hedonism

views updated May 18 2018

hedonism Pursuit of pleasure, or any of several philosophical or ethical doctrines associated with it. Aristippus (c.435–c.356 bc) taught that pleasure was the highest good. Epicurus advocated discrimination in the seeking of pleasure. John Locke believed that the idea of ‘good’ can be defined in terms of pleasure. Bentham and J. S. Mill adapted a psychological view of hedonism in formulating Utilitarianism.