Hedonism
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Hedonism is a family of philosophical views that prioritize pleasure. Psychological hedonism is the theory that all human behavior is motivated by the desire to maximize pleasure and minimize pain. As
Thomas Hobbes was a key advocate of psychological hedonism.
Robert Nozick criticized hedonism for not distinguishing between authentic and inauthentic pleasures.
Epicurus developed a nuanced form of ethical hedonism, arguing that a tranquil state of mind cultivated through moderation leads to the greatest overall happiness.
Aesthetic hedonism states that any entity, such as Vincent van Gogh's painting The Starry Night, is beautiful if it causes aesthetic pleasure.
Eudaimonia
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Eudaimonia is a Greek word literally translating to the state or condition of good spirit, and which is commonly translated as happiness or welfare.
Head of Aristotle. Roman copy in marble of the mid-1st century from the Greek original c. 320 BC
Text authored by Plato
The School of Athens by Raffaello Sanzio, 1509, showing Plato (left) and Aristotle (right)
Pyrrho