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Hedonism is the philosophy that pleasure is the most important pursuit of mankind,
and the only thing that is good for an individual. Hedonists, therefore, strive
to maximise their total pleasure (the net of any pleasure less any pain or suffering).
They believe that pleasure is the only good in life, and pain is the only evil, and our
life's goal should be to maximize pleasure and minimize pain.
Cynicism:
Cynicism is an ancient Greek ethical doctrine which holds that the purpose of life is to
live a life of Virtue in agreement with Nature (which calls for only the bare
necessities required for existence). This means rejecting all conventional desires
for health, wealth, power and fame, and living a life free from
all possessions and property. However, rather than retreating from society, Cynics
should live in the full glare of the public's gaze and would be quite indifferent in the
face of any insults which might result from their unconventional behaviour. Their way
of life requires continuous training (of both the mind and the body), not just an
abdication of responsibility and a nihistic lifestyle.
Stoicism:
The golden rule requires that we treat others only as we consent to being
treated in the same situation. GR is the most important principle in this book
and perhaps the most important rule of life. GR can be derived from the
consistency requirements of our previous chapter. Applying GR requires
further elements, like knowledge and imagination, that we'll discuss in the
following chapter.
These questions are about Chapter 8 of Harry Gensler's Ethics: A
Contemporary Introduction (Routledge: 1998 and 2011).
If we're conscientious and impartial, then we'll follow GR -- since then we won't do
something to another unless we believe it would be all right -- and thus believe it would
be all right to do to us in the same situation -- and thus are willing that it be done to us in
the same situation.