The Ethics of Enjoyment:

Reconciling (Ethical) Hedonism and (Practical) Nihilism in the Search for a Fulfilling Life

Alara Lane
Honors Philosophy - Catlin Gabel 2022
May 11th, 2023
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How can we realize a pleasurable life?

In the movie Being John Malkovich there is a choice, be the puppeteer or the puppet;

create your own system, or work for an existing one. Based on the choices made by Craig and

Lottie in the movie, we see there is an inherent desire to escape the systems we are trapped in1, in

order to enjoy our lives. This poses the question: Are we enjoying our lives as they are right now,

or do we need to make a bigger change to how we imagine them? In order to live a truly

pleasurable life, we must call on ethical hedonism as well as practical nihilism2, in conjunction.

By pairing these two, we can use the idea of an inherently-meaningless life, to form ethical,

pleasurable decisions, without fear of judgment or harm. Thus, I will discuss how can we

ethically defy the system in order to satisfy our pleasures.

Harmonizing Practical Nihilism and Ethical Hedonism for a Fulfilling Existence

1 Being John Malkovich, 1hr 52min.

2 Bentham, J. (1789). An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation. London: T. Payne.

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The concept that humans crave pleasure and make decisions based on fulfilling our

desires is a fundamental concept in both economics and philosophy. This philosophical idea is

known as hedonism, which is the belief that pleasure is the ultimate goal of human life. While

this idea has been up for debate for centuries, it is

clear that pleasure plays a significant role in human

decision-making. For instance, as a second

semester senior, I find little pleasure in completing

my homework. My foot is already out the door,

stepping its way into Boston, MA. Since I enjoy
looking into my future in Boston, I prioritize my
Bockting, Walter O. "Conscious Hedonism." Nymphomedia
Blog, Sexual Health Alliance, October 21, 2020.
https://sexualhealthalliance.com/nymphomedia-blog/2020/10
/21/conscious-hedonism.

actions by which is most pleasurable: to procrastinate my homework, I browse the college

Instagram.

One of the most famous philosophers who discussed hedonism was Epicurus3. He

believed that pleasure was the ultimate goal of human life, stating “Pleasure is the beginning and

the end of living happily”4. That said, he argued that excessive pleasure-seeking could lead to

pain and suffering in the long run. So, he advocated for a life of simplicity and moderation,

where pleasure was pursued in a balanced way.

Similarly to Epicurus, another philosopher who discussed the role of pleasure in human

decision-making was Jeremy Bentham. He believed that all human actions were motivated by the

pursuit of pleasure, combined with the avoidance of pain5. (i.e., I browse BU’s website to avoid

the pain of my calculus homework). Bentham argued that the role of society should be to

3 Epicurus. (n.d.). Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved April 28, 2023, from
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/epicurus/
4 Epicurus. (n.d.). Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
5 Sartre, J.-P. (1946). Existentialism is a Humanism. Yale University Press.

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maximize pleasure while minimizing pain for the greatest number of people. Considering the

minimization of pain for others, or rather, the avoidance of causing pain to others, is ethical

hedonism.

Though Epicurus and Bentham look at the role of pleasure on different scales in human

life, they both recognized its value. And as such, it is clear that pleasure plays a significant role

in human decision-making. But this begs the question, are we truly able to live our lives only

seeking pleasure?

Returning to my brief example regarding schoolwork, I can state that I would rather be

enjoying the upcoming 70-80 degree weather, then continuing my calculus, but I can’t.

Hedonism argues I should base my decisions on how pleasurable they can be, but how can I

avoid work, when this may cause long term consequences, such as a C or a D in calc. Which,

would lead to possibly not getting into my dream school, then not getting my dream job, and

even further, not being able to retiree. A philosopher who discussed this concept of being

“unable to truly choose” was Jean-Paul Sartre6.

"Man is condemned to be free. Condemned because he did not create himself, yet is nevertheless at

liberty, and from the moment that he is thrown into this world he is responsible for everything he does." 7

In this quote he argues that individuals can become trapped in our systems, causing them to lose

their sense of freedom to be themselves or to pursue their desires. Thus, losing their

individuality. Sartre believed that individuals must take responsibility for their own lives, and

create their own meaning in a society that can be oppressive and sometimes, meaningless. He

also argued that individuals must reject the roles that society assigns to them and create their own

6 Sartre, J.-P. (1946)

7 Nietzsche, F. (1882). The Gay Science

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identities. This is when looking at the world through a Nihilistic-Hedonistic perspective can

allow us to remove ourselves as a cog in the system and find choices that align with our personal

goals, values, and are most pleasurable to us.

Nihilism emphasizes accepting the meaninglessness and ‘emptiness’ of life.

Generally, it is the belief that life has no inherent meaning or purpose, and that all values

and beliefs are ultimately baseless. Nihilism can be seen as very pessimistic or bleak; a

rejection of traditional values and beliefs, and a recognition that there is no objective

truth or morality. Yet, Friedrich Nietzsche argued that

nihilism was a necessary stage in the development of

human consciousness:

“I praise, I do not reproach, [nihilism's] arrival. I believe

it is one of the greatest crises, a moment of the deepest

self-reflection of humanity. Whether man recovers from

it, whether he becomes master of this crisis, is a question

Noble, Tim, and Sue Webster. "Nihilistic Optimistic:
New Shadow Sculptures Built from Discarded Wood."
Colossal, October 18, 2012. of his strength”8.
https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2012/10/nihilistic-
optimistic-new-shadow-sculptures-built-from-
discarded-wood-from-tim-noble-and-sue-webster/.

Alike Sartre, Nietzsche also believed that individuals

must create their own values and meanings in life, rather than relying on the baseline values. By

following this path, and breaking free from confined thought, you can base your decisions more

on desire than need or desperation. This path is that of a practical nihilist, and some even say,

"practical nihilism is the only way to live"9. Like Craig, Lottie and other characters in Being

John Malkovich, practical nihilism (by way of escape via the portal) allowed them to explore

8 Barentsen, A. (2015). Understanding Peace and Conflict Through Social Identity Theory: Contemporary
Global Perspectives. Routledge
9 Brennan, A. (2019). The Benefits of Nihilism. Psychology Today. Retrieved April 28, 2023, from
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/our-changing-culture/201903/the-benefits-nihilism

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concepts they normally couldn’t. Just as the film ultimately suggests, this pursuit of individuality

and self-discovery can lead to a greater sense of fulfillment and satisfaction, and allows for a

greater sense of authenticity and honesty with our selves10.

So, why not just become John Malkovich? "The Athena Cinema - Being John
Malkovich." The Athena Cinema.
Well, one limitation of practical Accessed May 4, 2023.
http://athenacinema.com/being-john-
nihilism is that it could appear as disruptive,
malkovich/.
outside a hedonistic lens. Yet, from a

hedonistic perspective, I argue that it is welcomed to be a practical-nihilist when it allows you to

find greater pleasure and happiness. Why sit at your minimum-wage-job from 9 to 5 when you

could spend all your money on travels and let your debt die with you? If these ingrained, societal

beliefs and values are causing us to suffer, then

rejecting those beliefs and values can give us a

greater sense of pleasure and happiness. In the

case of hedonism, practical nihilism can be

viewed as a form of self-care, where
individuals prioritize their own well-being over
the expectations of society or traditional
morality.
10 Leonard, James. "Finding Purpose in Nihilism."
"EPA Report Warns People of Color, Low-
Income Communities More Likely to Live Near
Polluted Areas." Yahoo! Entertainment, May 2,
2023. Accessed May 4, 2023.
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/epa-
report-warns-people-color-045735593.html?
guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly90a
W5leWUuY29tLw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAA
L4-0UhFa31UKsHnEHVe5BozS-
yqnWsgNkyhBWXUvDTSJKNqfnOkWltuuymQ
XYjIFqBZDtfq_HIC4gD5awtGwEF7qfJnke2Dak
9VdMBXSG7SW3VRl3xc5NhuxS7-
7AxzomypOF8kHd_u8D0St8N0840e5b10HsX7
CSGBTg2GlU1a".
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That said, we can’t all just start to go around setting everything on fire, eventually our

decisions will affect those around us. As Bentham argued, it is also essential that we aim to

maximize pleasure and minimize pain for the general group, not just ourselves. So, if an

individual's nihilistic actions lead them to harm others, (i.e., my calculus homework was part of a

group project), or cause them to engage in destructive behavior, then those beliefs are not ethical.

The ethics of practical nihilism depend on the context and the consequences of embracing these

nihilistic beliefs. So, In order to analyze when these actions are, or are not ethical, we must use a

guiding framework:

S is a beneficial and ethical action iff

i) S allows you to fulfill your desires and is pleasurable

ii) when S is experienced by others, S does not minimize their pleasure.

iii) if S satisfies (i) and (ii), S is an ethical action. If S only satisfies (i),

S is an unethical action.

Using ethical hedonism and practical nihilism, to form the above, individuals can avoid

harming others - while continuing to escape judgment and fear. Though seemingly contradictory,

in order to ethically defy the system while still satisfying our desires: we must first allow our

selves to establish an ethical idea of pleasure, realize that the system itself poses no inherent

meaning, and then dictate our actions based on our individual desires. This allows us to set up a

process of identifying if your pleasurable, yet nihilistic action, will or will not maximize your

pleasure while minimizing (or being ineffective to) the pain of others in doing.

Some may also argue a more extreme anti-nihilist view; that nihilism can lead to a lack of

ethical or moral values, as one may see no reason to follow any particular set of principles. This

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can result in a lack of empathy or concern for others, and eventually, a disregard for the

consequences of one's actions. As noted by Marc Krellenstein, nihilism can also lead to a sense

of alienation, as one could end up feeling disconnected from said shared values or beliefs11.

While I argue that practical nihilism can be a liberating perspective, it is important to consider

the potential consequences of this worldview, and to recognize the importance of finding

meaning and purpose in life.

That said - As noted by Aeon - while practicing nihilism has the potential to take

individuals astray, it is ultimately up to said individuals to create their own meaning and purpose

in life while still connecting with others and contributing to society12. As long as the goal of the

practical nihilist is pleasure fulfillment, by following the framework above (p. 5,6) the

consequences will affect others. Moreover, this approach allows us to create a greater

understanding of the human state, as we can acknowledge the complexities as well as the

uncertainties of existence, while furthering personal growth and self-discovery. Yet in regard to

the practical nihilist, it is unpredictable where one could go. By only prioritizing pleasure, would

they lose their grip on everything else?

Conclusion

11 Krellenstein, Marc. “Moral Nihilism and Its Implications.” The Journal of Mind and Behavior 38, no. 1
(2017): 75–90. http://www.jstor.org/stable/44631529.
12 Gertz, Nolen. "If you believe in nihilism, do you believe in anything?" Aeon, February 27, 2020.
Accessed May 11, 2023. https://aeon.co/essays/if-you-believe-in-nihilism-do-you-believe-in-anything.

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Though I don’t have an answer to the above, I believe that the synthesis of ethical

hedonism in conjunction with practical nihilism can lead to a more authentic and fulfilling life;

as you are free to create their own meaning and happiness without feeling stuck due to societal

expectations or norms. As long as we allow ourselves to develop our own morals to guide us, we

will not find ourselves fitting the stereotypical

definition of the deranged nihilist.

So to conclude, the integration of ethical

hedonism and nihilism can provide everyone with a

valuable philosophical perspective, which we can

use to guide our actions. Being a practical nihilist

Finck, Liana. "A NIHILIST GLOATING does not limit you to pessimism, but can allow you
OVER SPILLED MILK". New Yorker
Cartoons. February 8th, 2021. to emphasize individual freedom, responsibility, and

the pursuit of pleasure, while maintaining a sense of empathy and ethical consideration for

others.

Bibliography

Leonard, James. "Finding Purpose in Nihilism." The Harvard Crimson, September 23, 2019.

Accessed April 29, 2023. https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2019/9/23/leonard-finding-

purpose-nihilism/.

Kaufman, Charlie, director. Being John Malkovich. Gramercy Pictures, 1999, 1hr 52min,

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120601/.

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Epicurus. (n.d.). Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved April 28, 2023, from

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/epicurus/

Bentham, J. (1789). An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation. London: T.

Payne.

Sartre, J.-P. (1946). Existentialism is a Humanism. Yale University Press.

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Accessed April 29, 2023. https://philpapers.org/rec/KRUHMA.

Krellenstein, Marc. “Moral Nihilism and Its Implications.” The Journal of Mind and Behavior

38, no. 1 (2017): 75–90. http://www.jstor.org/stable/44631529.