On hedonism
Hedonism gets a bad rap. Associated with excess and indulgence, it's what people think of when they imagine someone living without restraint.
Why are we so quick to judge pleasure-seekers? It stems from a fundamental misunderstanding of why people chase these sensations in the first place.
What looks like simple pleasure-seeking often masks escape behavior. The alcoholic isn't primarily seeking pleasure but temporarily silencing something inside. Cyrenaic hedonism isn't about running from pain but about cultivating a discerning relationship with pleasure itself.
So why do we pursue certain pleasures over others? It seems that most of us never even consider the full spectrum of enjoyment available, sticking to grooves worn by culture, habit, and marketing.
The dictionary definition of hedonism is actually broader than its caricature. It includes intellectual pleasures: solving complex problems, encountering novelty, experiencing beauty. True hedonism is about recognizing pleasure as intrinsically valuable, not merely instrumental.
Unfortunately, it's quite difficult to pursue these pleasures for their own sake. We're wired to react to threats and immediate needs. Deliberate enjoyment is something that requires practice.
I'm still learning how to be a better hedonist. This means distinguishing between fleeting pleasures that leave voids and deeper satisfactions that compound over time.
Maybe we should measure the quality of life not by achievements but by moments of full presence. I think that's what hedonism actually requires—not maximizing pleasure but developing the capacity to fully experience it.
The most surprising thing is that thoughtful hedonism should promote ethical behavior. Understanding that sustainable pleasure requires moderation and consideration of future consequences makes avoiding harmful excess seem only natural.
Thus we are also incentivized towards compassion when we recognize that others' well-being affects our own. Perhaps the truly skilled hedonist is also, paradoxically, someone who cares deeply about more than just their own immediate gratification.
I think there's something beautiful about that contradiction. The person who most consciously pursues pleasure may be the one who lives with the most care.