I feel like the world has been taken over by “hedonism”.
Like the ultimate goal for any human being has to be that they feel happy. I personally don’t think happiness is really that important. One can be sad and depressed all the time, as I am, but still have a strong structural belief or imagination of what this world is about and their place in it, and use that view as a forward drive.
I think, with the goal of achieving a self-perceived and self-chosen “good” life-long purpose, one can live a “fulfilling” or “satisfying” or at least a “self-accepted” or tolerable life, regardless of whether or not they’re mostly, or at all, “happy” while living it.
I’d really like to know what do you guys think about this topic?
4 comments
I’ve been a hedonist, might still be one because even though I don’t seek constant pleasure, the only reason for that is the certainty that constant pleasure becomes boredom. In every choice I try to shorten pain and extend pleasure.
I’ve gone as far down the road of “worthwhile” as I think is worth going. Most of my adult life has been spent working for the well being of others, and it’s a thankless job. No money in it, for one, and no love either. Which is why I am where I am; in the pit of despair where any hope, any joy is a finite and dangerous commodity.
I think people need to want to be helped, and they don’t in general. The proliferation of ideas in the digital age has led to a sharp decline in valuation of philosophy and the arts.
I’ll take whatever gives me a role to contribute. I’m working on figuring out how to be a musician, not because I would be any good understand, but because I’ve always understood that job to be one for people with hearts so heavy that is the only work possible. I seek to make others see me as I do, and it’s a long journey.
I agree wholeheartedly with this philosophy, but I’m afraid we’re in the infinitesimal minority in this world. The only people I’ve met who reflect this thinking are soldiers, activists, and firefighters. These are 3 professions that involve tremendous risk & pain while providing no reward other than duty or purpose. These people usually shun happiness (have you ever seen a soldier bouncing gleefully into combat?) almost as if happiness is inferior to the satisfaction of fulfilling their purpose. In the moment it is. I can attest to that. It’s far greater than any material happiness (which I’ve also experienced). The problem is when you lose the ability to fulfill that purpose, as we all experience when we get old & infirm, or just too exhausted or depressed to keep up the good fight, then that’s when you’re in for a Hell far worse than anything imagineable. It’s no coincidence that suicide rates for veterans, activists & firefighters are at the top.
In other words, the fulfillment of life’s purpose is the greatest high anyone can ever know. And the crash that comes afterwards is the worst pain a mind can endure.
Hey. I’m here because of a depression because I don’t like myself, and I just wanted to say that I’ve been pondering a lot about that lately.
I think life’s about improving. And trudging through.
So even though for now I’m unhappy cause I’m garbage, the important is to keep trudging through to become a better version of myself. I think everyone should be much more focused on that than, as you say, short term pleasure, which, I think, has become predominant in at least western developped societies these past decades, due to us becoming weaker and softer on the inside, because our comfort zone is shrinking…
So yeah, I completely agree with you. Hedonism is spreading and mediocrity has well. I find that… disgusting. If you wanna, I’ve wroote something about it.
Man I’ve completely forgotten about this post I made. Thank you for well thought-out comments guys, I found them all really insightful!