hedonism

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Words like "hedonism"-- [151] terms of large and vague comprehension--above all when used for a purpose avowedly controversial, have ever been the worst examples of what are called "question-begging terms;" and in that late age in which Marius lived, amid the dust of so many centuries of philosophical debate, the air was full of them.

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Definitions (7)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (3)

  1. noun Pursuit of or devotion to pleasure, especially to the pleasures of the senses.
  2. noun Philosophy The ethical doctrine holding that only what is pleasant or has pleasant consequences is intrinsically good.
  3. noun Psychology The doctrine holding that behavior is motivated by the desire for pleasure and the avoidance of pain.

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Examples (49)

  • The Stoic extreme of passionlessness is almost as false as the Epicurean hedonism, and the mean between them is the ideal Jewish life, in which godliness and humanity are blended. —  Philo-Judaeus of Alexandria
  • Whether it's to Islam or hedonism, atheism, etc., it's all the same. —  Latest Articles
  • If the British or American way of life really were to take on board the critique of materialism, hedonism, and individualism made by many devout Muslims, Western civilization would most certainly be altered for the good. —  Commonweal Magazine
  • We live in a culture of hedonism, a society which divorces sex from commitment and turns it into an alternative leisure activity to punctuate the hours between the PlayStation and oblivion.
  • Welcome to the world's most famous and most glamorous bastion of hedonism, the Playboy Mansion! —  ReadABlog.com New Blogs and RSS Feeds
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Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Greek hēdonē, pleasure; see swād- in Indo-European roots + -ism.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. from Greek ἡδονή, delight, enjoyment, pleasure (see hedonic), + -ism.
 

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/ˈhidənɪzm/
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