DIMENSIONAL UTILITARIANISM People are divided into categories based on how they express what they want. Honesty can be taken as a secondary, taken-for-granted variable. For simplicity, I will list only the first and primary need of each category. Secondary needs create overlapping categories, essentially (and paradoxes and loops), but primary needs create a categorical breakdown. First, the category that is most demanding and also the most fulfilled: this category deals with emotional needs, and it is also the only genuine epicurean category. The second category I will consider is those who want to eliminate pain first-most. This is a realistic category, but it is also a category with less awareness of emotional needs. The third category I will consider is a possible alternative to being concerned with emotional pleasure or prevention of pain. These people think that confusion is important, for any reason at all. They are neither concerned with epicurean pleasures, nor are they concerned (expressly) with the prevention of pain. Now we will consider alternative to the three categories already proposed. Essentially, I am considering that everyone with emotional awareness falls into the first category. So there are no overlapping categories in that area. A clear way to see this is that epicurean pleasure is a choice. As long as it remains a choice (as long as it is available, or as long as someone is not concerned with confusion or overwhelmed by pain), then that person remains an epicure. So, the primary alternative to the first three categories only involves a combination of the pain and confusion categories. This is someone who is confused about pain. In this case, we can discern that the person may think pain is meaningful for some reason, but he or she not likely to want more pain, although it is possible he or she is sometimes indifferent. So, now we have a very simple hierarchy for the fulfillment of a dimensional Utilitarian paradigm: (1) First, people may be confused about pain. The object then is to focus on confusion or focus on pain. (2) Next, someone may be confused. They can be educated about finding pleasure and eliminating pain. (3) Thirdly, someone may actually have pain that they feel resistive to. At this point, people can be encouraged to self-develop, and find meaning in their lives. (4) Finally, when sufficient pain has been eliminated, the person can find a pleasurable life through emotional fulfillment. If fulfillment is not found, this is a sign simply that there is not enough meaning taking place. Options include eliminating pain, encouraging intellectualism, and exploring the person’s innate sense of curiosity. BONUS: DIMENSIONAL UTILITARIAN QUESTIONNAIRE: Clients should answer the following questions as honestly as they can: 1. Do you feel a lot of pain in your life? Y pain category. N follow the rest of the questionnaire. 2. Do you think confusion is a meaningful pre-occupation? Y for 2 but N for 1 standard confusion. Y for 2 and Y for 1 confused about pain. 3. Do you think a meaningful life is possible? Y emotional cure. N physical cure. For 3, bear in mind that other questions may also still be in play, and need to be resolved sooner. For example, if someone has pain in their life, but a meaningful life is possible, then the meaning of pain should be discussed. Is it possible that they just have so much meaning in their life that they are overwhelmed? If they don’t have pain, then the meaning of pleasure, or their own topics should be discussed. If they are confused about pain, and they have a concept of meaning, then the meaning of confusion should be discussed, and they may be asked if the confusion is painful. If they don’t think meaning is possible, but they are confused about pain, they can be asked if there is an important process they are undergoing. Perhaps they will find a sense of meaning that precedes the discovery of pleasure. If they feel pain and don’t feel a meaningful life is possible, tough coping responses can be discussed. Is life bearable? Is pleasure achievable? Is there reason to find hope? Etc. Perhaps, if the pain sometimes is bearable, the person would benefit from eating candy or getting more rest and relaxation. A hot shower, for example, or a cooked meal. These kinds of things really do offer something material which is not an abstraction suffering people often identify with their own pain. Nathan Coppedge / SCSU 2/11/2015, p.