Man : My Pleasure (Hedonism)

A.   Terminology and origin-

§  Terminologically, hedonism is derived from a Greek word ‘hedone’ which means sweetness, joy or delight.

It refers to theories about the nature and functions of pleasure

Originally hedonism: sweetness that could be appreciated by taste or smell; hearing;

finally it was applied metaphorically to any pleasant sensation or emotion.        

       §  The very basic concept of hedonism is to hold pleasure as the only thing that is good for a person. It acts as a justification for evaluating actions in terms of pleasure and suffers.

B.    Purpose-

§  Hedonism is a  flawed philosophy that was manipulated, channeled and redirected to us.

o   Hedonism has its influence mostly on youth. This group of age is targeted :

a.    Voice of the community

§  This group holds the majority voice of the community, more familiarly decides the 'public opinion'.

§  Biologically, youth is the range of age where pleasure, satisfaction and self-gratification have the most influences.

§  As youth holds the majority, hedonism is used to alter and direct the destination of a social system. Hedonism’s pure essence is youth’s effective catalyst which is pleasure.

b.    Inheritance Future Community

§  In order to make a community degenerates, new generation plays an important role. In any community, youth is the indicator of excellence for the future.

§  If a community inherits a powerful young generation, the community soon will pave its way to success. But, if a community inherits a fearful young generation, the community will become weak.

§  Hedonism is used to destroy humanity indirectly. The younger generation of humanity must be infested with a weak bodily and self esteem.

§  The purpose of hedonism is to destroy our youth. It is natural that new generation will replace the older one.

§  Instead of facing this powerful group face to face, they use hedonism to distract our youth. In a long term, it is our religion that’ll be facing grave dangers. It is a clear-cut evidence that hedonism is used to destroy Humanity.

C.    Mediums-

§  Hedonism works through small but effective mediums. This ideology mostly is relayed by the media.

o   Basically media is a basic tool of communication that transmits and relays information to the society. Interesting enough, media is also a medium of hedonism.

o   In a smaller scale, these mediums of hedonism are television (TV), music, and internet.

o   According to a research that was done by Focus Adolescent Service in 2004,

§  About 83 percents of 20 TV shows contained porn pictures and 20 percent of it showed explicit sex scenes.

§  In music, 42 percent of popular lyrics contained sex elements and 19 percent of it described about sexual intercourse.

o   Besides TV shows and music, internet also plays the role in relaying hedonistic messages. Almost all of us use internet in our daily life. Internet provides undeniable services and helps in our life.

o   Our globalized life will surely be put on a halt if internet stops working. Despite its importance, internet also acts as a medium to spread hedonism all around the world.

§   Internet promotes pleasure to be attained as high as possible. With the existence of online-streaming programs, pleasure will be easily available to anyone from anywhere at anytime.

§   There are around 4.2 millions websites with 372 millions pages which were registered as official porn sites.

o   As we can see almost everything around us is used to propagate these hedonistic ideas. Without doubt the most affected group is youth. TV, music, and internet are all manipulated for the same purpose.

D.   Effects-

§ Although modernization rate increases exponentially, our moral development seems deteriorating day by day.

           §   Hedonism is root cause of  ills to our society. Its effects pierced into the heart of humanity,                    tearing every potential teenager apart and leaving them strayed from the path.

o   Beside sex, concerts and gigs that are held throughout the year also promote hedonistic cultures.

o   Those who participate will be indulged in pleasure and will somehow find ways to gain more pleasures progressively.

o   By then, more people will start using drugs and stimulants, more people will start drinking wine and beer, and more people will start embracing hedonism indirectly. Consequently, this social sickness will give birth to something darker

o   Black Metal, tattoo, prostitution, illegal racing, sex party  and drug party, all aligning with hedonism

§     Without any doubt, this kind of culture will only reduce moral awareness and highlight individualistic values. It is a culture that encourages violence, selfishness, and self-gratification that make a person become more unstable humanly.

§    Rape, murder, pre-marital sex, drug addict, and suicide and its correlation with sex, pornography, wine, ecstasy, concert and any way to embrace hedonism prove that the latter is the causation of the former. This fact is undeniable. It is for us to see that hedonism brings only harmful effects to our society.

E.    Reasons-

a) Ultra  modern

§ The youth is aping the west in the name of modernity.    

§ The trend shows a tilt towards the new. The young refuse to accept everything as it is, whether it is customs, religion, mythology or dress.

§ For example, they want to learn and understand the whole process of history rather than cram the important events and dates of history.

b) Blind faith

§ The ancients believed in blind faith, but the youth believe in reason.

§ To the latter grey hairs is not the repository of all wisdom in the word. Mental slavery is disliked by them.

§ Are up in arms against all old customs, traditions and superstitions, which, according to them, have outlived their utility and are incapable of standing the test of reason.

c)  Morality

§ Having thrown off the cloak of morality, the modern youth is practical and worldly-wise.

§ He gives precedence to money over man. He understands more than anybody else that money makes them go.

§ He would like to associate himself with those who are likely to bring monetary gains to him. Friendship and relationship are meaningless to him, unless these lead to economic advantages.

§ He does not believe in ‘friendship for the sake of friendship’. He would not invite a man to dinner or would not help a neighbour unless he is sure of getting some advantage through it. This philosophy he calls tact and practical wisdom that can convert a fool into a respectable and successful man.

d) Parents

    §  In the past parents were held in high esteem. But the Modern young man does not believe in the superiority of his pawns.

   §  In social life also he has lost all respect for his elders. This has resulted in the dissolution of the joint family system.

   §  The youth today has rebelled against his parents, who according to him, are out to keep him under their thumb.

e)  Adventure

§ The modern youth likes adventure and believes in living dangerously,  purposelessly and takes pride in being confronted with dangers.

§ He suffers from a vanity of being bold enough to act recklessly. He believes in novelty and accepts everything that is new.

§ The youth is energetic, and use indiscretion is the hall mark of modernity.

§ Young people do not mind committing sins for pleasure. They firmly believe in ‘eat, drink and be merry; for tomorrow we die.’

f)  Without any aim or purpose.

§ It is not an exaggeration to say that a modern youth does many things without any aim or purpose.

§ Movements and agitations are a craze for him, no matter whether he agrees or not with the objectives thereof. He takes pride and finds pleasure in being in a rebellious mood.

§ He is fond of expressing his restlessness in everything that he does. The modern youth’s demands are fantastic.

g)  Raw, dreamy, ambitious

    §  Youth is raw, dreamy, ambitious, full of idealism and untamed. A sharp incompatibility of ideologies and values coupled with a lack of understanding between the old and the young.

    §  The’ youth of today is impatient and has rejected old prejudices. He clamours for a new social order, a worthwhile system of education and a new interpretation of social, ethical and spiri­tual values and standards.

    §  Younger people are not prepared to be treated as nobodies. They want to have their full say in what concerns them most. It shocks them most when they

h)  Submit to the likes and dislikes

§ Imposition of old traditions and conventions on the young results in tension and frustration in them.

§ Inability of the older generation to appreciate the aspirations and ambitions of the young and lack of spirit of adjustability in the old to the expectations of the young has created a situation fraught with many problems.

i)  Rebelled

   §  The modern age is an age of revolt against crude and outdated ideals and traditions. The youth has rebelled in many things of the past, which are inconsistent with dreams and aspirations.

   §  They have successfully replaced many age-old convictions and traditions which had outlived their utility.

  §  The movement by the younger generation for establishing a classless and egalitarian society, where all will enjoy equal Irrespective of their origin, office, sex and religion, has spread momentum.

F.    Solutions-

        §  Theologically, hedonism promotes freedom of thinking.

          i.     Responsibility

          §  The young and the elderly members should make an effort to eliminate this aloofness amongst            them.

o   Everybody should understand that the community with its youths and elders is like one body - if one part of it corrupts, the whole body will be lead to destruction.

o   The elders should realize their responsibility towards reformation of the young and dispelling their hopelessness, over everything else.

o   It is required from the youth to hold respect for the opinions of the elders and accept their guidance for they have experience of the realities of life, which the youth lack. Wisdom of the elders along with the strength of the young will together form a happy and prosperous society.

        ii.     Befriending

          §  To choose and befriend only those people, who are righteous and of good character, so that                   he   may  benefit from their virtue and righteousness.

o   He should first evaluate their reputation and condition; if they do not posses these qualities then it is required to distance oneself from them and not be deceived by their sweet talk and beautiful outward appearances.

o   For, it is deception and misguidance that is used by the evil people to allure the simple-minded in order to increase their number and hide their evil, as the poet correctly said, 'Examine men when you intend to befriend them, analyze and study their affairs.

      iii.     Knowledge of Life

§                 The reality of ignorance and lack of knowledge about life have made up this false notion                 in  their minds.

o   They should be made to understand that rules and regulations does not restrict freedom. Rather, it is co-ordination and correct channeling so that the boundless freedom of one person does not clash with that of other people and cause chaos.

o   No person would like that boundless freedom be granted to someone at the expense of the rights of others.

o   There is a difference between what some people have thought to be restriction and the guidance and harmonization, realize-ing that man is accustomed to such a systemization in all domains of life.

o   For example, man is subservient to the pressure of hunger and thirst and the system of food and drink - he is required to systematize the quantity, quality and type of intake in order to preserve his health and his well-being.

o   Similarly, one is bound to the system and regularity of the society; its type of dwellings, forms of clothing and modes of transport and if he does not accept these - he will be considered abnormal. So, one's whole life is subject to similar systemizations in order for the affairs to be accomplished and the goals to be achieved. The systemization of the society is for reformation, perseverance of peace and prevention of confusion.

       iv.     Disengage with harmful materials

           §  One should keep such destructive actions and material at bay and engage himself  that                   implants the love of world and humanity.

o   He should read material that will encourage living up one's and performing good deeds with patience and persistence because the soul will surely try to persuade him to go back, which he loved previously, and make him feel discontent.

o   His situation is like the one who strives hard to establish the obedience but his soul rebels and is engrossed in desirous acts.