hedono-, hedon-, -hedonia, -hedonic
(Greek: pleasure, joy, and being happy)
2. The inability to feel pleasure: Sadie's severe depression brought on a state of anhedonia and she was unable to enjoy any of the things that she once loved to do.
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"In zoology, the hedonic gland or the various specialized glands found in many reptiles and amphibia that serve, apparently by secreting an attractive-smelling substance, to attract members of the opposite sex."
2. Pertaining to anyone who maintains that joy and happiness are the proper results of human actions: "The ancient hedonic school of Greek philosophers were called cyrenaics; those who believed that 'pleasure is the highest good'."In pursuit of money, working ever harder, we are, on a "hedonic treadmill"; a phrase that resonates with most of us. Right across Europe people report more stress, harder work, greater fear of insecurity, chasing elusive gains. The seven key factors now scientifically established to affect happiness most are: mental health, satisfying and secure work, a secure and loving private life, a safe community, freedom and moral values.
For some people, the only way to maintain permanent satisfaction with one's income is to do the impossible: to continually increase income without limit; or to be on a "hedonic treadmill".
2. In philosophy, the branch of ethics that deals with the relation of pleasure or jubilation to duty.
2. Pursuit of or devotion to pleasure; especially, to the pleasures of the senses: Pleasure is not the same as happiness, so hedonism is not the same as "eudaimonism", the thesis that happiness is the highest good.
3. In philosophy, the ethical doctrine holding that only what is pleasant or has enjoyable consequences is intrinsically good: Hedonism and asceticism (doctrine of self-denial) are opposing philosophies of human behavior.
4. In psychology, the doctrine that behavior is motivated by the desire for happiness and the avoidance of pain: The psychiatrist encouraged his patient to follow the precepts of hedonism by not doing anything that might cause her any discomfort but to be positive and to find joy and pleasure in life.
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Here is more significant information about hedonism.
Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
so you can see more of Mickey Bach's cartoons.
2. An abnormal sexual excitement.