Hedonism: Overview
Definition: Hedonism is the view that pleasure is the only thing with
prudential value, and pain is the only thing with prudential disvalue. In
simple terms:
o Pleasure = Good
o Pain = Bad
Key Principles of Hedonism
1. Pleasure as Good: All and only pleasure is (non-instrumentally) good
for us.
2. Pain as Bad: All and only pain is (non-instrumentally) bad for us.
3. Well-Being: A person’s overall level of well-being is determined solely
by the balance of pleasure and pain they experience.
Key Concept: Hedonic Level - The balance of pleasure and pain in a
person's life.
o If someone's Hedonic Level increases, their well-being
increases.
o If their Hedonic Level decreases, their well-being decreases.
o This is known as the Perfect Hedonic Correlation.
Hedonist Arguments
Paradigm Cases:
o Lives with high well-being generally have high hedonic levels.
o If all paradigm cases of high well-being have higher hedonic
levels, then Hedonism is true.
o Therefore, Hedonism is true.
Counter-Argument: The Experience Machine Example:
o If something contributes to someone’s well-being, it must affect
their experience in some way.
o Key Point: Something that is instrumental serves as a tool for
achieving something.
Base Pleasures: Objections
Base Pleasures: Objections target the claim that certain pleasures
contribute to well-being, such as:
Definition: Hedonism is the view that pleasure is the only thing with
prudential value, and pain is the only thing with prudential disvalue. In
simple terms:
o Pleasure = Good
o Pain = Bad
Key Principles of Hedonism
1. Pleasure as Good: All and only pleasure is (non-instrumentally) good
for us.
2. Pain as Bad: All and only pain is (non-instrumentally) bad for us.
3. Well-Being: A person’s overall level of well-being is determined solely
by the balance of pleasure and pain they experience.
Key Concept: Hedonic Level - The balance of pleasure and pain in a
person's life.
o If someone's Hedonic Level increases, their well-being
increases.
o If their Hedonic Level decreases, their well-being decreases.
o This is known as the Perfect Hedonic Correlation.
Hedonist Arguments
Paradigm Cases:
o Lives with high well-being generally have high hedonic levels.
o If all paradigm cases of high well-being have higher hedonic
levels, then Hedonism is true.
o Therefore, Hedonism is true.
Counter-Argument: The Experience Machine Example:
o If something contributes to someone’s well-being, it must affect
their experience in some way.
o Key Point: Something that is instrumental serves as a tool for
achieving something.
Base Pleasures: Objections
Base Pleasures: Objections target the claim that certain pleasures
contribute to well-being, such as:
