Successful pursuit of such goals un

Successful pursuit of such goals undercuts Woody Allen's gloomy remark that life is full of misery, loneliness, and suffering—and it's all over much too soon. One philosopher has even advocated the dismal view that universally it is better never to have been born, on the grounds that coming into existence is always a serious harm. Although all lives involve some pain, pain is not unconditionally bad, as there are many cases—surgery, for instance—where it is part of a process that is good overall. Love, work, and even play can all make us vulnerable to pain, but their pursuit and recurring benefits ensure that life is better than non existence for most people. Other goals, such as beauty, power, and social harmony, are part of the human condition; but these seem to me subordinate to play, work, and love, respectively.