Hedonism is a family of philosophical views that prioritize pleasure. Psychological hedonism is a theory of motivation stating that the self- interested pursuit of pleasure and avoidance of pain drive all human conduct. Axiological hedonism is the view that pleasure is the sole source of intrinsic value. It asserts that other things, like knowledge and money, only have value insofar as they produce pleasure and reduce pain. Ethical hedonism applies this view to morality, arguing that people have a moral duty to pursue pleasure. Utilitarian versions aim to increase overall happiness for everyone, whereas egoistic versions state that each person should only look out for their own happiness. The paradox of hedonism and the hedonic treadmill are proposed psychological barriers to the hedonist goal of long-term happiness. As one of the oldest philosophical theories, hedonism was already discussed in ancient Greek, Indian, and Chinese philosophy.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedonism

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1940:

The de Havilland Mosquito, one of the most successful military aircraft in the Second World War, made its first flight. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Mosquito

1960:

Three of the four Mirabal sisters, who opposed the dictatorship of military strongman Rafael Trujillo in the Dominican Republic, were beaten and strangled to death. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirabal_sisters

1970:

After failing to instigate a military coup to restore the powers of the Emperor of Japan, author Yukio Mishima and a member of his militia publicly committed ritual suicide. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yukio_Mishima

1975:

Upon Suriname's independence from the Netherlands, Johan Ferrier became its first president. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johan_Ferrier

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

semblance: 1. (countable) The outward appearance or form of a person or thing. 2. Followed by of: the outward appearance of a person or thing when regarded as similar to that of another person or thing. 3. Followed by of: the outward appearance of a person or thing which is different from what the person or thing actually is; also, an outward appearance of a thing which does not actually exist. 4. (countable) Followed by of: a person or thing that is seen; an apparition, a vision. 5. (countable) Followed by of: a person or thing that looks similar to another person or thing; a likeness. 6. (countable, always in the negative) Followed by of: a bare or mere appearance of something. 7. (countable) A person's non-verbal behaviour or demeanour which shows their feelings, thoughts, etc., or which is faked to hide such true feelings, thoughts, etc. 8. (uncountable, archaic) The quality or state of being similar; likeness, resemblance, similarity. 9. (uncountable, obsolete) The chance of something happening; likelihood, probability. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/semblance

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

I believe in the future a new Dante will write a new Divine Comedy.   --Ba Jin https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Ba_Jin