Ethics
Many people are surprised that Rational Hedonists have an agreed upon set of ethics.
R.H. ethics begin with the question, "What is the good life?"
The vast majority of people now-a-days never knew or have forgotten that the concept of a virtuous and pleasant life came from ancient Greece.
R.H. ethics begin with the question, "What is the good life?"
The vast majority of people now-a-days never knew or have forgotten that the concept of a virtuous and pleasant life came from ancient Greece.
The most basic hedonistic viewpoint is that pleasure is good and should be maximized, and pain is to be minimized.
Ethical PleasuresPleasure is good by nature. Be virtuous and act justly. Virtue is the infallible means to freedom from disturbance. The journey of learning, exploring, questioning and creating and growing in wisdom and life's experiences. Satisfying physical desires can be an elusive destination. It is the journey getting there that makes the trip worthwhile. The summum bonum, or greatest good is prudence; having the moral and intellectual ability to anticipate the consequences of your actions, assessing the pros and cons, profit and loss. Therefore, be wise and think things through before you speak or act. It is better than making mistakes in judgement which will cause unsettling feelings and stress later. Respect the freedom of other individuals. |
Avoiding Physical and Psychological PainPleasures become vices (alcohol, eating, smoking) when they become addictive and are done without being "in the moment" or "savored".
Excessive indulgence can be destructive to pleasure and may actually result in causing pain. Dishonesty, violating trust, theft and violence, are some of the flawed behaviors that cultivate worry, guilt, stress, anxiety and the fear of "getting caught". Doing evil and wicked deeds also destroys the one doing it. Inner fear is the source of most unhappiness. |