If action were always savory

 

The Core Mechanic: The Intentional Glow

In the inhabitants of this world, the brain circuitry associated with decision-making and action-planning is wired directly into the pleasure and reward centers. The moment a person consciously decides, "I will do X," their body is suffused with a gentle release of endorphins and serotonin. This feeling is not a manic, addictive high, but a deep, pervasive sense of rightness, calm, and satisfaction. It is known colloquially as the "Intentional Glow" or simply "The Glow."

The intensity and character of the Glow are proportional to the scale and nature of the intended action:

• Minor Intent: Deciding to get a glass of water produces a pleasant, momentary flicker, like the warmth of a sunbeam.

• Sustained Intent: The intention to clean one's home provides a steady, satisfying hum of contentment that lasts for the duration of the task.

• Complex Intent: The intention to design a bridge or compose a symphony generates a profound, resonant warmth—a deep and abiding joy in the process of creation.

• Benevolent Intent: The intention to help someone in need creates a particularly vibrant and warm Glow, making altruism a deeply sought-after personal experience.

The Consequences for Society and Self

This single change has sculpted a world without complaint, strife, or indolence.

1. The Psychology of Contentment

Negative emotions like frustration, anger, and jealousy are neurochemically impossible. If a task becomes difficult, the intent to overcome the challenge or the intent to find a new solution immediately provides a pleasant Glow that overrides any potential frustration. You cannot be angry at a person, because the intent to resolve the conflict peacefully feels wonderful. You cannot be jealous, because the intent to improve your own situation feels far better than stewing in resentment.

Sadness exists, but it is not a jagged pain. Grief over a lost loved one manifests as the profound, bittersweet, and deeply pleasant intention to remember them, to honor their memory, and to celebrate their life. It is a melancholy peace, not a destructive sorrow.

2. The Extinction of Procrastination and Apathy

Why would you ever put off a task that feels good to decide to do? Procrastination is a forgotten concept. To-do lists are a source of joy. The day begins with individuals eagerly anticipating the pleasant cascade of intentions they will form, from brushing their teeth to completing their life's work. Boredom cannot take root, as the simple intent to find something interesting to do is itself a satisfying act.

3. Labor, Vocation, and Economy

There is no "work" in the sense of toil. There is only "vocation." Every job, from waste management to theoretical physics, is filled by people who derive genuine pleasure from the intention to perform their duties.

• A sanitation worker feels a deep satisfaction in the intent to create a clean, healthy, and beautiful environment for their community.

• An administrator feels a quiet joy in the intent to organize systems, making them more efficient and elegant for everyone.

• A builder experiences a powerful, creative pleasure from the intent to construct a home that will be a place of safety and happiness.

The economy is not driven by scarcity or greed, but by a universal, pleasant desire to contribute, create, and improve. The result is a society of immense productivity, cleanliness, and functional beauty.

4. Art, Innovation, and Progress

The most intense Glow comes from the intention to create or discover something new. Consequently, Eudaimonia is a world of breathtaking artistry and relentless, joyful innovation. Cities are architectural marvels. Music is a constant, ambient presence. Scientific progress advances at an incredible rate, not driven by a need to solve problems (as "problems" aren't experienced negatively), but by the sheer, blissful pleasure of intending to understand the universe.

5. The Absence of Conflict

Crime is non-existent. The intent to harm another being is a biological contradiction. It is theorized that such an intent would produce no Glow, only a hollow, empty sensation—a state so alien and undesirable that it is never chosen. Disagreements are not arguments; they are collaborative puzzles. The mutual intent to find the best possible outcome for everyone is a shared, pleasant experience that leads to swift and equitable resolutions.

The Philosophical "Problem": The Gilded Cage

While a paradise, a philosopher in Eudaimonia might ponder the one thing they have lost. They might call it "The Virtue of Hardship."

In this world, there is no concept of a "necessary evil" or a "difficult but correct" choice. The right path is always the path that feels good to embark upon. There is no struggle against one's own base desires, because all desires are aligned with productive, pro-social action.

Is a choice truly free if one option is neurochemically rewarded and the alternative is a null state? Is courage meaningful without fear? Is perseverance noble without the temptation of despair?

The inhabitants of Eudaimonia would not understand this critique. To them, it would be like asking, "But don't you miss the feeling of being sick?" They live in a symphony of pleasant intentions, where every action is a note in a harmonious composition, and the very act of living is a constant, gentle, and profound joy. There are no complaints, because the biological foundation for a complaint has been replaced by the pleasant glow of the intent to improve.