Theories of Well-Being: Hedonism and Desire-Fulfillment

Hedonistic Theories

What would be best for someone is what would make their life happiest.

Desire-Fulfillment Theories

What would be best for someone is what would best fulfill their desires.

Objective-list Theories

Certain things are good or bad for us, whether or not we want to have the good things or avoid the bad things.

Narrow Hedonism

Pleasure and pain are two distinct kinds of experience.

Preference Hedonism

Pleasures are wanted experiences, and pains are unwanted ones.

Unrestricted Desire-Fulfillment Theory

The satisfaction of any of a person's desires makes them better off.

The Success Theory

What makes someone's life go best is what fulfills their desires about their own life.

Summative Theories

Summative theories add up desires to identify how well off a person is.

Global Theories

Global Theories consider only someone's desires about their life considered as a whole.

Objective List Theories

According to objective list theories, acquiring good things makes someone's life go best.

Classical Welfare Hedonism

A Well-being is happiness.

Happiness

Happiness is the experience of pleasure and the absence of pain.

Pleasures and Pains

Pleasures and pains are a class of introspectively discriminable experiences.

Internalism

Sensations of pain and pleasure are fundamental (unanalyzable) mental states.

Pleasurable Sensations

Pleasurable sensations consist of a positive feeling tone.

Painful Sensations

Painful sensations consist of a negative feeling tone.

Bentham's Felicific Calculus

A method for measuring pleasure and pain based on seven criteria.

Externalism

Pleasures and pains are identified in terms of their external relations.

Experience Machine

A thought experiment questioning whether fake experiences contribute to happiness.

Addiction Example

A scenario illustrating the implications of summative theories on addiction.

Pleasure

A feeling that is desirable.

Pain

A feeling that is undesirable.

Fecundity

Will it lead to more pleasure?

Purity

Will it lead to pain?

Extent

How many people will experience the pleasure?

Certainty

The likelihood that the pleasure will occur.

Propinquity

How near in time is the pleasure?

Duration

How long it lasts.

Intensity

The strength of the pleasure.

Hedonism

Theory that happiness is the highest good.

Nozick's Argument

Critique of Hedonism using the Experience Machine.

Fake Happiness

Pleasure derived from artificial or simulated experiences.

Real Happiness

Genuine joy from authentic experiences and relationships.

Preference-Hedonism

Pleasure defined by individual preferences and desires.

Desire-Fulfillment Theory

Best life defined by fulfilling one's desires.

Success Theory

Life quality based on fulfilling personal life desires.

Objective List Theory

Certain goods exist independently of personal desires.

Quality of Happiness

Different types of happiness have varying significance.

Plugging In

Choosing to enter the Experience Machine for life.

Authentic Experience

Real-life events contributing to genuine well-being.

Pleasure and Pain

Experiences categorized by desirability and aversiveness.

Three Losses

Nozick identifies key aspects missed in the machine.

Hedonist Response

Arguments Hedonists might use against Experience Machine.

Bite the Bullet

Hedonist's challenge to accept simulated experiences.

Classical Hedonism

Traditional view prioritizing pleasure as life's goal.

Intellectual Pleasure

Joy derived from cognitive engagement and challenges.

Emotional Pain

Suffering experienced from emotional distress or loss.

Euphoria vs. Torment

Preference for clarity over temporary pleasure, as Freud.

Utilitarian Grounds

Justification based on overall happiness for the majority.

Least-Favoured Groups

Social groups with the lowest advantages or resources.

Philosophical Theories

Frameworks explaining what constitutes a good life.

Reflective Discussion

Group analysis of Hedonist strategies and beliefs.

Life Satisfaction

Overall contentment with one's life circumstances.

Moral Significance

Ethical implications of pleasure and pain experiences.

Cognitive Engagement

Involvement in intellectually stimulating activities.

Social Relationships

Connections with others that enhance well-being.

Success Theorist

Claims desires reflect life success, not personal happiness.

Cambridge-change

Change in true statements about an object, not the object itself.

Real change

An actual alteration affecting an object's state or condition.

Exile

A state of being away from one's home or family.

Desire fulfillment

Achieving what one strongly wishes for in life.

Successful parent

A parent whose children thrive and succeed.

Wretched lives

Lives characterized by suffering or failure.

Global desires

Preferences regarding overall life rather than specific moments.

Local desires

Preferences tied to specific events or situations.

Summative theory

Evaluates total desire fulfillment across all preferences.

Net sum of desire-fulfillment

Total positive desires minus unfulfilled negative desires.

Intensity of desires

Strength of a desire influencing its importance.

Hypothetical preferences

Desires one would have in alternative life scenarios.

Desire about the dead

Desires concerning outcomes after one's death.

Mistakes as a parent

Errors affecting children's success and well-being.

Contradictory preferences

Conflicting desires regarding different life choices.

Better evening

A more fulfilling experience based on choices made.

Fulfillment of desires

Realization of what one wishes or longs for.

Desire about life

Wishes related to one's overall life experience.

Evaluation of alternatives

Comparing different life choices for potential outcomes.

Psychological strength

Mental resilience contributing to personal success.

Education's impact

Influence of upbringing on children's future opportunities.

Desire to avoid deception

Wish to remain informed and truthful in life.

Life failures

Outcomes contrary to one's aspirations and desires.

Desire for knowledge

Wish to be aware of life events affecting oneself.

Choice regret

Feeling remorseful about decisions made in life.

Parenting success

Achieving desired outcomes in children's lives.

Addictive Drug Scenario

Hypothetical situation illustrating addiction's impact on desires.

Desire-Fulfillment

Satisfaction of a person's wants or needs.

Local Desire-Fulfillment

Fulfillment of specific, immediate desires.

Global Preference

Overall preference regarding one's entire life.

Repugnant Conclusion

Philosophical dilemma about value of large populations.

Quality of Life

Measure of overall well-being and satisfaction.

Moral Goodness

Value associated with ethical behavior and actions.

Rational Activity

Engagement in logical and reasoned decision-making.

Development of Abilities

Growth and enhancement of personal skills and talents.

Awareness of True Beauty

Recognition and appreciation of genuine aesthetic value.

Sadistic Pleasure

Enjoyment derived from causing others pain.

Deprivation of Liberty

Loss of freedom or autonomy in one's life.

Desire to Avoid Pain

Strong wish to escape unpleasant experiences.

Indefinite Life

Existence without a defined end or limit.

Minor Inconvenience

Small trouble or annoyance in daily life.

Fulfillment of Desires

Achieving what one wants or wishes for.

Addiction

Compulsive need for a substance despite negative effects.