Hedonismi: Miten löydät tasapainosi elämässä ja elät ilolla

Hedonism: How to Find Your Balance in Life and Live with Joy

The concept of pleasure dates back to ancient times. In the fifth century BCE, a boy was born in a Libyan village who was destined to become one of the most extraordinary philosophers of antiquity. His name was Aristippus. This man's path in life differed from the thinking of his contemporaries. While his peers, like Socrates, contemplated virtues, knowledge, and justice, Aristippus developed a concept that was as bold as it was simple: The purpose of life is to seek pleasure.

Simply put, pleasure means that the main goal of a person's life is to pursue joy and happiness. This means you should find joy every day by doing things that bring you happiness, whether it is good food, relaxation, a favorite hobby, or time with loved ones. Hedonism means enjoying the moment without harming ourselves or others now or in the future.

Aristippus believed that true happiness is not found in abstract concepts or lofty ideals, but in the direct experience of pleasure. For him, pleasure was not superficial or occasional: it was part of human nature, its highest goal. He argued that everyone should strive for pleasure—whether it be good food, expressions of love, dancing, or simply immersing oneself in a warm bath while reflecting on the world. These seemingly simple joys formed the foundation of his philosophy, which later became known as hedonism.

Although Aristippus's philosophical ideas did not achieve the same fame as the teachings of his contemporaries, his theory of life as a pursuit of pleasure left a profound mark on the history of thought. The concept derived from his ideas about hedonism remains relevant and offers people an alternative perspective on happiness and the purpose of life.