Research Question 1
- What is hedonism and where does hedonism originate from?
Hedonism is a system of philosophy which advocates the pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain as primary objectives (Ideas of the Great Philosophers by William S. Sahakian & Mabel L. Sahakian)
The basic idea behind hedonistic thought is pleasure is the only thing that is for a person. Hedonism originated from several schools of Hedonist thought, some emphasize momentary sensual pleasures while others devote equal attention to spiritual pleasures as well. The Egoistic school, strive for the utmost self-gratification, irrespective of any painful consequences to others but the Ideal Utilitarians, who approve only of those pleasures to which each individual is rightfully entitled and advocate as a goal the greatest possible benefits for all mankind.
Cyrenaic Hedonism
The Cyrenaic school, founded by Aristippus (435-356 b.c), advocated immediate pleasures as the chief goal in life. "Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die" It was their view that every momentary pleasure should be enjoyed to the full, lest the opportunity for such experience be lost forever. These Hedonists are not concerned with a possible future life but only with the pleasures of their present life, and they insist that, since pleasure is the only good, everyone should take advantage of all opportunities to enjoy such pleasures.
Epicureanism
Epicurus (342-270 b.c) did not agree with the Cyrenaic in their indiscriminate acceptance af all pleasures, for he knew that many pleasures are detrimental and consequently should be avoided. Too often those who have tried to follow the philosophy of "eating, drinking, and making merry, for tomorrow we die" have encountered disaster because they did not die on the morrow, but lived to suffer the consequences of excessive or ill-chosen pleasures.
