Even though it’s certainly good to treat yourself and get the most out of life, these kinds of catchphrases are dangerous. Unrestrained hedonism is selfish and short-sighted; it is what has brought humanity to the situation it finds itself in today—on the brink of the abyss.
If we continue as we have been, we will destroy the very foundations of our existence—and, with them, ourselves.
“After me, the deluge” is not an attitude worth aspiring to.
Well, it’s a fine line: The highlighted passage—“Being alive is as special an occasion as it gets”—could, in principle or at least on its own, also be interpreted to mean that one should always live in the moment and not worry at all about tomorrow or one’s fellow human beings.
This would be a very selfish attitude that considers only one’s own well-being and derives something like a right to be inconsiderate from personal happiness.
In this particular case, that might sound a bit exaggerated, but preserving old things can also benefit future generations by ensuring that records of their predecessors are preserved. How far this should go is, of course, also a matter of balance, especially since there is certainly a responsibility to use resources sparingly and not constantly acquire new things when a need could just as easily be met with what’s already there.
So in short: The only point I’m trying to make is that, in my view, it’s important not to forget others—even those who haven’t even been born yet—in the pursuit of personal happiness.
Proper hedonism really doesn’t need much. The best pleasures require little material wealth: love, friendship, singing and dancing together, playing games together, teaching, learning, giving, receiving, and seeing your friends and family at peace. For this you need stability, which does ask for a decent economy, but nothing of the sort that would make the planet uninhabitable in a century or two.
The pursuit of pleasure in the 21st century is so desperate because all of these simple pleasures have structurally been made near-impossible with the specific goal of making the working class restless, disorganized, and mutually antagonistic so they are easier to control and more dependent on consumption. Or to put it in modern terms, “to prevent loitering and stop unlicenced black market activity”.
Even though it’s certainly good to treat yourself and get the most out of life, these kinds of catchphrases are dangerous. Unrestrained hedonism is selfish and short-sighted; it is what has brought humanity to the situation it finds itself in today—on the brink of the abyss.
If we continue as we have been, we will destroy the very foundations of our existence—and, with them, ourselves.
“After me, the deluge” is not an attitude worth aspiring to.
Also wise, but missing the point I think. (which is to not hoard stuff for sentimental reasons)
Well, it’s a fine line: The highlighted passage—“Being alive is as special an occasion as it gets”—could, in principle or at least on its own, also be interpreted to mean that one should always live in the moment and not worry at all about tomorrow or one’s fellow human beings.
This would be a very selfish attitude that considers only one’s own well-being and derives something like a right to be inconsiderate from personal happiness.
In this particular case, that might sound a bit exaggerated, but preserving old things can also benefit future generations by ensuring that records of their predecessors are preserved. How far this should go is, of course, also a matter of balance, especially since there is certainly a responsibility to use resources sparingly and not constantly acquire new things when a need could just as easily be met with what’s already there.
So in short: The only point I’m trying to make is that, in my view, it’s important not to forget others—even those who haven’t even been born yet—in the pursuit of personal happiness.
is it though? it’s not hedonism that’s hoarding trillions and waging wars
Yeah hedonism and avarice aren’t the same vices, the latter is much more troubling in my opinion.
Proper hedonism really doesn’t need much. The best pleasures require little material wealth: love, friendship, singing and dancing together, playing games together, teaching, learning, giving, receiving, and seeing your friends and family at peace. For this you need stability, which does ask for a decent economy, but nothing of the sort that would make the planet uninhabitable in a century or two.
The pursuit of pleasure in the 21st century is so desperate because all of these simple pleasures have structurally been made near-impossible with the specific goal of making the working class restless, disorganized, and mutually antagonistic so they are easier to control and more dependent on consumption. Or to put it in modern terms, “to prevent loitering and stop unlicenced black market activity”.
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