For this week’s discussion we have been asked the following question:

If we accept the idea that human beings are inherently hedonistic, why then do most of us behave
ourselves? Essentially, why do we make an effort to behave well when our instinctive
predisposition is to always seek pleasure?
A good definition for hedonism based on Thomas Hobbs views on the matter is “that
what is good for any individual is the enjoyable experience in his/her life, what is bad is the
suffering in that life, and the life best for an individual is that with the greatest balance of
enjoyment over suffering.” (Crisp, 2006) There are many obvious reasons why we might accept
the idea that humans are inherently hedonists. Human seem to be wired to avoid any variant of
pain and seek pleasure. However, there are many reasons why even if we accept this idea, we
still behave in ways that do not favor pleasure over pain. If we explore the religious angle, we
might find that satisfying our instincts (seeking pleasure) does not align with our belief system.
We might put off certain behavior that we may find pleasurable now to avoid pain later. To some
this might translate to the avoidance of certain behaviors to avoid karma, eternal damnation, and
the sort.
A distinct perspective is whether pleasure equals happiness. Happiness is one basic
challenge hedonism faces. When we wish for happiness, do we believe that it can be summed up
by any number of pleasures? The “Authentic Happiness's principal challenge to Hedonism is
Wittgenstein's last words: "Tell them it was wonderful!" uttered even after a life of negative
emotion and even downright misery.” (Seligman & Royzman, 2003) What I think is interesting
about Seligman and Royzman’s comment is that is highlights why we may behave in ways that
are contradictory to our instincts. Going back to the religious perspective, for Christians, to
suffer in the name of Jesus is more favorable than to seek human pleasure. In Philippians 1:22
the apostle Paul says that to live is Christ and to die is a gain. He later explains how being
imprisoned, beaten, shipwrecked, and even stoned is favorable to him because it helped advance
the gospel. What this shows is that humans are influenced to behave in certain ways to satisfy not
only their instincts but also their worldviews such as their faith.

References:
Crisp, R. (2006). Hedonism Reconsidered. Philosophy and Phenomenological Research, 73(3),
619-645. doi: 10.1111/j.1933-1592.2006.tb00551.x
Seligman, M., & Royzman, E. (2003). Happiness: The Three Traditional Theories | Authentic
Happiness. Retrieved 22 November 2019, from
https://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/newsletters/authentichappiness/happiness