Utilitarianism was an ethical philosophy, according to which the goal should be the maximization of utility. Hedonistic ideas gained wide exposure in utilitarianism, a movement pioneered by Jeremy Bentham (1748–1832) and continued by James Mill (1773–1836) and his son John Stuart Mill (1806–1873). French philosophers La Mettrie (1709–1751) and Helvétius (1715–1771) also endorsed hedonism, arguing that pursuing pleasure and avoiding pain are and should be the primary human motives. Hume further claimed that reason, which previous thinkers from Plato to Descartes considered capable of keeping passions under control, is powerless. Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679) and David Hume (1711–1776) accepted that humans are motivated to pursue pleasure and avoid pain. In Britain, hedonism was at the core of debates on the appropriate goal of societies and political systems. René Descartes (1596–1650) accepted that passions, including pleasures, influence human behavior but maintained that the mind must control these passions in its pursuit of higher ideals. Erasmus (1466–1536) and Thomas More (1478–1535) argued that the pursuit of pleasure is consistent with religion. Hedonism reemerged during the Renaissance, with thinkers struggling to align hedonistic ideas with the stern doctrine of the Church. Holistic views of pleasure were also promoted by Plato (428–348 BCE), who believed in the balance of the rational, emotional, and appetitive parts of the soul, and Aristotle (384–322 BCE), who coined the term eudaimonia to signify the pleasure derived from a virtuous and fulfilling life. Aristippus emphasized physical pleasures, whereas the Epicureans promoted a holistic view of pleasure that included serenity, a sense of belonging, and overall well-being. Early expressions of hedonism can be found in Aristippus (435–366 BCE) and Epicurus (341–270 BCE), both of whom considered pleasure as the ultimate good.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |