Following up on my half-assed theory of consciousness, I just realized that I had actually reinvented buddhism. You know the “life is suffering” thing.

The realization came to me as I was thinking about eudaimonia. If pain and pleasure are on one single dimension, is it better to seek pleasure or minimize pain? Both would actually be the same, but the framing is different. Maybe it is easier to aim to reduce pain, as seeking pleasure might result in uncontrollable carvings. Carvings which could lead to current or future pain, thus perpetuating the circle of suffering.

I feel quite close to nirvana now.