hedonism
/ˈhiːd(ə)nɪz(ə)m
/ /ˈhɛːd(ə)nɪz(ə)m/noun [mass noun]
1The pursuit of pleasure; sensual self-indulgence.The whole point of a sports car is hedonism, the selfish pursuit of pleasure....
- He represents bored self-indulgence and hedonism.
- There is a critique of hedonism, or the pursuit of pleasure.
Synonyms
self-indulgence, indulgence, pursuit of pleasure, pleasure-seeking, lotus-eating, epicureanism, epicurism, self-gratification;
lack of self-restraint, intemperance, intemperateness, immoderation, overindulgence, overconsumption, excess, extravagance;
luxury, the high life, high living;
sensualism, voluptuousness;
Italian la dolce vita
rare sybaritism
1.1 Philosophy The ethical theory that pleasure (in the sense of the satisfaction of desires) is the highest good and proper aim of human life.In the twentieth century, most of those sympathetic to utilitarianism replaced hedonism with the desire-fulfilment theory....
- Although hedonism fails as a theory that gives us a fixed end, it does contain a methodological insight.
- In fact hedonism, the view that pleasure is our ethical end, is always on the defensive in ancient ethics.
Origin
Mid 19th century: from Greek hēdonē 'pleasure' + -ism.