Would you prefer a lively party or a quiet night of study?
One is pleasurable while the other is considered boring.
I’ll be at that party, and so would most of you.
While perhaps not the most rational option, it's the choice that yields the greatest pleasure the quickest.
Hedonism can be defined as the pursuit of pleasure and avoidance of pain.
Aristippus believed the only cause truly worth pursuing in someone’s life is one that brings happiness.
The concept of delayed gratification is promoted and greatly encouraged nowadays.
We are encouraged to work our asses off today for a chance of a better tomorrow.
Hedonism is the opposite.
Followers of hedonism do not believe in the concept of delayed gratification.
They believe in obtaining pleasure from what is present and available.
Instead of encouraging students to study hard for their exams …
Aristippus would encourage them to drink and to party lavishly.
Why?
Because those are the pleasures that are readily available to them.
Some may view this as a way to live life to its fullest.
On the other hand, others view it as stupid and lacking foresight.
After all, if you splurge everything you have on the pleasures of today you will quickly run out of resources.
Turning that pleasure into pain.
You’ve seen people on the streets living in poverty due to laziness and people losing everything they had due to an addiction.
Those are the consequences of solely focusing on attaining pleasure at every moment.
But what is the point in working a 9-5 for forty years and ignoring all the pleasure just to die a few years before retirement?
Even if you do make it to retirement, you’re not as lively and active as you once were.
Knowing this, is it still considered foolish to pursue the pleasures we have in the present?
To Purse Pleasure or Not?
You should not pursue pleasure at every moment.
You also should not postpone moments of pleasure all the time.
It is in your best interest to find a balance.
Aim to live a life that is not too far on one side of the spectrum.