![Cultish delusions [1213x1351 - 182KB]](https://pic8.co/sh/qHDfBL.jpg){kind=link}
An evil tree that bears evil fruit remains evil, regardless of whether or not someone uses the power of science to transform the rotten fruit into something edible. What nonsense it would be to apply such a process to an evil tree, instead of cutting down said tree and nurturing a good tree instead.
Regarding things being ends-in-themselves, I think that mathematics is an end in itself. And so is morality. And music.
The end of mathematics is the True, the end of morality is the Good, and the end of music is the Beautiful. Congratulations, you named all three Transcendentals, which are the essence of God.
The list goes on.
Indeed, there is philosophy, whose end is the True; and etiquette, whose end is the Good; and painting, whose end is the Beautiful. There are as many items on this list as there are arts and sciences oriented toward the Transcendentals as their ends. Such things are not ends in themselves, but have God as their end.
And what is pleasure?
Pleasure likewise pertains to the Good, since pleasure is a good.
But pleasure is not the only Good, and so any pleasure that is pursued contrary to a greater good is sinful, and any pleasure not contrary to a greater good is licit.
Sexual pleasure is a good, simply; but defiance of the right order of wedlock is a privation of a greater good than the pleasure itself is good, which is why sex out of wedlock is not licit.
So if I ask about opium, you'll contrive a reason why that's wrong. But if I ask about enjoying an apple, you'll contrive a reason why that's okay. So then if I try to blend the apple and opium examples, you'll say cut down the evil tree rather than fix it with science.
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