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Is headonism a good philosophy ?

libre

In flight
Staff member
Premium Member
There are positive and negative ways of loving oneself.

Immediate gratifications and chasing hits of adrenaline and dopamine are a negative way which constrain self-development and self-becoming.

Participating in pursuits to become one's best self is the good way, so i am not a Hedonist.
 

It Aint Necessarily So

Veteran Member
Premium Member
living for what makes you feel good
This is Kramer from Seinfeld, who suspect his accountant Barry Prophet of being a cocaine addict because he went to Columbia once, likes to visit public men's rooms perhaps to "powder" his nose, and sniffs a lot - feeling him out.

"Here's to feeling good all of the time" (spoken while chugging a mug of beer with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth):


Here's some context from earlier in the episode:


Bonus trivia: the man in the background at the 1:00 mark is Norman Brenner. Besides standing in for Kramer in some episodes, he appears as an extra in several other episodes as illustrated below:

1732227137484.png
 

osgart

Nothing my eye, Something for sure
On the face of it living for what makes you feel good seems great but at the end of it it becomes empty and unfulfilling.
I agree with that statement.

To my mind the pursuit of a just and true love and charity within based on trustworthiness and deserve guided by reason, evidence, and proof would be far more fulfilling, and more meaningful. If one can find that within one's self they've found the greatest treasure. To me that's the fact.

Knowledge, and understanding with wisdom and virtue is of the highest order. Second only to true love, also rooted in virtue.

Hedonism is totally self absorbed and means literally nothing to others who do and don't practice that lifestyle.

Hedonism and virtue to me run contrary to each other. Certain kinds of pleasure offer temporary fun and relief, and are healthy in moderation. Excess and indulgence is for emptiness.

I thing everything has context. Happiness is fleeting, joy is enduring, and peace is fulfilling if truly done. Work is a privilege, and honor if it achieves all the virtuous ends.

Nothing in life is guaranteed, but to find love, joy, and peace within and also doing charitable work, even when no one is there for you brings its own rewards and fulfillments.

It all depends on how one's own heart is aligned with the virtues. Complete arrogance with hatred wouldn't be able or interested in realizing truths of virtues.

Come tragedy or isolation virtues give meaning and purpose to living life. I have much gratitude for those that I've lost. Hedonism don't come close. Even in a finite life of forever gone I'm still grateful for the love I've known.
 

It Aint Necessarily So

Veteran Member
Premium Member
To my mind the pursuit of a just and true love and charity within based on trustworthiness and deserve guided by reason, evidence, and proof would be far more fulfilling, and more meaningful. If one can find that within one's self they've found the greatest treasure. To me that's the fact.
Seeking a fulfilling life IS hedonism. It's the pursuit of pleasure, which isn't limited to occasional episodes of fleeting pleasure
I don't see the point of living for transient emotional states. It's rather shallow, imo.
That's why we seek that which leads to a sustained sense of contentment and satisfaction. Hedonism is the pursuit of pleasure, but as I said, that isn't limited to occasional episodes of fleeting pleasure. If one lives an upright life, makes a difference in the lives of others, and is generally liked by others, he ought to be a happy person. That's a worthy goal, and the pursuit of that is also hedonism.
 
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9-10ths_Penguin

1/10 Subway Stalinist
Premium Member
I agree with that statement.

To my mind the pursuit of a just and true love and charity within based on trustworthiness and deserve guided by reason, evidence, and proof would be far more fulfilling, and more meaningful. If one can find that within one's self they've found the greatest treasure. To me that's the fact.

Knowledge, and understanding with wisdom and virtue is of the highest order. Second only to true love, also rooted in virtue.

Hedonism is totally self absorbed and means literally nothing to others who do and don't practice that lifestyle.

Hedonism and virtue to me run contrary to each other. Certain kinds of pleasure offer temporary fun and relief, and are healthy in moderation. Excess and indulgence is for emptiness.

I thing everything has context. Happiness is fleeting, joy is enduring, and peace is fulfilling if truly done. Work is a privilege, and honor if it achieves all the virtuous ends.

Nothing in life is guaranteed, but to find love, joy, and peace within and also doing charitable work, even when no one is there for you brings its own rewards and fulfillments.

It all depends on how one's own heart is aligned with the virtues. Complete arrogance with hatred wouldn't be able or interested in realizing truths of virtues.

Come tragedy or isolation virtues give meaning and purpose to living life. I have much gratitude for those that I've lost. Hedonism don't come close. Even in a finite life of forever gone I'm still grateful for the love I've known.
I think you're working with an incorrect view of what hedonism is.

I mean, you praise charity and condemn hedonism, but charity aimed at the relief of suffering is an example of hedonism.
 
Seeking a fulfilling life IS hedonism. It's the pursuit of pleasure, which isn't limited to limited to occasional episodes of fleeting pleasure

That's why we seek that which leads to a sustained sense of contentment and satisfaction. Hedonism is the pursuit of pleasure, but as I said, that isn't limited to occasional episodes of fleeting pleasure. If one lives an upright life, makes a difference in the lives of others, and is generally liked by others, he ought to be a happy person. That's a worthy goal, and the pursuit of that is also hedonism.
No it's not. Why do people require a philosophy for how to live. Most philosophers I've read about from the past and the ones today are idiots. Imagine trying to learn about life and reality by reading other people's inputs who don't have the same life or reality as you. Such an ego trip this field
 

libre

In flight
Staff member
Premium Member
Why do people require a philosophy for how to live
Everyone has a philosophy on how they ought to live that manifests whenever they make a decision.
It's impossible to escape.

I'd say it's way more egocentric to believe that one can come up with a better way to live entirely on their own without considering those who have confronted problems of existence in the past.
 

It Aint Necessarily So

Veteran Member
Premium Member
No it's not.
Great rebuttal.

Here's an adequate counterreply: Yes it is.
Most philosophers I've read about from the past and the ones today are idiots. Imagine trying to learn about life and reality by reading other people's inputs who don't have the same life or reality as you.
You read a bible for guidance, correct? If so, YOU'RE trying to learn about life and reality from ancients who literally didn't know where the rain came from or where the sun went at night and calling others idiots.

Regarding reality, I don't know what reality you live in, but mine is the one I live here on earth with everybody else including you. My circumstances might be different from yours, but even if you don't know it, our realities are the same. Action A under circumstances C result in the same outcome O for everybody, and most of us have a degree of control over our circumstances even if we don't know that or know how to take advantage of it.

Such an ego trip this field
English, please.
 

Quintessence

Consults with Trees
Staff member
Premium Member
In philosophy there are several different schools of thought hedonism can refer to. Not sure which one we're meant to address here, but given the use of the word "good" which is a value judgement am I to assume we're talking about ethical hedonism specifically? That is, we have a moral obligation to avoid pain and seek pleasure? Most would consider that to be rather commonsensical. It's fairly universal to condemn "don't stab folks with knives" and praise "give hugs."
 

osgart

Nothing my eye, Something for sure
Seeking a fulfilling life IS hedonism. It's the pursuit of pleasure, which isn't limited to occasional episodes of fleeting pleasure
Hedonism is also pleasure by excessive self indulgence. That's the kind of pleasure I'm referring to.

I still draw a distinction between empty, hollow pleasures, vs. fulfilling desires.
 
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