The Hedonistic Conundrum: How Our Search for Happiness is Making us Miserable
Raul Villamarin Rodriguez
VP @ Woxsen University ?? Where Global Learning Meets Indian Ambition ?? Cognitive Technologist ?? Decoding the Mind Code: Building AI for Humans
Hedonism: the belief that pleasure and happiness are the ultimate goals in life. Sounds great, right? Who doesn't want to be happy and feel good all the time? But as Dostoyevski so eloquently put it, "Man is a stupid creature."
Yes, we as a society have become so obsessed with instant gratification and pleasure that we've lost sight of what truly brings meaning and fulfillment to our lives. We've become a culture of hedonists, constantly seeking new ways to pleasure ourselves and avoid any form of discomfort or pain.
But what happens when this constant pursuit of pleasure becomes all-consuming? We end up in a state of emptiness and despair, much like the characters in Dostoyevski's novels. Take Raskolnikov in Crime and Punishment, for example. He believes that by committing murder, he will be able to achieve a higher level of existence and pleasure. But in the end, his actions lead him to a living hell of guilt and suffering.
And it's not just Dostoyevski's characters that fall victim to this trap. The ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus, often associated with hedonism, believed that pleasure was the ultimate goal in life. However, he also believed in the concept of "ataraxia," or freedom from disturbance. This means that true pleasure can only be achieved through a state of inner peace and balance, not through constant indulgence.
But modern society seems to have forgotten this key aspect of true hedonism. We've become addicted to the instant gratification of social media likes, the high of shopping sprees, and the constant need for new and exciting experiences. We've lost touch with the idea that true pleasure and happiness come from within, and instead look to external sources to fill the void.
And what's the result of all this? A society filled with individuals who are never truly satisfied, always searching for the next hit of pleasure. We've become slaves to our own desires, constantly chasing after something that is ultimately unachievable.
But fear not, dear reader, there is still hope. We can break free from this cycle of constant pleasure-seeking and learn to find true fulfillment in life. It may require some discomfort and sacrifice, but it will be worth it in the end.
So let's take a lesson from Dostoyevski and Epicurus, and remember that true pleasure and happiness come from a state of inner balance and peace. Let's reject the superficial and shallow pleasures of modern society and strive for something truly meaningful and fulfilling. Or, you know, we could just continue on this path of self-destruction and misery. It's totally up to you.
Trades and invests in Trad-Fi and DeFi ecosystem. Solid working knowledge on Macroeconomics and Global trade.
2 å¹´More like a self centered approach in life? Raul Villamarin Rodriguez, Ph.D.
MDI Gurgaon-Assistant Professor (Senior Grade) | CII-Delhi Expert Panel Member HR | Ex IMT Ghaziabad| Ex Chair Holder: Sir Cary Cooper Professor of Organizational Psychology | Thinkers50 member |
2 å¹´Right, Striking a balance is the key and one should avoid falling prey to indulgence.
Department Chair, English Studies, Bayan College (affiliated to Purdue University Northwest), Oman|Associate Fellow, The Harriet Tubman Institute, York University
2 å¹´Prof., I am glad that you are speaking about this aspect so directly. It is an issue that many of us encounter more or less on a daily basis, when we are forced to engage more with 'quantities' rather than 'qualities' of research; when we are more motivated by the superficial acknowledgments of likes and shares rather than genuine feedback from readers; and when we are expected to perform like marketable objects by compromising with our socio-emotional values. It is so important that as institutions we speak and engage about these challenges in this way.
Director, IAS Academy, Thought Leader, Institution Builder, CAT verbal product Head, Legal English Expert, GMAT, GRE/ IELTS /TOEFL/SAT Senior Faculty, Author, E learning professional, Director IAS Academy
2 å¹´This school of thought is similar to the Indian concept of Charvaks or Ajivakas. Like Hedonists, they too stressed in the material doctrine, enjoying the present. It is a sort of proto existential philosophy.