Each of us, whether we realize it or not, there is a core of his life, a certain outlook on the purpose of human existence and its own set of life values that we put above all.Freedom of choice, especially the cultural environment and the eternal search for values in life have led to the emergence of many subcultures, such as the Goths, emo, thrash, hedonists, etc.etc.Recent nowadays constitute quite a large group, so let's talk about them first.
story of this world
Hedonist - a person whose main goal in life, and the highest good is to get pleasure and enjoyment.Accordingly, it is best to avoid anything that might bring suffering.This attitude to life has a very rich history.Home doctrine justifying this kind of worldview, appeared around 400 BC in ancient Greece.At that time there lived Kirensk Aristippus, who first developed and taught this doctrine.Initially it was thought that a hedonist - a man for whom good is everything that brings pleasure.From this it follows that the priority needs of the individual, separating this doctrine will always be higher than before the social institutions that turn into conventions restricting his freedom.This view is often led to extremes.So, among the followers of Aristippus were some who believed that a hedonist - it is one for which any pleasure is justified, and this explains all actions aimed at obtaining pleasure.
Wise Socrates criticized the extreme.He admitted that the pleasure of playing a big role in my life, but at the same time divides them into good and bad, and true and false.Aristotle did not recognize them for their benefit, and believed that by themselves they do not deserve to be life goals.Despite such criticism, the school hedonists not ceased to exist and was developed as a moderate version proposed by Epicurus.
This Greek philosopher taught that only the necessary and natural pleasures, does not destroy the human soul equanimity, worthy to be the aim of the aspirations of the individual.In the Renaissance, mainly dominated by soft Epicurean version of this course.And since the late 18th century, hedonism gradually acquires a new form - utilitarianism.Its peculiarity is that the moral value of an act or behavior is determined by the utility.
why many refer to hedonism negatively
Hardly anyone would argue with the fact that everything is good only in moderation.The same rule applies to the pleasure.Want to know who is a real hedonist?This is a man who is too keen on obtaining physiological pleasures.He overeat junk food, drinking destroys his body and mind alcohol, smoking tobacco, and completely irresponsible sex.Classical portrait looks like this: hedonist excommunicated gorged itself to induce vomiting for the opportunity to continue the feast.Hedonistic pretty selfish, but at the same time easy to agree among themselves, if they feel that it can bring them some benefit, such as a career.
