Hedonism

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Term (Greek: joy, pleasure, delight, pleasure, sensual desire) for the doctrine founded in antiquity by the philosopher Aristippus (435-355 BC), according to which the highest ethical principle is the pursuit of sensual pleasure and enjoyment. The philosopher Epicurus (341-271 BC), on the other hand, describes pleasure as the principle of a successful life. According to him, ataraxia (a state of complete freedom from pain/concern) is also to be regarded as the highest pleasure.

Definition of the term

In common parlance, hedonism is understood to mean an egoistic attitude to life that is (only) orientated towards material pleasures. In this sense, the term is often used pejoratively and interpreted as a sign of decadence. Epicureanism, however, is usually understood in a more positive sense (altruistic = selfless, altruistic, self-sacrificing). The Greek poet Anacreon (~580-495 BC) also represented hedonistic tendencies in his songs about love, wine and cheerful sociability, as did the Roman poet Horace (65-8 BC) with the motto "Carpe diem" (enjoy/use the day, literally "pick the day").

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Hedonism

Definition of the term

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