What is Hedonism??

[Angel_Headed_Hipster]

So....What is Hedonism, it sounds intriguing...

Peace and Love,
Dan

[nimh]

if it feels good, do it


(is there an "as long as it doesnt harm others against their will" clause to hedonism?)

[cerridwen]

hedonism is fun :) spend a weekend at a hedonism resort, you'll pick it up very quickly!

[Angel_Headed_Hipster]

"If it feels good do it"

What an awesome religion, so your saying basically, Hedonism is the opposite of christianity, haha

Peace and Love,
Dan

[Bacchus]

The idea or "philosophy" was I think, originally packaged by Anton LeVey as the neo-satanism.

[Stalkz]

Please don't reduce The Church of Satan to "Neo-Satanism".


Anyways, generally in Hedonism (Which I'd call a philosophy rather than a religion... but then again I'd also call Satanism a philosophy rather than a religion), it's accepted that it's PERSONAL rather than inflicting. I/E, "If it feels good, do it, because it's noones business but your own if it's you. If it involves someone else, then it should feel good to them too.".

It would be contradictive to say "Rape is ok cuz it feels good", because it doesn't feel good to both people. The saying doesn't imply ownership or specific first-person traits. So if it doesn't feel good to the person you're raping, it's not Hedonism.


NeoHuman Evolver: In other news
NeoHuman Evolver: I think I'm gonna try hedonism for a while
NeoHuman Evolver: The name given to the group of ethical systems that hold, with various modifications, that feelings of pleasure or happiness are the highest and final aim of conduct; that, consequently those actions which increase the sum of pleasure are thereby constituted right, and, conversely, what increases pain is wrong.
SagaciousKJB: :-D
NeoHuman Evolver: It's a great ethical premise.
SagaciousKJB: Yeah
NeoHuman Evolver: Obviously peopel are gonna take it wrong
NeoHuman Evolver: and say "YEAH WELL THATS STUPID CUZ WHAT IF UR HURTIN SOMEONE ELSE?!?!?
NeoHuman Evolver: But if you hurt someoen else it wouldn't be Hedonism.
SagaciousKJB: 'Cept killing someone could be insanely pleasureable for a vengful person, but not that fun for the person getting killed
SagaciousKJB: So
NeoHuman Evolver: "If it feels good, do it" doesn't imply ownership or first-person traits
NeoHuman Evolver: Therefor,
NeoHuman Evolver: If it doesn't feel good for both people,
NeoHuman Evolver: It's not "Hedonism".
NeoHuman Evolver: :-)
SagaciousKJB: Okay...
SagaciousKJB: So...
SagaciousKJB: If a guy actually really did rape a chick, and she loved it, is that wrong?
SagaciousKJB: (No)
NeoHuman Evolver: No
NeoHuman Evolver: well
NeoHuman Evolver: I mean
NeoHuman Evolver: It's wrong that he raped her without KNOWING she'd like it
NeoHuman Evolver: but if he knew she would and he told her she would
SagaciousKJB: It's cool, though
SagaciousKJB: I just realized I think I am a hedonist
SagaciousKJB: 'Cause I live my life in a pretty similar way
NeoHuman Evolver: The intention is wrong but the outcome is fine but you really cant do that cuz you dont know for a fact that she's gonna like it
NeoHuman Evolver: word
NeoHuman Evolver: I am too, just now I'm gonna have the title :-)
SagaciousKJB: If it feels good, do it. But I also make sure no one else is recieving harm or displeasure by my actions.
NeoHuman Evolver: Because then it isn't hedonistic
NeoHuman Evolver: Im gonna post this in what i said abuot hedonism in the hedonism forum

[Empathetic Hedonist]

There are a lot of sects of Hedonism. No, it is not a new word for neo-satanism, there are just a lot of similarities. A long time ago a bunch of rich philosophers got together and came up with an excuse to have a lot of sex and do a lot of drugs.... sounds like a few hippies I know :p

Now that is just the start of Hedonism. The way I veiw it, is the complete and total agreeance that happiness is the highest good. Not only to agree, but to put that thought into practice ever day, sorta like a wwjd thing, you know, What Would Make Me Happy...WWMMH.... hmmmm.... I could make a fourtune with that... (grrr don't steal my idea :$)

I try to follow a few basic princaples.

1 Always be happy, be any means necessary

2 NEVER interefere with another persons happiness

3 If something makes you unhappy more than momentarily, don't ever do it again. (seems like it would go hand in hand with 1, but no)

4 Don't align your happiness with another persons actions (that is really for the others, it is not cool at all trying to follow 2 when people make their happiness your business. If someone breaks this rule 2 doesn't apply)


But that is just my own twisetd personalised version of it.

[Empathetic Hedonist]

I was thinking about getting the '4 tenets' tatooed on my back. Become a fanatic. That would make it a real religion. :)

Every true religion needs a militant fanatic faction. Hmmm... how to be militant but still Hedonistic? Any suggestions? ;)

[Warisfortheweakminde]

Fire vibrators at people (gently), incite heonism etc

[OpheliaBlue]

Fire vibrators at people (gently), incite heonism etc
HAAHAHAHAHHAhahhhhahhahahahaaa...........I would gladly intercept one! :D

And amen to Ghostbusters man.

[SaraiLoruhamah]

this sounds neat...is there a god thingy in this?

[Libertine]

No gods, no masters. It's pleasure/pain thingy.

[Terrapin Station]

wow

[Terrapin Station]

thats amazing

[Terrapin Station]

can you be hedonistic and another religion?

[ihavenoideawhatsgoin]

So if you wanted to smoke weed to be happy that would be ok in this religion?

[Kharakov]

Hedonism is when rednecks narc eachother out.

[Columbo]

Hedonism is simply the theory that one must sample as much of life as is possible without forming habits or conforming to what society expects - that doesnt mean being a social outcast or sociopath it just means that you should live for pleasure and not let life become a burdon or a trial - this is life not a rehearsal for life so go out into the world and live for the moment (Carpe Diem) Live for the day and forget about tomorrow - deal with that when it happens

[GratefulFloyd]

"If it feels good do it"

What an awesome religion, so your saying basically, Hedonism is the opposite of christianity, haha

Peace and Love,
DanMore accurately, the opposite of mormonism.

[hippypoet33]

One facet about Hedonism which I am still working on is "to never compromise your own comfort by doing what feels good"

I smoke butts and I know it will hinder my comfort eventually.

[jailmate]

i tinkz headonizzum iz about blowjobz

[slinklikegroove]

bwahaha... and jailmate is my fav for a reason. sign me up for teh church and a blowjob

[jailmate]

suchjobz are nut part uv duh holy inkantation, jerk!

[slinklikegroove]

can we call it the book of slink? or is that too edgy and up to date?

[jailmate]

call it wut uh must, however alwayz eat yoh veggyz.

[A-Shwa-Child]

"this is life not a rehearsal for life so go out into the world and live for the moment (Carpe Diem) Live for the day and forget about tomorrow - deal with that when it happens"

Wow you so wrong... Alot of these posts are wrong. Hedonism isnt about finding your next beer bottle, or smokeing blunts all day. Its about finding serenity in life. Whatever gives you long time serenity in life is the thing you should do...

[Columbo]

Baccus said
The idea or "philosophy" was I think, originally packaged by Anton LeVey as the neo-satanism. I was sorely tempted to begin laughing real bad at that !! So you havent read anything of the etymology of the word "hedonist" Havent looked into its philosophies where it was held in high regard in England between about 1770 and 1890, and then again from the 1920's till about 1931 - so you havent read anything by the ancient Greek hedonists??? In fact you just looked on wikipedia or something
Hedonist: in reference to the Cyrenaic school of philosophy that deals with the ethics of pleasure, from Gk. hedonikos "pleasurable," from hedone "pleasure," related to hedys "sweet" (see sweet (http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=sweet)). Hedonistic is from 1866; earlier adj. form was hedonic (1656). A hedonist is properly the follower of any ethical system in which the highest good is some sort of pleasure. The Epicurian identifies this with the practice of virtue.

sweet (adj.) (http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=sweet) http://www.etymonline.com/graphics/dictionary.gif (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=sweet)O.E. swete "pleasing to the senses, mind or feelings," from P.Gmc. *swotijaz (cf. O.S. swoti, Swed. söt, Dan. sød, M.Du. soete, Du. zoet, O.H.G. swuozi, Ger. süß), from PIE base *swad- (Skt. svadus "sweet;" Gk. hedys "sweet, pleasant, agreeable," hedone "pleasure;" L. suavis "sweet," suadere "to advise," prop. "to make something pleasant to"). http://www.etymonline.com (http://www.etymonline.com/)
So it rather looks like hedonism is the art of making something pleasant to:
eg: touch, think about, see , hear, etc etc etc it is a philosophy that the highest good is pleasure - the English elevated this to mean that one should not form habits - failure is the formation of an habitual act in which pleasure is therefore lessened. See the works of Oscar Wilde and Walter Pater - pater thought that one should see every event that was similar, as a unique and refreshed occurence. Wilde believed sensual pleasure was the highest form unless it was an habitual use of one sense and one stimuli and that people buy jewlery and douse themselves in different perfumes etc because of it but the pleasures of the senses are the ones that corrupt while the pleasure of the mind lead one to virtue. It is worth reading Epicurius
http://www.etymonline.com

[John Adlin]

Heres my take on Hedonsim. (Hedonsim as a lifestly not just sexual gratification as some descriptions of Hedoism seem to lead down the path of sexual excess)
True Hedoinsm requires a certain amout of self discipline. You want to do what you want/wilt/wish be it Climb Mountains or sit on your sofa smoking dope -and why not do both ?
If you reach for the Bong and the Kitkats then thats self gratification its fun and fufilling-but for how long? Certany not a lifetime If you dont plan ahead and sort out your rent/bills/shopping. So that requires discipline and planning to ejoye the expeice proplely.
Hedonism as a lifestly choilce should last a lifetime , that requires some planning and discipline. Here is the paradox of it though "Why work hard at enjoying yourself"
because IMHO theres a great divide between self gratification and Hedonsim.
One analogy would be the diffrence between mastubation and sex, both are enjoyable. But mastubation if self graiificaton and hedonsm is sex (and if done propely gratifies 2 or more)
A sucsfull practicioner of Hedonsism will lead by example and other will follow. So the Hedonst takes the time and makes the decisosion him/herself. Engaging in congnitive dissidence and lawbreaking but of his own back, by following his own philosiply. Example Dope smoking, Legally outlawed but practiced through choise and in this day and age fully aware of the consequences.

Is it Hedosnistic to inflict your choice of music onto others at every traffic light?

Is it Hedonsitic to invite a few freinds round for a gathering?

Is it Hedonsitic to pull a few overtime shifts so you can afford a extra coupe of nighst out or pay for that festival ticket?

Is it hedonsitic to say "Nahh I'l pass" when somone offers to buy a Driver a pint of beer?

I'm not knocking Hedonism I think its the way towards enlightnemt to be honest. I think humans are driven my Eros not Thanatos and the searc for pleaure has taken us ot of the caves into the hi rise block and back out inot the feilds.

[hopefaithlove]

i have a question.... k lets say drugs feel good for the moment but in the long run they hurt you... so why would you do it? why do something that feels good if it is only temperary????? i have something that lasts so much longer and is so much better than all that!!!!!!!!!!!JESUS CHRIST

[Myrmidon]

I try to follow a hedonistic lifestyle, and to me that just means to do whatever will make me happiest in the long run. I weigh out the cons and the pros and try to increase the happiness of me and all of those around me. Putting the happiness of others above my happiness because making others happy makes me happy, so really I guess I am putting my happiness above others' happiness.

[repro-bait]

HAAHAHAHAHHAhahhhhahhahahahaaa...........I would gladly intercept one! :D

And amen to Ghostbusters man.and it gives me my daily dose of hedonism to gaze at the words across your tight t-shirt...you above......pity the face is cut off.