Arthur Schopenhauer’s quote, “Directly after copulation, the devil’s laughter is heard,” speaks to the emotional and psychological shift that many people experience immediately after sex, particularly orgasm. Schopenhauer, a philosopher known for his pessimistic worldview, suggested that sexual desire is driven by nature’s impulse to perpetuate the species, and once that biological need is fulfilled, the illusion of pleasure and satisfaction evaporates. The “devil’s laughter” symbolizes the recognition of how fleeting and hollow the moment of pleasure can seem once it’s passed, leading to a feeling of emptiness or even regret. Schopenhauer’s reflection might remind readers to approach their sexual lives with awareness.
Rather than chasing fleeting highs, it encourages us to explore sex with a deeper sense of connection—to ourselves, our partners, and our desires. Recognizing the emotional shifts that occur after orgasm can lead to a more fulfilling sexual experience, one that acknowledges the complexity of desire without being fooled by the temporary nature of pleasure.
I’ve found that focusing on the essential meaningless of the sex act including masturbation actually heightens my feelings of pleasure and sensations of elation. However, when reminded of the homophobic abuse of my childhood and youth – both personal and in wider society – and the societal values that traditional bourgeois thinking imposes on the sex act then that’s when I feel disconnected from sex. I’d feel elation for a long term after fucking all the butts in that photo.