Hedonism

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Recommended: Essays on hedonism

Webster's dictionary defines hedonism as "the

ethical doctrine that pleasure, variously conceived of

in terms of happiness of the individual or of society,

is the principal good and the proper aim of action" or

"the theory that a person always acts is such a way as

to seek pleasure and avoid pain." With this definition

in mind, and with further examination of John Stuart

Mill's theory on hedonism, I am going to argue that

hedonism is not an exclusive or distinct way of

thinking. In fact, I think that with the exception of

possibly a few people, most people are very

hedonistically inclined.

"Hedonistic utilitarians identify happiness with

feeing pleasure and avoiding pain, meaning that the more

an individual enjoys pleasure and avoids pain, the

happier that individual is" (phil.tamu.edu). Now, is

this really a new and profound thought? If you avoid

pain, you will lead a happier life? With a few

exceptions, I don't know many people who see pain as

enjoyment. Most people I know have made it a point to

enjoy themselves in so me fasion or

another, and that doesn't include the enjoyment of pain.

"Mill's overall subject is the right of the

indivieual to think and act for himeself of herself.

For Mill this does not mean the right to think and act

as you please (Castell 360). Eventhough Mill encouraged

independent thought and actions, he did not justify

running around and doing whatever you liked. According

to the Hedonic Society, what they call Enlightened

Hedonism ("a naturalistic and humanistic lifestance

advocation the ration cultivation of pleasure and

happiness for all") can be state...

... middle of paper ...

...ve a relatively balanced life, you would include

both physical and intellectual aspects of your life. Whether or not

you would be labeled a "Hedonist" would remain to be

seen. If you incorporate the greater needs of others

into your individual immediate needs, then technically,

yes, that would be Hedonism. But, I would venture to

say that you would be labeled "a nice person."

Works Cited

Castell, Alburey, et al., Introduction to Moern

Philosophy: Examining the Human Condition. (New

Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2001).

"Hedonism." Stanford University (online)

www.stanford.edu/~quixote/philosophies.htm#hedonism*

. (12/03/2001).

"John Stuart Mill." unknown (online) *www-/

phil.tamu.edu/~gary/intro/lecture.mill_1.html.

(12/03/2001).

"What is Enlightened Hedonism?" Hedonic Society

(online) *www.hedonicsociety.org/custom/html*.

(12/03/2001)

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