Hedonism

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On Mon, 7 Jun 1999, Aaron wrote:

> I've never heard of hedonism.  What is it? 
>
>   Aaron
> 
> Today's Saying:  Ignorance is Bliss.

Hi Aaron!

The word "hedonism" comes from the old Greek "hedone'" that we can
tranlate with "plaisure" (in Latin is "voluptas"). Then there's  an endig
in "-isme" which comes from French and means, more or less, "attitude
toward something". 
So "hedodism" means "attitude toward plaisure".

Moreover  we have to consider that for old Greeks (and Romans) plaisure
didn't dealth with sin or somethig similar. It is considered of humans.
Only the extreme plaisures, which force you to be a slave of, are
condamned. (The poet Oratius wrote: "Quisquis diligit auream
mediocritatem", "Everyone like the gold mesure").
Only after the Christianity hedonism is considered bad and related with
evil. (Also Puritans have the same opinion).

I use the word "hedodism" with the old Greek sense.


d a n i e l e  

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