In fact, Epicurus emphasised a simple, harmonious life without the pursuit of riches or glory. I’ll call this a kind of “rational hedonism”. So, when we need to make the mortgage or rent and keep our complex lives on track, what might a modern hedonist’s life look like?Ī practical definition might be someone who tries to maximise the everyday pleasures while still balancing other concerns. This puts it well outside Epicurus’ idea of moderate pleasures and self-control.
The single-minded pursuit of one intense pleasure at the expense of other aspects of life that bring meaning and pleasure is also counterproductive to living a rich and enjoyable life. Without pleasure, the behaviour is no longer a hedonic one. The uncontrollable “ hunger” has wiped the pleasure away and the best we can hope for is relief. Partner yoga doubles the pleasure and halves the stressĪt this stage though, pleasure is no longer the motivation, nor the result, of the behaviour. "Savasana" means corpse pose in Sanskrit and is the standard final relaxation position in most yoga practices. But, somewhere between enjoying an occasional beer and needing a drink before getting out of bed each morning, we’ve passed the tipping point. It can be difficult to pin down the point at which a previously pleasurable behaviour becomes problematic. Many of the things that commonly give us pleasure can also be used in risky or harmful ways.ĭependence, addiction, bingeing and compulsive consumption can be thought of as risky or harmful uses of otherwise pleasurable experiences, like using alcohol and other drugs, doing exercise and having sex. Well, these activities are good … until they’re not. Hedonism not only leads to binge drinking, it’s part of the solution And everyone knows the advantages of physical fitness. A regular glass of wine is said to have a protective effect against dementia and heart disease, perhaps due to its antioxidant flavonoids. For example, women who say they are satisfied with their sex life score higher on measures of psychological well-being and vitality. So, a lover’s caress gives me pleasure, but so can a piece of music, laughing with friends, or simply sitting still in a comfy chair after a frantic day.Īnd these are good things, right? Sexual pleasure is linked with health and well-being. This is a broad perspective, but one easily applied to our everyday lives. It might help to think of pleasure simply as a subjective state of enjoyment. This is largely due to some highly nuanced philosophical arguments about how we should conceptualise pleasure. Today there are multiple views on what hedonism is. Hedonism has its philosophical roots as far back as Plato and Socrates, but ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus is often credited with articulating an early brand of hedonism based not on a life of untamed appetites, but on moderate pleasures and respect for others. Why you shouldn’t want to always be happy We wait for their liver to rebel or their life to come crashing down around them, as of course it must.īut this kind of behaviour is better termed debauchery – extreme indulgence in bodily pleasures and especially sexual pleasures – rather than hedonism. They indulge their carnal appetites in ways we daren’t, with scant regard for consequences. We find these characters so compelling because they seem to reject the sensible, responsible way to live. Jordan Belfort (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) in The Wolf of Wall Street is probably the popular idea of the quintessential hedonist, where his extreme wealth allows him to indulge his insatiable hunger for all things pleasurable.
In broad terms, a hedonist is someone who tries to maximise pleasure and minimise pain. So where do our ideas of hedonism come from and how can we harness hedonism to improve our health and quality of life? Seeking and maximising these kinds of pleasures can boost our health and well-being. What if, instead of a guaranteed one-way road to ruin, hedonism is good for your health? If we think of hedonism as the intentional savouring of simple pleasures – like playing in fallen leaves, moments of connection with friends, or cuddling the dog – then it probably is.
Are you imagining me snorting cocaine through $100 notes, a glass of champagne in one hand, the other fondling a stranger’s firm thigh? Before you judge me harshly, I know hedonism has a bad reputation, but it might be time to reconsider. It can be difficult to pin down the point at which a pleasurable behavior becomes problematicĪ state of pleasure is linked with reducing stress Seeking and maximizing the enjoyment of simple pleasures can boost health and well-being
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