In his essay “Conversation,” Samuel Johnson wrote that “we are willing to be pleased, but are not willing to admire.” I hope this is not true, or at least not generally so. With respect to what’s produced by others, his observation raises an interesting question: Do we admire those who create the products and services that please us?
Of course, there can be pleasures that make our lives better and those that make it worse. Not everything produced benefits our well-being, and some may be used for good or ill, such as weaponry and wine, to name two.
So as consumers we sit in judgment and ask, How valuable might this purchase be? And when we do anticipate its value, because it promotes health, saves time, furthers goals, or brings enjoyment (as can medicines, machines, technologies, and arts, respectively), the purchase will likely please us greatly.
But, contrary to Dr. Johnson’s point, may we also add our admiration for those who made that particular pleasure possible.
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