Christian hedonism

Utilitarianism Utilitarianism is the idea that the goal of society should be to bring about the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. So, actions are judged depending on whether they produce pleasure or pain, and what effect they have on society well-being and happiness. Utilitarianism gained a lot in prominence and popularity due in part to the work of Jeremy Bentham, who was born in 1748 and a student of law published his primary work named Introduction to the principles of…

Nozick’s experience machine is a counterexample to the theory of hedonism. It has persuaded many that there is more to prudential value than the actual feeling of experiences. So what is the experience machine argument? If life contains the upmost amount of pleasure and minimal amount of pain as possible, there is no way to make that life better. It is the hedonic quality of experience that matters for considering the well-being of a persons life. The basic point is that the machine makes the…

This paper looks to discuss Nozick’s experience machine. The paper begins by reconstructing Nozick’s experiment, and explains its consequences. The paper then argues that the experiment is actually consistent with hedonism, as by expanding on the definition of pleasure we see that by not plugging in we are actually doing the more pleasurable act. Nozick experiment asks us to imagine a machine that once connected to allows for us to experience the greatest possible pleasures. The machine then…

P1. If pleasure is what we value most and we will experience more pleasure by doing x rather than doing y, then we should do x over y P2. We will experience more pleasure by plugging into the Experience Machine than not plugging into the Experience Machine C1: If all that matters to us is maximising pleasure then we should want to plug into the experience machine. (P1&P2) P3. We have reason to not want to plug into the Experience Machine C2. Therefore, experiencing as much pleasure as possible…

Discuss any objections to hedonism of which you are aware of and explain whether there is an alternative theory of well being that is preferable to hedonism. Within the following essay I will discuss objections to hedonism and I will further explain whether there is an alternative theory of well being that is preferable to hedonism. Firstly we have to identify what hedonism is, hedonism has been typically expressed by certain quotes as “Pleasure is the only thing worth seeking for its own sake”…

Sun Signs in Characters from Candor The signs of the Zodiac are known by most people, or at least their own sun sign. While it is quite a complex and imprecise system, astrology can be astonishingly accurate when all the counterparts are put together. The signs can reveal much about one's character. What if you do not know the day of birth for someone? Only speculation can tell. The protagonist of Candor, Oscar Banks, has many traits, but mostly show those of an Aquarius-Pisces cusp. Cusp…

John Stuart Mill’s theory of higher and lower pleasures can be a tricky one. In fact, Mill defines happiness as the absence of pain, and unhappiness as the consequence of pain and the absence of pleasure. In other words, in his view, happiness is directly, related to pleasure. However, Mill points out the fact that not all pleasures are the same. For instance, he claims that intellectual pleasures are with no doubt safer than physical pleasures. As humans, we tend to chase the pleasures of…

Greatest-happiness Principle, and how he tries to dinguses himself from traditional Hedonism views, and raise the question if virtue for its own sake, produces…

In utilitarianism, the line between pragmatism and morality is nonexistent as it asks individuals to consider themselves a part of a whole so they can act solely to benefit the larger unit. Essentially, Bentham's model determines whether an action is right or wrong based on the net amount of pleasure or pain it causes the involved parties. Furthermore, he specifies the various qualities that determine the value of the subsequent pleasure or pain, breaking them into seven categories that range…

“According to the normal view, happiness is the summum bonum towards which we’re naturally impelled by virtue - which in their definition means following one’s natural impulses” (72). Pursuing happiness is thought of as a self-centrical idea in the outside world. Once an individual attains happiness, they do not feel obligated to help the people around them, because they would rather continue to further their pleasure. Utopia, an imaginary perfect society created by Thomas More, is far different…