Hedonism is a group of similar ideas that all agree pleasure is the most important thing. In ethics, hedonism describes any idea where judging right or wrong depends on how much pleasure an action causes. The word “hedonism” comes from ancient Greek words: “hedone” means “pleasure,” and “hedys” means “sweet” or “pleasant.” Ideas about getting the most pleasure from life are not new; they have been part of philosophy since it started.
Actually, a common mistake is thinking hedonism is only about physical pleasure; people who believe in it often value other kinds of enjoyment too. Thinking hedonism is only about physical pleasure is a massive misunderstanding that completely twists its real meaning. Most thinkers who believe in hedonism say pleasure comes from more than just physical feelings; they point to things like having friends, being respected, understanding others, and enjoying beauty as examples of pleasure too.
Many believers in hedonism actually suggest it’s not wise to focus only on physical pleasures, reasoning that these feelings are often brief and can cause pain later, making them less valuable over time. The Cyrenaic school, started by Aristippus, was the oldest and most extreme type of hedonism; they taught that the only goal in life should be feeling pleasure right now.
Cyrenaics reasoned that since we only truly know what we feel right now (an idea from Protagoras), it doesn’t make sense to plan for future good feelings or worry about future pain compared to present pleasure. According to Cyrenaics, you should live life to the fullest by filling every single moment with as much pleasure and fun as you possibly can!
Actually, Epicureanism gets misunderstood even more than other ideas in this way; lots of people wrongly think it’s only about enjoying physical things. Although Epicureanism and Cyrenaicism are both types of hedonism, they are actually very different ways of thinking. Epicurus agreed that pleasure was the most important goal, but his idea of pleasure was more thoughtful; it included ideas about using wisdom (from Socrates) and living a good, meaningful life (from Aristotle).
Epicurus reasoned that finding pleasure that truly lasts means you need to use careful thinking to make wise choices. Epicureans reasoned that you need self-control; carefully choosing and limiting your pleasures is necessary to avoid pain and gain lasting happiness.
Because Epicureans thought self-control and balance were so important, it led to their main saying: that using wisdom and careful judgment is the best place to start and the greatest good in life. Because avoiding pain became so important to Epicureans, some followers started to believe the best way to live wasn’t chasing big pleasures, but just being free from pain and worry. In the late 1700s, Jeremy Bentham revived hedonism.
He used it to explain why people do things (motivation) and also as a guide for right and wrong actions (ethics), placing it within his bigger idea called utilitarianism. Bentham’s idea was that people are naturally just seeking pleasure, so he argued that the right thing for everyone to do is aim to get the most pleasure for themselves.
Logically, if people naturally chase pleasure and they ethically should chase pleasure, it seems to follow that everyone is always doing what they ought to do, since they are always trying to get pleasure. Bentham saw this seeming problem and tried to solve it in two different ways, but his two solutions didn’t really agree with each other. One way Bentham tried to fix this problem was by saying people always do what they think will bring the most pleasure, but what they should do is what really brings the most pleasure.
In short, this idea says: thinking carefully to get the most pleasure offers salvation, while acting foolishly and missing out on true happiness is the real sin. Bentham’s second idea to solve the problem was that while people naturally try to get the most pleasure for themselves, the morally right thing to do is to act in ways that create the most pleasure for everyone affected by what they do.
Joseph Butler effectively argued against the idea that seeking pleasure is the only reason people do things. Butler reasoned that when we want something, we want the actual thing itself (like food or a friend), not just the feeling of pleasure it might cause; the good feeling is just something extra that happens when we get what we wanted.It sounds strange, but this suggests the best way to actually feel pleasure is often to stop chasing the feeling itself and instead focus on getting the other things you truly want. However, Butler’s claim that people never try to get pleasure just for its own sake is probably too extreme. For example, when we feel needs like hunger or loneliness, we usually want the specific things that help satisfy them, like food or having friends around.
Right, the main reason we want food, knowledge, or company isn’t simply the search for pleasure itself. But it’s also true that sometimes people eat sweet things just because they enjoy the taste, even when they aren’t actually hungry. Since ancient times, like with Socrates, people have criticized basing right and wrong on pleasure; some thinkers even took the extreme view that we never have a moral duty to try and create pleasure. While the idea of having a duty to seek pleasure might sound strange, it seems clear we absolutely should think about other people’s happiness and pleasure when making moral decisions.
Another specific problem critics mention is that hedonists say they make ethics simple by just using pleasure as the rule, but if you look closely, they actually seem to use two different standards for judging things. According to Bentham, two main things are really in charge of people: pain and pleasure. A key flaw pointed out is that hedonists often mistakenly treat pleasure and pain like temperature – just different ends of one scale. This thinking is wrong because pleasure and pain are actually fundamentally different kinds of experiences.
Examples of Hedonism Lifestyle
You can often tell if someone lives a hedonistic life by looking at the choices they make and how they act. Here are some common examples that show what a hedonistic lifestyle looks like.
Spending Time For Useless Activities
It’s really important to understand that hedonism is more than just carelessly spending money on things. A hedonistic life also shows in how someone chooses to spend their time, not just their money. People living this way often spend their time doing things that feel good right now, like just relaxing, spending lots of time gaming, or buying things they don’t really need.
Do not have an Emergency Fund or Investment
Because people living a hedonistic life mainly use money to feel good right now and get what they want immediately, they usually don’t save for the future or invest for long-term security. People living a hedonistic life generally believe life is about the present, making pleasure right now their main focus.
Consumptive / Likes to Shop
People living a hedonistic life often buy many things because they try to find happiness through purchasing and using goods and services. Hedonists believe that getting more possessions and having lots of enjoyable experiences is the way to be happy.
Excessive Consumption of Food and Drink
Often, people living a hedonistic life don’t put clear limits on themselves regarding how much they consume, including things like food. When hedonists find food they like that makes them feel good, they’ll usually keep buying it, even if it’s unhealthy or costs too much.
How to Overcome the Habit of Hedonism
Fortunately, like other problems in life, there are ways to handle the issues that come from a hedonistic lifestyle. There are helpful steps you can take to change a hedonistic lifestyle, and these actions are listed below:
Define Your Life Purpose
A really good idea is to pause, think carefully, and figure out what you truly want to achieve in your life. Try putting your energy into activities and goals that bring real, long-lasting happiness and make your life feel meaningful.
Reduce Useless Activities
Remember, the main idea of hedonism is closely linked to pleasure. Well, you should be careful. Just because something brings pleasure doesn’t always mean it’s actually good or beneficial for you in the future. Since not all pleasures are actually helpful, it’s wise to try and stay away from activities that aren’t really good for you.
Find Happiness in Simple Things
Try finding happiness in simple, everyday things that also give you a sense of purpose and make life feel meaningful. You can find happiness in simple but meaningful things like reading, spending time with loved ones, gardening, exercising, and helping other people.
Ask for Support from the Closest Person
It’s really helpful to talk about your problems or tough times with close friends or family members you truly trust. When people you trust offer guidance and encourage you, it really helps strengthen your efforts to make good changes in your life.
Seek Professional Help
If you’re finding it hard to change these habits alone, it’s perfectly okay and a really smart, practical step to get help from a professional like a therapist or counselor.
Change Your Circle of Friends
Yes, the places and people around us, especially our friends, play a big role in shaping the kind of person we become. Well, this might be tough, but if you notice your friends are pushing you to choose fun and less important things over what’s truly valuable, you may need to think about finding new friends or spending less time with that group.
Understand That Happiness and Satisfaction Do Not Come From Consumption
Real happiness and feeling truly good about your life don’t come from buying things. Instead, you find them by having strong relationships, being healthy, and making a positive difference for others and the world. Yes, while living for immediate pleasure can feel good right now, be aware that it can also lead to problems later on. For example, some long-term problems caused by hedonism include getting sick, having money trouble, and facing problems in relationships with others. Because of those possible future problems, it’s really smart for everyone to try and balance seeking pleasure. This helps you build a life that feels more truly satisfying and meaningful over time.