History UsefulNotes / EthicalHedonism

Moral philosophy takes two basic forms (there are also others, less common, like virtue ethics). One is morality that judges actions based on what consequences they have. This is known as teleology or consequentialism, and the most common form of consequentialism is utilitarianism or ethical hedonism: the belief in the greater good and that the best course of action is the one which makes the greatest number of people better off and happy, or egoism, which sees [[ItsAllAboutMe actions that benefit the self as the most righteous]].

The other basic form is morality that judges actions based on the principles behind the actions. This is known as [[ForGreatJustice Deontology]]. Examples of deontologist ethics include the principles that one should not [[WIllNotTellALie lie]], steal or [[ThouShaltNotKill kill]] because it is inherently immoral to do so, which counters consequentialist morality that in basis holds that it is okay and not immoral if there is a greater benefit to be had. Deontology stresses principles and duty to oneself and others, while consequentialism such as utilitarianism stresses keeping people, both oneself and others, as well off as possible. {{UsefulNotes/Epicureanism}} is one philosophy advocating ethical hedonism which [[OlderThanFeudalism started in]] UsefulNotes/AncientGreece.

Moral philosophy takes two basic forms (there are also others, less common, like virtue ethics). One is morality that judges actions based on what consequences they have. This is known as teleology or consequentialism, and the most common form of consequentialism is utilitarianism or ethical hedonism: the belief in the greater good and that the best course of action is that which makes the greatest number of people better off and happy, or egoism, which sees [[ItsAllAboutMe actions that benefit the self as the most righteous]].

Moral philosophy takes two basic forms (there are also others, less common, like virtue ethics). One is morality that judges actions based on what consequences they have. This is known as teleology or consequentialism, and the most common form of consequentialism is utilitarianism or ethical hedonism: the belief in the greater good and that the best course of action is that that makes the most number of people well off and happy, or egoism, which sees [[ItsAllAboutMe actions that benefit the self as the most righteous]].

->-- [[DemonLordsAndArchDevils Screwtape]] describes "[[{{God}} The Enemy]]" - ''Literature/TheScrewtapeLetters''

# We should maximize the average and/or total happiness. A LotusEaterMachine [[note]]or, as it's generally known off Wiki/TVTropes, an "experience machine"[[/note]] makes everybody happy, even maximally happy. Therefore, everyone should be put into one immediately and forever.

# A common objection to negative utilitarianism -- the principle that instead of maximizing happiness, we should primarily focus on minimizing suffering -- is that all living things suffer to some extent, so we should just put them out of their misery with a MercyKill on a universal scale (this assumes that death is not bad at all, and doesn't count as suffering--often a {{cessation of existence}} at death is claimed). This is known as the "benevolent world-exploder" argument, an argument favored by Efilism[=/=]Promortalism.[[note]]Efil is Life spelled backwards, reflecting the philosophy's negative value against life itself. As for the latter, Promortalism is the belief that values death as ''a good thing'', especially when it comes to the death of all sentient life to stop current suffering and prevent future suffering.[[/note]]

# We should maximize the average and/or total happiness. A LotusEaterMachine [[note]]or, as it's generally known off TVTropes, an "experience machine"[[/note]] makes everybody happy, even maximally happy. Therefore, everyone should be put into one immediately and forever.

The other basic form is morality that judges actions based on the principles behind the actions. This is known as [[ForGreatJustice Deontology]]. Examples of deontologist ethics include the principles that one should not [[WIllNotTellALie lie]], steal or [[ThouShaltNotKill kill]] because it is inherently immoral to do so, which counters consequentialist morality that in basis holds that it is okay and not immoral if there is a greater benefit to be had.

One could say that ethical hedonism tends more toward ChaoticGood while deontology tends more toward LawfulGood, although those are generalizations and in specific cases the opposite can be true (e.g. a deontologist might believe in a ChaoticGood duty to oppose an unjust law, or a utilitarian may hold a LawfulGood belief that a good government should be supported because it keeps everyone happy). Deontology stresses principles and duty to oneself and others, while consequentialism such as utilitarianism stresses keeping people, both oneself and others, as well off as possible. {{UsefulNotes/Epicureanism}} is one philosophy advocating ethical hedonism which [[OlderThanFeudalism started in]] UsefulNotes/AncientGreece.

# We should maximize the average happiness, which can be done by [[Anime/PsychoPass killing off everyone who's unhappy]]. (This is like killing off short people to increase the average height of a population, or killing the poor to increase average wealth.) Or, if there happen to be people around who derive way more happiness from things than others do, then we should prioritize them at all costs and cater to their every whim, even if it means neglecting or getting rid of the rest. This is the "utility monster" argument.

# A common objection to negative utilitarianism -- the principle that instead of maximizing happiness, we should instead/primarily focus on minimizing suffering -- is that all living things suffer to some extent, so we should just put them out of their misery with a MercyKill on a universal scale (this assumes that death is not bad at all, and doesn't count as suffering-often a {{cessation of existence}} at death is claimed). This is known as the "benevolent world-exploder" argument, or sometimes Efilism[=/=]Promortalism.[[note]]Efil is Life spelled backwards, reflecting the philosophy's negative value against life itself. As for the latter, Promortalism is the belief that values death as ''a good thing'', especially when it comes to the death of all sentient life to stop current suffering and prevent future suffering.[[/note]]
# Related to the above, perhaps we should strive to prevent future births (and thus suffering), without actually killing people or animals that are already born-this is called Anti-Natalism.

# A common objection to negative utilitarianism -- the principle that instead of maximizing happiness, we should instead/primarily focus on minimizing suffering -- is that all living things suffer to some extent, so we should just put them out of their misery with a MercyKill on a universal scale (this assumes that death is not bad at all, and doesn't count as suffering-often a {{cessation of existence}} at death is claimed). This is known as the "benevolent world-exploder" argument, or sometimes Efilism.[[note]]Efil is Life spelled backwards[[/note]]

# We should maximize the average happiness. A LotusEaterMachine [[note]]or, as it's generally known off TVTropes, an "experience machine"[[/note]] makes everybody maximally happy. Therefore, everyone should be put into one immediately and forever.

However, given enough InsaneTrollLogic, or simply a disconnect from empathy, human dignity and the spirit behind the principle, ANY principle can be twisted into something vile without violating it. Ethical hedonism is not immune from this trend, and it can be perverted either by interpreting "happiness" in a way that the person receiving the "happiness" wouldn't agree with, or taking the principle way beyond common sense to some narrow-minded extreme. There are three main such examples when ethical hedonism is philosophically taken to the LogicalExtreme:

# We should maximize the average happiness, which can be done by [[Anime/PsychoPass killing off everyone who's unhappy]]. (This is like killing off short people to increase the average height of a population, or killing the poor to increase average wealth)
# We should maximize the total happiness, and since even starving people are capable of happiness, we should reproduce as much as possible. Even if these people are now living miserably because the social systems cannot support them, even if they carry only an ounce of happiness that is an additional ounce of happiness that the world gains.
# Negative utilitarianism: instead of maximizing happiness, we should only focus on minimizing suffering. However, all living things suffer to some extent, so we should just put them out of their misery with a MercyKill on a universal scale (this assumes that death is not bad at all, and doesn't count as suffering-often a {{cessation of existence}} at death is claimed)-this is called Efilism.[[note]]Efil is Life spelled backwards[[/note]] Or perhaps strive to prevent future births (and thus suffering), without actually killing people or animals that are already born-this is called Anti-Natalism.

Any of these three versions makes for an entertaining StrawmanPolitical TotalitarianUtilitarian.

# Negative utilitarianism: instead of maximizing happiness, we should only focus on minimizing suffering. However, all living things suffer to some extent, so we should just put them out of their misery (this assumes that death is not bad at all, and doesn't count as suffering-often a {{cessation of existence}} at death is claimed). Or perhaps strive to prevent future births (and thus suffering), without actually killing living people-this is called anti-natalism.

Moral philosophy takes two basic forms (there are also others, less common, like virtue ethics). One is morality that judges actions based on what consequences they have. This is known as teleology or consequentialism, and the most common form of consequentialism is utilitarianism or ethical hedonism: the belief in the greater good and that the best course of action is that that makes the most number of people well off and happy, or egoism, which sees [[ProtagonistCenteredMorality actions that benefit the self as the most righteous]].

# Negative utilitarianism: Instead of maximizing happiness, we should only focus on minimizing suffering. However, all living things suffer to some extent, so we should just put them out of their misery. (This assumes that death is not bad at all, and doesn't count as suffering.)

Any of these three versions makes for a entertaining StrawmanPolitical TotalitarianUtilitarian.

One could say that ethical hedonism tends more toward ChaoticGood while deontology tends more toward LawfulGood, although those are generalizations and in specific cases the opposite can be true (e.g. a deontologist might believe in a ChaoticGood duty to oppose an unjust law, or a utilitarian may hold a LawfulGood belief that a good government should be supported because it keeps everyone happy). Deontology stresses principles and duty to oneself and others, while consequentialism such as utilitarianism stresses keeping people, both oneself and others, as well off as possible. {{UsefulNotes/Epicureanism}} is one philosophy advocating ethical hedonism which [[OlderThanFeudalism started in]] {{ancient Greece}}.

Trying one's best for happiness is a required trait of any character who is an ethical hedonist without being a StrawHypocrite or HollywoodAtheist. However, a character doesn't have to be philosophically inclined to be for happiness. The desire to make the world a better place through spreading or enabling happiness can come from anything from simple empathy to the religious worship of a deity that fits the concept.

Ethical hedonism's goal to make everyone as happy as possible, but achieving total happiness or happiness in every single person is unrealistic. Instead, it strives to create as much happiness as possible for as many as possible. This may include sacrifices such as making "the few" unhappy or creating destructive suffering as a necessary evil for the greater good. This doesn't have to lead all the way down to UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans; it can stop at some much earlier point along the SlidingScaleOfUnavoidableVersusUnforgivable between wouldn't hurt a fly and TotalitarianUtilitarian.

As a trope, ethical hedonism is ForHappiness. When difficult decisions have to be made, it is TheNeedsOfTheMany. If utilitarianism is taken farther, it is expressed by tropes such as TotalitarianUtilitarian and UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans. Deontology as a trope is expressed through ForGreatJustice, and some light forms of deontology are related to TheGoldenRule (do/don't do unto others what you would/wouldn't like others to do unto you). Darker and more extreme forms of deontology are expressed by tropes such as PrinciplesZealot. Characters that adhere to or pursues either moral principle to the extreme can be TheUnfetted, KnightTemplar, or a WellIntentionedExtremist.

An ethical hedonist character that strives for happiness generally doesn't try to force people to be "[[CarvingASmileIntoYourSoul happy]]", [[TheEvilsOfFreeWill remove free will altogether]] or otherwise commit gross violations for the greater good. Extending ethical hedonism that far pushes it into the realm of the TotalitarianUtilitarian and makes the character a WellIntentionedExtremist.

The other basic form is morality that judges actions based on the principles behind the actions. This is known as [[ForGreatJustice Deontology]]. Examples of deontologist ethics include the principles that one should not [[WIllNotTellALie lie]], steal or [[ThouShaltNotKill kill]] because it is inherently immoral to do so, which counters consequentialist morality that in basis holds that it is okay and not immoral to do these things if there is a greater benefit to be had.

However, given enough InsaneTrollLogic, or simply a disconnect from empathy, human dignity and the spirit behind the principle, ANY principle can be twisted into something vile. Ethical hedonism is not immune from this trend, and it can be perverted either by interpreting "Happiness" in a way that the person receiving the "happiness" wouldn't agree with, or taking the principle way beyond common sense to some narrow-minded extreme. There are three main such examples when ethical hedonism is philosophically taken to the LogicalExtreme:

# We should maximize the total happiness. Since even starving people are capable of happiness, we should reproduce as much as possible without any sense of sustainable development. (This fails to take into account the long-term consequences of unsustainability, which will end up reducing happiness in the long run.)
# Negative utilitarianism: Instead of maximizing happiness, we should only focus on minimizing suffering. However, all living things suffer to some extent, so we should just put them out of their misery. (This assumes that death is not bad at all, and doesn't count as suffering.)

The other basic form is morality that judges actions based on the principles behind the actions. This is known as [[ForGreatJustice Deontology]]. Examples of deontologist ethics include principles like one should not [[WIllNotTellALie lie]], steal or [[ThouShaltNotKill kill]] because it is inherently immoral to do so, which counters consequentialist morality that in basis holds that it is okay to do these things if there is a greater benefit to be had.

As a trope, ethical hedonism is known as ForHappiness. Darker forms of utilitarianism are expressed by tropes such as TotalitarianUtilitarian and UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans. Such darker utilitarianism can also be a motivation behind a WellIntentionedExtremist, although a WellIntentionedExtremist may just as easily be a [[PrinciplesZealot darker form of deontologist]] or an adherent to some other ethical philosophy. Deontology as a trope is expressed through ForGreatJustice, and Some light forms of deontology are related to TheGoldenRule (do/don't do unto others what you would/wouldn't like others to do unto you). Darker and more extreme forms of deontology are expressed by tropes such as PrinciplesZealot and KnightTemplar.

One could say that Ethical Hedonism tends more toward ChaoticGood while deontology tends more toward LawfulGood, although those are generalizations and in specific cases the opposite can be true (e.g. a deontologist might believe in a ChaoticGood duty to oppose an unjust law, or a utilitarian may hold a LawfulGood belief that a good government should be supported because it keeps everyone happy). Deontology stresses principles and duty to oneself and others, while consequentialism such as utilitarianism stresses keeping people, both oneself and others, as well off as possible. {{UsefulNotes/Epicureanism}} is one philosophy advocating ethical hedonism which [[OlderThanFeudalism started in]] {{ancient Greece}}.

Ethical hedonism strives to make everyone as happy as possible, but achieving total happiness is unrealistic. Instead, the goal is to create as much happiness as possible for as many as possible. This may include creating destructive suffering as a necessary evil for the greater good. This doesn't have to lead all the way down to UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans, it can stop at some much earlier point along the SlidingScaleOfUnavoidableVersusUnforgivable between wouldn't hurt a fly and TotalitarianUtilitarian.

Abuse, violence and other violations or harmful crimes are unacceptable in ethical hedonism, not because they are bad in principle as in deontological ethics, but because they result in suffering and sadness. First, the acts usually generate more suffering and deprivation of happiness (for the victim) than it creates happiness (for the abuser). Second, if abuse was accepted, then people would be more afraid and thus less happy. To prevent, stop or deter these action an ethical hedonist may find it justified to harm or otherwise deprive of happiness the person responsible, but not because the culprit is guilty, and the ethical hedonist would rather find a solution that does not hurt or make unhappy either party.

An ethical hedonist generally has no problem with lies and deceit as long as it's done in manner that does not cause harm or distress. She would rather let her fallen comrades [[LetThemDieHappy die happy]] than [[WillNotTellALie letting her honesty go too far]]. Of course, in most situations ethical hedonism consider lies and deceit to be a bad thing, but not because it's bad in principle but rather because it has a tendency to have [[SnowballLie unforeseen bad consequences]]. When it seems clear that a lie will have no such bad consequences, an ethical hedonist may even see telling the truth as the evil action in that situation. This applies to many of the cases people view as "white lies."

An ethical hedonist character that strives for happiness generally doesn't try to force people to be "[[LotusEaterMachine happy]]" or otherwise violate them for the greater good. Extending ethical hedonism that far pushes it into the realm of the TotalitarianUtilitarian.

However, given enough InsaneTrollLogic, or simply a disconnect from empathy, human dignity and the spirit behind the principle, ANY principle can be twisted into something vile. Ethical hedonism is not immune from this trend, and it can be perverted either by interpreting "Happiness" in a way that the person receiving the "happiness" wouldn't agree with, or taking the principle to some narrow-minded extreme. There are three main such examples when ethical hedonism is taken to the logical extreme:

# We should maximize the average happiness. This can be done by [[Anime/PsychoPass killing off everyone who's unhappy]]. (This is like saying that the best way to end your computer problems is to blow up your computer.)[[note]]While this is technically true, doing so also deprives you of the privileges granted by owning a computer, and can be seen as running away from problems instead of facing them; conversely, killing anyone that's unhappy deprives the rest of the world of any services or happiness they would have imparted in the future, and is basically an admittance that you're incapable of making them happy. And that's without even getting into the moral issues.[[/note]]