Hedonism in No-Injury Policy

There isn't a single character in No-Injury Policy who doesn't have a problem. In the case of Mike from " Façade": After his brother Ray moves in, Mike finds difficulty in relating to people, which ultimately leads him down a road where only roulette-styled monogamy connects him to another human being, or more specifically, generative rendezvous.  It's not just the sexual encounters that keep him going, he also has several other vices. Mike can't be considered to be a hedonist without first realizing the commonplace of such social engagements.  

Motivational Hedonism

For Mike, sex is motivation. Every so often he finds it easier to enjoy someone else's platonic company, but more often than not, the only thing that matters to him is the end of the night. By the next morning, it's the last thing on his mind. 

Nevertheless, Mike doesn't do a whole lot when he's not pursuing his sexual interests. During the days, he mopes around the house until an alternative like alcohol is introduced. He constantly needs a source of pleasure to motivate him. 

“Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain, and pleasure. It is for them alone to point out what we ought to do, as well as to determine what we shall do”.  

 - Jeremy Bentham, An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation 

A motivational hedonist seeks encouragement through acts of pleasure under the impression we are all motivated by our pains and pleasures. While many people can become addicted, in a sense, to pain, the most of us follow what feels right.

There are dozens of places for anyone to turn into a bit of a hedonist. Pleasure always disguises itself as a form of acceptance, which can seem crucial to an individual during stressful times, such as a new job, a new residence, before a performance, etc. 

While Mike primarily runs on motivational hedonism, he also possesses the more common trait popularizing the ideology today.

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Healthy Hedonism?

According to this article, sex improves your self-esteem and mood. It also helps with preventing common colds and helps whiten teeth. However, there are those who argue having sex for the sake of your health is troublesome. 

For Mike in "Façade", he's in a real slump and sex and destructive devices seem to be the only release. Of course, there are other impulses behind his behavior, but I won't spoil the story.

While it's true sex can be good for your health, having sex for the sake of good health generates a perplexing ethical dilemma. When you start having sex for health reasons, you start to make other people the means to an end. Your interest in sex might be to feel better. In a sense, it quantifies sex. 

This form of behavior also leads to a sort of addiction, as though your mind and body need a strong source of pleasure. For Mike, this leads to distrust in many people, including those close to him. As Mike struggles to regain control of his life, he falls deeper into a sexual addiction, complimented by long nights of drinking. 
"Façade" explores what dark depths a troubled man will go to in order to overcome his addictions.

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