A funny photo

I was continuing my research on Hedonism when I came across this picture on Google images. 

This one made me laugh because from as far as I can tell it is a very Hedonistic view. 

Epicureanism vs. Hedonism

So in the previous post I mentioned a Socratic school of thought called called Cyrenaic. This school died out and was replaced by Epicureanism. Epicureanism has similar idea and principles to Hedonism, but they have some very important differences. I thought for this post I would discus the differences. 

Epicureanism

Epicureanism is a system of Philosophy based upon the ideas of Epicurus.Epicureanists believe that the greats good is to seek modest pleasures to obtain a state of tranquility and freedom of fear. These, as well as the avoidance and absence of bodily pain through knowledge of the world and the limitations of our desires. 

The combination of these two states are supposed to produce happiness on the highest form. (Epicureanism 2012; Encyclopædia Britannica Online)

Hedonism vs. Epicureanism

Although some of the principle ideas of Epicureanism are similar to those of Hedonism, and Epicureanism is a form of Hedonism; there are differences. 

Hedonism- is " pleasure in itself is good. Pleasure refers to positively enjoyable experiences or sensations, not just the absence of pain." 

Epicureanism- is the view that pleasure is obtained by knowledge, positive relationships (e.g. friendships), living a virtuous life. Pleasure is obtaining from bodily desires (such as sex). Epicureanists believe that you should not eat rich foods because it could lead to later dissatisfaction. 

However, Epicureanisms social ethics that have survived. 




References 
1. Epicureanism 2012; Encyclopædia Britannica Online; Retrieved 10 April; 2012;http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/189732/Epicureanism

A Hedonist

I was on Youtube today and I thought it would be a good idea to see if anyone had made a video about Hedonism or maybe being a Hedonist. I quickly came across this video about a girl who lived as a Hedonist. I thought it was really interesting so here it is.


Just a warning, there is a fair it of swearing in the video. 

Cārvāka and The Cyrenaic school

So I was reading more about Hedonism and I read about these two school of philosophy that taught Hedonism. 

Cārvāka 

An Indian Hedonist school of philosophy. The interesting thing about Cārvāka was that the school maintained that the Hindu scriptures are false, and that the priests were lairs. This was because they believed that there was no afterlife, and that pleasure should be should be the aim of living. 

The Cārvāka, unlike most Indian schools philosophy, argued that there is nothing wrong with sensual indulgence; that is activities such as eating, sex etc. that engage your senses in a pleasurable way. 

In this sense the Cārvāka held very nationalistic beliefs- there is nothing but natural things, forces, and causes of the kind studied by the natural sciences.(Wernicki, A; 7 June, 2010; Lokāyata/ Cārvāka- Indian Materialism) 

Cyrenaic

A Greek school of Philosophy, and one of the earliest Socratic schools. The school taught that only pleasure in itself is good. Pleasure refers to positively enjoyable experiences or sensations, not just the absence of pain. An example of this is: If you pull a splinter out of someone, that act in itself isn't good, but if it leads to your pleasurable sensation that comes from helping someone; then that's good.

The school also taught that of these pleasures, momentary, especially physical ones, are stronger than those of anticipation or memory. 

It is important to note that they did recognize the importance and value of social obligation, and that pleasure could be gained from the concern and welfare of other. (O'Keefe, T; July 15 2005; Cyrenacis) 






References

1. O'Keefe, T; July 15 2005; Cyrenacis; Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy; 06/04/2012; http://www.iep.utm.edu/cyren/ 
2. Wernicki, A; 7 June, 2010; Lokāyata/ Cārvāka- Indian Materialism; Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy; 06/04/2012; http://www.iep.utm.edu/indmat/ 

Introduction to Hedonism

According to Google, Hedonism is 'the pursuit of pleasure’ and the word ‘Hedonism’ from the Greek word for ‘delight’. Democritus is the earliest philosopher on record to have embraced a Hedonistic philosophy;claiming that "joy and sorrow are the distinguishing mark of things beatifically and harmful".


It is my personal belief that everything we do is in the pursuit of pleasure, even if we subject ourselves to pain to alternately archive pleasure. 

A good example of my belief system in our western society is we go to school and learn and do homework (which is not often a ‘pleasurable’ activity) to one day get a good job and make money so that we can buy things to make us happy. Ultimately this is a pursuit of pleasure, but the journey to the pleasure is not always an enjoyable one.
I am unsure as to whether this is a Hedonistic view, but I hope to find out. 

There are different types and ideas about Hedonism, which will be discussed further on, but the basic idea of Hedonism has been around since ancient Egypt. In ancient Egypt the “Harper’s Song” or “Song of Harper” is a poem which was inscribed in the tomb. The inscriptions were placed alongside an image of blind man playing the harp; it is thought that the harpist played and sang the song during the mortuary feats for the deceased. (Hill, J; 2010; Ancient Egypt Society: Song of the Harper)

Scenes in Harper’s songs entertaining guests at a feast, and sometimes contained Hedonistic elements, encouraging guest to surrender to pleasure and seize the day as be sure they’ll be rewarded for their good with a pleasurable afterlife.  

This a one of Harper's songs attributed to the reign of one of the Intef kings: 

The image of the Blind Harper. 

"Let thy desire flourish,

In order to let thy heart forget the beatifications for thee.
Follow thy desire, as long as thou shalt live.
Put myrrh upon thy head and clothing of fine linen upon thee,
Being anointed with genuine marvels of the god's property.
Set an increase to thy good things;
Let not thy heart flag.
Follow thy desire and thy good.
Fulfill thy needs upon earth, after the command of thy heart,

Until there come for thee that day of mourning."

The first is a nice definition of Hedonism. I hope this introduction was informative and interesting. I'll post more about the history of Hedonism later. 

References

11.  Hill, J; 2010; Ancient Egypt Society: Song of the Harper; Ancient Egypt Online, 06/04/2012; http://www.ancientegyptonline.co.uk/harper-song.html

22.  Moore, Andrew; 2011; Hedonism; Stanford; 06/04/2012; http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/hedonism/