Superior To The Physical Pleasures And Mill example essay topic

Hedonism Webster's dictionary defines hedonism as "the ethical doctrine that pleasure, variously conceived of in terms of happiness of the individual or of society, is the principal good and the proper aim of action" or "the theory that a person always acts is such a way as to seek pleasure and avoid pain". With this definition in mind, and with further examination of John Stuart Mill's theory on hedonism, I am going to argue that hedonism is not an exclusive or distinct way of thinking. In fact, I think that with the exception of possibly a few people, most people are very hedonistically inclined. "Hedonistic utilitarians identify happiness with feeling pleasure and avoiding pain, meaning that the more an individual enjoys pleasure and avoids pain, the happier that individual is" (phil. tamu. edu). Now, is this really a new and profound thought If you avoid pain, you will lead a happier life With a few exceptions, I don't know many people who see pain as enjoyment.

Most people I know have made it a point to enjoy themselves in so me fashion or McDonald 2 another, and that doesn't include the enjoyment of pain. "Mill's overall subject is the right of the individual to think and act for himself of herself. For Mill this does not mean the right to think and act as you please (Castell 360). Eventhough Mill encouraged independent thought and actions, he did not justify running around and doing whatever you liked. According to the Hedonic Society, what they call Enlightened Hedonism ("a naturalistic and humanistic life stance advocation the ration cultivation of pleasure and happiness for all") can be stated in six principles: 1. Knowledge is gained through a reasoned study o all available evidence.

2. In the absence of conclusive evidence for a supernatural, ethics and morality must be based on our living in the natural world. 3. Pleasure and pain are our natural means for determining what is beneficial or harmful to life.

4. Those actions are best which lead to the greatest pleasure and happiness, or the least pain and suffering, in the long term for all concerned. McDonald 3 5. Our lives are made most happy and fulfilling by cultivating the higher pleasures of intellectual development, aesthetic appreciation and creativity, and social bonds of friendship, family and romantic love. 6. Happiness is best attained in an atmosphere of freedom, tolerance, nonviolence and diversity.

The Hedonic society also states that the ethics of enlightened hedonism is a positive, dynamic and life- affirming alternative to traditional religious and political dogmas. In today's terms, when you hear someone speak of hedonism, your mind automatically goes to associating sex, orgasms, and all other types of physical pleasure with the term hedonism. The important thing to keep in mind, however is that hedonism does not just include physical pleasure. It is possible to strive to achieve happiness and excitement, and at the same time avoid sadness and anxiety. This is also a hedonistic way of thought. Hedonism is not the pursuit purely physical.

It is possible to be intellectually hedonistic as well. And, Hedonism is not based solely on the individual. It is to be the greatest amount of good possible for the greatest amount of people. McDonald 4 So just because you want to something, and fulfill your original desire / want /need, doesn't mean that it is right to do it. You have to take into account what would benefit others as well. "By each of us going immediately for that which we most want, which would give us the most pleasure, is for the greatest possible good to be accomplished...

(Stanford)". Mill says that the ideal way to be is a little bit of both physically and intellectually hedonistic. He introduces the Competent Judge Test (CJT) to battle common objections he faces against hedonistic utilitarianism. The objection stems from the philosophical controversy between bodily (eating, drinking, and sex, but also things like exercise) and intellectual (art, literature, philosophy, and science) pleasures, and the relative value of each of those pleasures (phil. tamu). "Since hedonistic utilitarian define happiness in terms of pleasure and the absence of pain, they are open to the objection that their view give human beings' lives no higher purpose than that of any animal. Mill calls this 'the doctrine of swine objection.

'. .. Mill reasons that if what gives a human being pleasure (and / or pain) is radically different than what gives it to an animal, then what counts as human happiness will be radically different" (phil. tamu). Intellectual pleasures are superior to the physical pleasures, and Mill says that McDonald 5 his CJT proves it. "Of tow pleasures, if there be one to which all of almost all who have experience of both give a decided preference, irrespective or any feeling of moral obligation to prefer it, that is the more desirable pleasure" (phil. tamu). Mill has four different components that are a part of the testing of qualitative superiority; 1) Who the competent judges are; 2) What kind of majority of them must give; 3) What kind of preference to one kind of pleasure over another for it to be judged the higher quality pleasure; and 4) What this qualitative difference implies about the relative value of pleasure of the two kinds.

He also presents the Four Steps of CJT; 1) Identify the competent judges; 2) See if any of them prefer X over Y; 3) Ask if the preference for X over Y is shared by certain characteristics; 4) If #3 is true, then we are justified in concluding that X is somehow superior (phil. tamu). Mill says that if you substitute intellectual pleasures for "X" and bodily pleasures for "Y", then "X" is "qualitatively superior" to "Y". However, like I stated above, each person in their own aspect has some hedonism in them somewhere. I would argue that in order to have a relatively balanced life, you would include both physical McDonald 6 and intellectual aspects of your life.

Whether or not you would be labeled a "Hedonist" would remain to be seen. If you incorporate the greater needs of others into your individual immediate needs, then technically, yes, that would be Hedonism. But, I would venture to say that you would be labeled "a nice person". Castell, Albury, et al., Introduction to Modern Philosophy: Examining the Human Condition. (New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2001).

"Hedonism". Stanford University (online) web. (12/03/2001). "John Stuart Mill". unknown (online) -/ phil. tamu. edu/~gary / intro /lecture. mill 1. html. (12/03/2001). "What is Enlightened Hedonism" Hedonic Society (online) web (12/03/2001).