Maybe I’ll change my mind by the time I’m finished with this essay. That’s usually why I begin to write. To change my mind, to challenge reasons, to understand more clearly. Essentially, to help me learn.
Are all humans hedonists? Hedonism is defined by Merriam-Webster as “the doctrine that pleasure or happiness is the sole or chief good in life. So basically, one who only seeks happiness. But who would seek sadness? What thinking human being would knowingly put themselves in a state of sadness? I can think of a few examples.
Suppose a man is in love with a woman that he cannot be with. He is very sad that he cannot be with her so he decides to ignore her. Not seeing her or speaking to her drives him crazy and makes him very sad. But he decides to stick it out until he forgets about her and moves on.
This is one situation where someone would make themselves feel sad, but only to be happier in the future. It can be transformed into many different situations where choosing the lesser of two evils would still be choosing something evil, but still better than the other choice. Ultimately, he’s seeking happiness through seeking sadness. Life will be hell for a while but life will be better in the end.
A more queer example are the type of people who enjoy being sad. But still, isn’t that something you enjoy? Something you get pleasure out of? And with those who cut themselves to get off, they are finding pleasure in their pain.
Would you agree that happiness and pleasure are the chief goods in life? One response would be ”My family’s happiness is more important than my own.” But if your family’s happiness is important to you and they are in fact happy, doesn’t that make you happy? Doesn’t it come full circle? Which begs a second question: Are all humans selfish?
If someone likes to do volunteer work or give to charities, they’re not selfish right? But aren’t they doing it so they’ll feel better? because they ultimately like to do those things? They like to help out, so they get pleasure out of it, so are they only thinking of themselves? “I’ll feel better when that family has a home.” So you’d be looking out for your own interest right?
I realize that this is all very cynical. I’m not saying that everyone has ulterior motives. Or maybe I am. Then again, maybe I’m not. I’m not even exactly sure. Perhaps I’m just being a little too literal and thinking way too deeply about this all. It’s possible.
So are all humans hedonists? I still don’t know. We’re only here for a short time and we must make the best of it. Ironic how I’m standing here wondering how sadness can make people happy. But I’m not sad, so I don’t get it. Am I wasting my time? I guess not because I’m thinking constructively, or destructively. At least I’m not watching television. I’m letting my voice he known. Maybe it’ll spark some questions in you.