Axiology

The Hedonism Project: 

1. Think about the things that make you happiest while they are happening and the things that you want for your life. This assignment is designed to make you appreciate the paradox of hedonism and the potential appeal of utilitarianism. 

2. On Day 1, whenever you have the choice, choose whatever will make you happy at that moment (within reason, folks). 

3. On Day 2, try to live in a way that contributes to the happiness of the people around you whenever you can. What are some examples of the differences between these days? 

4. Write a reflection about your experiences. What did you learn by reflecting on what would make you happy in the moment? How did you feel on the day you devoted yourself to the happiness of others? Write a response paper where you evaluate how satisfying each day was and what you learned about the moral significance of happiness. Which kinds of days would you want more of in your life? 

Evidence

• Hourly log for each day. 

• Pictures from each day (as appropriate). 

Choose one preference that you ordinarily treat as a key aspect of “your taste” (e.g. music, clothing, food, hobbies, exercise, entertainment, or lifestyle). Spend a few days tracing where it came from. Ask family or friends when they first noticed it, look at old photographs or playlists, and identify the people, institutions, trends, or status incentives that may have shaped it. Then deliberately try the nearest rejected alternative.

From this experience, reflect on what it means for a preference to be authentically yours. Consider whether socially formed preferences are less genuine and whether you have reasons to revise preferences because of their origins.

Evidence: Include at least three pieces of evidence about the history of the preference and documentation of your attempt at the alternative.

For one week, identify five small discomforts that you ordinarily avoid whenever possible. (e.g., waiting in line, walking instead of driving, being a little too hot or cold, boredom while waiting, eating a simple meal, taking the stairs, sitting without checking your phone, getting caught briefly in the rain, or having an awkward conversation.) Choose to experience these discomforts rather than avoiding them, and as you suffer, pay attention to what you expected beforehand and what the experience was actually like. Reflect on whether the anticipation of suffering was worse than the suffering itself. Consider whether modern life encourages us to treat every discomfort as a problem to be eliminated.

Evidence: Keep a log of the five experiences, including what you predicted, how unpleasant they actually were, and whether you would make the same choice again.