In part, Christianity is about the pursuit of pleasure, but this pleasure is one that is defined by a transcendent God. Only the group with the most power can maximize its own pleasure when a transcendent norm does not define pleasure. Thoughtful hedonists might say pleasure is found only if no one is harmed, but this is an appeal to an objective idea of pleasure, which hedonism denies. A hedonistic worldview cannot consistently condemn me, since, after all, I am just seeking my own pleasure. Perhaps I can maximize my pleasure only by maximizing your pain. They pursued pleasure, but not “too much” in order to avoid the negative consequences of failure. The Epicureans of ancient Greece are an example of these thoughtful hedonists. Paradoxically, in looking to satisfy your own lusts you might just find a world of hurt.
If you reach too far in pursuit of pleasure you might fail and be frustrated, which is painful.
Other hedonists, however, have been more thoughtful and have done their best to minimize the “hedonistic paradox.” A basic problem with hedonism is that in striving to achieve pleasure you may actually find what you most want to avoid - pain.
We can think, for example, of the orgies and drunkenness in ancient Greece and Rome. At various points in history it has expressed itself crassly. 3:7, 16–19).Īs a worldview, hedonism is concerned with the maximizing of pleasure and the minimizing of pain.
In retrospect, however, Eve found only pain when she and Adam sinned (Gen. There was a certain amount of pleasure that the fruit gave her when she beheld it, and, no doubt, a degree of pleasure that she thought she would receive should she disobey God and take from the tree. Genesis 3:6 says that Eve chose to eat the forbidden fruit partly because it was a “delight” to her eye. Hedonism, the final non-Christian worldview we will cover in our brief study of philosophy, can be traced back all the way to the garden of Eden.
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