The Most Famous Hedonist Philosopher, Ranked
Voting rules: Choose the philosopher you think is the most famous!
Updated on Jul 24, 2024 07:39
Philosophical ideas can be as diverse as the minds that ponder them, with hedonism marking a particularly intriguing point of view. When studying various philosophers who advocate the pursuit of pleasure as the primary or sole intrinsic good, identifying key figures can greatly enhance understanding and facilitate deeper discussions.
By engaging in the active ranking of these philosophers, readers can offer their perspective on who they believe most accurately represents or advances hedonistic principles. This interaction not only enriches the user's knowledge but also molds the content to reflect collective insights, making the debate around hedonism more dynamic and grounded in community consensus.
Who Is the Most Famous Hedonist Philosopher?
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168points
Epicurus
Ancient Greek philosopher who founded Epicureanism, a school of philosophy that advocated for seeking pleasure and avoiding pain as the foundation of a good life.- Born: 341 BC
- Died: 270 BC
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226points
Jeremy Bentham
English philosopher, jurist, and social reformer regarded as the founder of modern utilitarianism, which has its roots in hedonism.- Born: February 15, 1748
- Died: June 6, 1832
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324points
Aristippus of Cyrene
Founder of the Cyrenaic school of philosophy, which taught that the only intrinsic good is pleasure and that distress and pain are the only intrinsic evils.- Born: c. 435 BC
- Died: c. 356 BC
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410points
John Stuart Mill
British philosopher, political economist, and civil servant. One of the most influential thinkers in the history of classical liberalism, he contributed widely to social theory, political theory, and political economy. He has been variously described as a utilitarian, a liberal, but his conception of happiness has hedonistic elements.- Born: May 20, 1806
- Died: May 8, 1873
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59points
Michel Onfray
Contemporary French philosopher and writer who promotes hedonism, atheism, and anarchism, and is a prolific author on the subject of hedonistic philosophy.- Born: January 1, 1959
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69points
Cyrenaics
An early Socratic school of philosophy founded in the 4th century BC, by Aristippus of Cyrene. The Cyrenaics taught that the only intrinsic good is pleasure, which meant not just the absence of pain, but positively enjoyable momentary experiences.- Founder: Aristippus of Cyrene
- Philosophy Type: Hedonism
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70points
Julien Offray de La Mettrie
French physician and philosopher, one of the earliest materialists of the Enlightenment, who argued that the pursuit of pleasure is the essential aim of human life.- Born: December 25, 1709
- Died: November 11, 1751
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80points
Robert Nozick
American philosopher who developed an externalist theory of knowledge and a complex version of libertarianism. He discussed hedonism in his famous work 'Anarchy, State, and Utopia'.- Born: November 16, 1938
- Died: January 23, 2002
In other topics -
90points
Marquis de Sade
French nobleman, revolutionary politician, philosopher, and writer, famous for his libertine sexuality. His works include novels, short stories, plays, dialogues, and political tracts; in his lifetime some of these were published under his own name, while others, which Sade denied having written, appeared anonymously.- Born: June 2, 1740
- Died: December 2, 1814
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100points
Diogenes of Sinope
A Greek philosopher and one of the most notable members of the Cynic philosophy, which can be seen as a form of hedonism. He believed in living a life of virtue in agreement with nature.- Born: c. 412 BC
- Died: c. 323 BC
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About this ranking
This is a community-based ranking of the most famous Hedonist philosopher. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or philosopher is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!
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- 146 votes
- 10 ranked items
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A participant may cast an up or down vote for each philosopher once every 24 hours. The rank of each philosopher is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.
Additional Information
More about the Most Famous Hedonist Philosopher
Rank #1 for the most famous Hedonist philosopher: Epicurus (Source)
Hedonism is a school of thought that argues pleasure is the highest good. It suggests that the pursuit of pleasure and intrinsic goods are the primary or most important goals of human life. This philosophy has ancient roots, with early thinkers developing its core ideas. They believed that pleasure is the only thing that is intrinsically valuable, and pain is the only thing that is intrinsically not valuable.
The most famous philosopher associated with Hedonism developed a comprehensive system of thought. He argued that the pursuit of pleasure, when done wisely, leads to a tranquil life. This tranquility comes from the absence of pain and fear. He believed that intellectual pleasures are superior to physical pleasures. He also thought that simple pleasures are more fulfilling and sustainable than extravagant ones.
This philosopher taught that the key to a happy life is to seek modest pleasures. He suggested that people should live in harmony with nature and avoid unnecessary desires. He emphasized the importance of friendship, seeing it as one of the greatest sources of pleasure. He also valued self-sufficiency and the ability to enjoy simple things.
He proposed that the pursuit of pleasure must be guided by reason. He believed that understanding the nature of desires helps in making wise choices. He thought that some desires are natural and necessary, while others are natural but not necessary. There are also desires that are neither natural nor necessary. He advised that people should focus on fulfilling the natural and necessary desires.
This philosopher's ideas were revolutionary. He challenged the conventional views of his time, which often saw pleasure as a distraction from virtue. He argued that pleasure and virtue are not mutually exclusive. In fact, he believed that living virtuously leads to the greatest pleasure.
His teachings included the idea that death should not be feared. He argued that death is simply the end of sensation and, therefore, should not cause distress. He thought that understanding this helps people live more peacefully.
The philosophy of Hedonism has had a lasting impact. It influenced many later thinkers and continues to be a topic of interest. It raises important questions about what makes life worth living and how to achieve happiness. The ideas of this famous philosopher remain relevant, offering insights into the pursuit of a good life.
His legacy is evident in various aspects of modern thought. Many contemporary discussions about happiness, well-being, and the good life draw on his ideas. His emphasis on the importance of pleasure, friendship, and simple living resonates with many people today. The principles he outlined provide a framework for thinking about how to live a fulfilling life.
In conclusion, the most famous Hedonist philosopher developed a rich and nuanced view of pleasure. He argued that the wise pursuit of pleasure leads to a tranquil and happy life. His ideas continue to inspire and challenge us, offering a timeless perspective on the nature of happiness and the good life.
The most famous philosopher associated with Hedonism developed a comprehensive system of thought. He argued that the pursuit of pleasure, when done wisely, leads to a tranquil life. This tranquility comes from the absence of pain and fear. He believed that intellectual pleasures are superior to physical pleasures. He also thought that simple pleasures are more fulfilling and sustainable than extravagant ones.
This philosopher taught that the key to a happy life is to seek modest pleasures. He suggested that people should live in harmony with nature and avoid unnecessary desires. He emphasized the importance of friendship, seeing it as one of the greatest sources of pleasure. He also valued self-sufficiency and the ability to enjoy simple things.
He proposed that the pursuit of pleasure must be guided by reason. He believed that understanding the nature of desires helps in making wise choices. He thought that some desires are natural and necessary, while others are natural but not necessary. There are also desires that are neither natural nor necessary. He advised that people should focus on fulfilling the natural and necessary desires.
This philosopher's ideas were revolutionary. He challenged the conventional views of his time, which often saw pleasure as a distraction from virtue. He argued that pleasure and virtue are not mutually exclusive. In fact, he believed that living virtuously leads to the greatest pleasure.
His teachings included the idea that death should not be feared. He argued that death is simply the end of sensation and, therefore, should not cause distress. He thought that understanding this helps people live more peacefully.
The philosophy of Hedonism has had a lasting impact. It influenced many later thinkers and continues to be a topic of interest. It raises important questions about what makes life worth living and how to achieve happiness. The ideas of this famous philosopher remain relevant, offering insights into the pursuit of a good life.
His legacy is evident in various aspects of modern thought. Many contemporary discussions about happiness, well-being, and the good life draw on his ideas. His emphasis on the importance of pleasure, friendship, and simple living resonates with many people today. The principles he outlined provide a framework for thinking about how to live a fulfilling life.
In conclusion, the most famous Hedonist philosopher developed a rich and nuanced view of pleasure. He argued that the wise pursuit of pleasure leads to a tranquil and happy life. His ideas continue to inspire and challenge us, offering a timeless perspective on the nature of happiness and the good life.
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