Larry - I will go read the thread in a minute!
whacky - looks like we're just getting started on the philosophy, come and join us!
Lanesra - [img]tongue.gif[/img]
Hiram - good on ya mate! And yes, I will keep it 'family viewing'
Well I would like firstly to dispel the common misconception that hedonism is about seeking one's own pleasure at the expense of all else. The quote you mentioned is a good one, "our fundamental goal is to maximise pleasure or happiness". Note this does not say '
our own pleasure or happiness' although that is an important aspect.
It is rather that one wishes to reduce the sum total of misery in the world, so aims to increase one's own pleasure thus in a small way reducing the sum total of misery. But this is not done by treading on other people, rather the case that spreading happiness, starting by being happy oneself should be the goal, and acting in such a way as to impact positively on the people around you.
Nor does it mean seeking momentary pleasure at the expense of more long-term happiness. It is within the bounds of ethical hedonism to work hard at something you don't particularly enjoy in the here and now in order that the outcome brings you pleasure or happiness somewhere down the line. As long as there is a positive outcome in sight! Such as, I hate doing the dishes, but I hate living in a mess. Hence I will do the dishes even though I hate it, in order that my life will be happy through having good clean surroundings. Or I will work hard at my job, which is boring, because it may well lead to me getting the job I will enjoy and find fulfilling.
And to go back to the original question of 'is your life meaningless?' Well to the hedonist, yes, in many senses life does not have any particular meaning, as it would to a Christian for example. There is no reason 'why' we are here, and the hedonist would not spend an awful lot of his or her time contemplating such a question. Life does have meaning in the sense of what one can make of it. We are here but for a short time, we only live once, and it is important to make the most of it, and not waste it - this is the hedonists viewpoint.