A New Hedonism

Hedonism’s gotten a bad rap in the past.  In my experience, it’s always been referred to in a context of seeking immediate pleasures – sex, drugs, junk food, etc.  But couldn’t there be a different, more long-term hedonism?

Having all sorts of sex might feel good, but it’s got long-term consequences.  For one, if it’s with multiple partners, there’s obviously a higher risk of infection and babies and that sort of thing.  Additionally, time spent having sex is naturally time spent NOT doing anything else, so you’re necessarily choosing not to use your time for something that may be more pleasurable in the long run.

One criticism of hedonism could be that it’s selfish – that it favors ruthless competition over cooperation, and abhors altruism.  But that doesn’t have to be the case.  In many (I would argue all) situations, cooperation and altruism simply feel better than the alternatives.  Comforting a sad person feels good.  Donating money to good causes feels good.  Treating everyone with dignity, including purported competitors, feels good.

On the flip side, competitiveness may feel good, especially when you win, but it’s bad for you in the long run.  Because you’ve been competitive, you may have lost a future ally.  Lashing out at someone who’s hurt us may feel cathartic, but understanding their perspective and interpreting their actions with aplomb is far more useful.

I think the world would be a better place if everyone were long-term hedonists.