Sisyphus’ objective meaning, to make the rocks build something beautiful, and Sisyphus’ subjective meaning, the desire to roll rocks up hills. Taylor believes that evolutions or “gods” give us a desire to live, and argues that if rolling rocks is all Sisyphus wants in the world, and he gets to do it then it gives meaning to his life and fulfills his desires; he is getting everything he wants.

Accordingly, Taylor argues that we are beings who have desires, and the ability we have to fulfill them gives us meaning to life.

Defeating