Name: The origins of pleasure
Uploaded: 2011-07-27T14:52:08Z
Duration: 16 min
Description: Why do we like an original painting better than a forgery? Psychologist Paul Bloom argues that human beings are essentialists -- that our beliefs about the history of an object change how we experience it, not simply as an illusion, but as a deep feature of what pleasure (and pain) is.

Why do we like an original painting better than a forgery? Psychologist Paul Bloom argues that human beings are essentialists -- that our beliefs about the history of an object change how we experience it, not simply as an illusion, but as a deep feature of what pleasure (and pain) is.

The origins of pleasure

People value originals over perfect copies because belief in an object's history transforms how it feels, tastes, or sounds. A Nazi leader cherished a Vermeer forgery until he learned the truth and was devastated. Experiments show wine tastes better if believed expensive, and a simple carrot delights if labeled McDonald's. Our enjoyment and even our pain hinge on hidden stories and what we believe lies beneath the surface.