At its heart, hedonism is the philosophy that pleasure or happiness is the most important pursuit of mankind. Followers of hedonism value the pursuit of enjoyment and aim to maximize net pleasure (pleasure minus pain).
The roots of hedonism stretch back to ancient Greece. Philosophers like Epicurus emphasized moderate pleasure, suggesting that absence from pain is the true path to happiness. Epicureanism, thus, is sometimes conflated with hedonism.
Notable Hedonists
- Epicurus - Ancient Greek philosopher known for his teachings on simple pleasures.
- Jeremy Bentham - Advocate of utilitarianism, sometimes considered a form of hedonism.
- John Stuart Mill - Developed the theory further and discussed higher and lower pleasures.