The preponderance of pain over pleasure is the cause of our fictitious morality and religion.
This quote suggests that our collective morality and religious beliefs are largely shaped by our experiences of pain and suffering, more so than our experiences of pleasure. Nietzsche argues that we create moral codes and religious doctrines as a way to cope with the hardships of life. These systems give us a sense of order, purpose, and meaning, allowing us to endure and make sense of our suffering. They also provide us with guidelines on how to avoid causing pain to others, which in turn helps to minimize our own pain.
The idea of pain being more influential than pleasure in shaping our beliefs and behaviors aligns with psychological research on negativity bias, which suggests that negative experiences have a greater impact on us than positive ones. We remember painful events more vividly, learn more from our mistakes than our successes, and are more motivated to avoid suffering than to seek happiness. This might explain why moral and religious teachings often focus on the avoidance of sin and the punishment of wrongdoing, rather than the pursuit of virtue and the reward of good deeds.
Applying this idea to today’s world, one could argue that many societal issues stem from our collective desire to avoid pain and suffering. For instance, the fear of economic hardship could lead to policies that prioritize wealth accumulation over social welfare. Similarly, the fear of social unrest could result in laws that suppress dissent and limit individual freedoms.
In terms of personal development, understanding the influence of pain on our beliefs and behaviors could help us to make more conscious decisions. Rather than blindly following moral codes or religious doctrines, we could reflect on whether these systems truly align with our values and aspirations. We could also strive to learn from our positive experiences, not just our negative ones, and seek happiness and fulfillment, not just the avoidance of pain and suffering.
