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Hedonism

- 4 dictionary results

he⋅don⋅ism

[heed-n-iz-uhm]
–noun
1. the doctrine that pleasure or happiness is the highest good.
2. devotion to pleasure as a way of life: The later Roman emperors were notorious for their hedonism.

Origin:
1855–60; < Gk hēdon() pleasure + -ism


2. sensualism, libertinism, debauchery, dissipation, carousal.


2. puritanism, asceticism, abstemiousness, self-denial.
he·don·ism   (hēd'n-ĭz'əm)   
n.  
  1. Pursuit of or devotion to pleasure, especially to the pleasures of the senses.
  2. Philosophy The ethical doctrine holding that only what is pleasant or has pleasant consequences is intrinsically good.
  3. Psychology The doctrine holding that behavior is motivated by the desire for pleasure and the avoidance of pain.

[Greek hēdonē, pleasure; see swād- in Indo-European roots + -ism.]
he'don·ist n., he'don·is'tic adj., he'don·is'ti·cal·ly adv.

hedonism [(heed-n-iz-uhm)]

In ethics, the doctrine that pleasure or happiness is the highest good in life. Some hedonists, such as the Epicureans, have insisted that pleasure of the entire mind, not just pleasure of the senses, is this highest good.


Main Entry: he·do·nism
Pronunciation: 'hEd-&n-"iz-&m
Function: noun
: the doctrine that pleasure or happiness is the sole orchief good in life —he·do·nist /-&n-&st/ nounhe·do·nis·tic /"hEd-&n-'is-tik/ adjectivehe·do·nis·ti·cal·ly /-ti-k(&-)lE/ adverb
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