"Eroticism has its own moral justification because it says that pleasure is enough for me; it is a statement of the individual's sovereignty"

In this quote, Mario Vargas Llosa explores the principle of eroticism as being intrinsically valuable and as a declaration of specific autonomy. At its core, the statement challenges standard moral structures that often cast a suspicious eye on enjoyment, particularly sexual pleasure, placing it rather as a genuine pursuit in and of itself.

Llosa's assertion that "pleasure is enough for me" addresses a hedonistic philosophy in which pleasure is thought about an essential part of human experience. This philosophy contends that seeking satisfaction, and finding fulfillment in it, requires no external justification. Rather than viewing pleasure as a secondary or perhaps pathological element of a moral life, Llosa elevates it as having its own ethical standing.

By explaining eroticism as a "declaration of the individual's sovereignty", Llosa highlights the connection between personal freedom and the pursuit of pleasure. Sovereignty here is not about political power, but rather the autonomy and self-governance of an individual. Embracing one's desires and satisfaction ends up being an act of asserting one's self, breaking free from societal norms and restrictions that dictate what one must or need to not discover fulfilling.

Eroticism, therefore, ends up being a type of resistance versus external ethical impositions. It is an assertion of personal rights to define one's course to happiness. Llosa invites us to consider eroticism as more than just physical or sexual acts, however as a more comprehensive metaphor for the pursuit of any type of pleasure that lines up with one's authentic self.

Furthermore, this viewpoint challenges puritanical or conservative views that frequently marginalize or reduce the importance of enjoyment in life, especially in matters of the body and sexuality. By highlighting that pleasure is self-justifying, Llosa advocates for a reevaluation of how we perceive satisfaction in moral and existential contexts, eventually promoting a more liberated and individualistic technique to living.