Editing Paradox of hedonism (section)

==Suggested explanations==
''Happiness'' is often imprecisely equated with ''pleasure''. If, for whatever reason, one does equate happiness with pleasure, then the paradox of hedonism arises. When one aims solely towards pleasure itself, one's aim is frustrated. [[Henry Sidgwick]] comments on such frustration after a discussion of self-love in the above-mentioned work:

<blockquote>I should not, however, infer from this that the pursuit of pleasure is necessarily self-defeating and futile; but merely that the principle of Egoistic Hedonism, when applied with a due knowledge of the laws of human nature, is practically self-limiting; i.e., that a rational method of attaining the end at which it aims requires that we should to some extent put it out of sight and not directly aim at it.<ref>Henry Sidgwick. ''The Methods of Ethics''. BookSurge Publishing (1 March 2001) (p. 3)</ref></blockquote>

While not addressing the paradox directly, [[Aristotle]] commented on the futility of pursuing pleasure. Human beings are actors whose endeavours bring about consequences, and among these is pleasure. Aristotle then argues as follows:

<blockquote>How, then, is it that no one is continuously pleased? Is it that we grow weary? Certainly all human things are incapable of continuous activity. Therefore pleasure also is not continuous; for it accompanies activity.<ref>Aristotle. ''Nicomachean Ethics'', [http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/nicomachaen.10.x.html Book X, page 4]</ref></blockquote>

Sooner or later, finite beings will be unable to acquire and expend the resources necessary to maintain their sole goal of pleasure; thus, they find themselves in the company of misery. [[Evolutionary theory]] explains that humans evolved through natural selection and follow genetic imperatives that seek to maximize [[reproduction]],<ref>{{cite web | title = Sociobiology: Evolution, Genes and Morality| url = http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/sociobio.html | author = Raymond Bohlin| access-date = 2007-01-03 }}</ref> not [[happiness]]. According to [[David Pearce (philosopher)|David Pearce]], the extent of human happiness is limited biologically by a genetically determined baseline level of well-being that cannot be permanently altered through environmental improvements alone. He argues in his treatise ''The Hedonistic Imperative'' that humans might be able to use [[genetic engineering]], [[nanotechnology]], and [[neuroscience]] to eliminate suffering in all human life and allow for peak levels of happiness and pleasure that are currently unimaginable.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2006 |title=The End of Suffering {{!}} Issue 56 |url=https://philosophynow.org/issues/56/The_End_of_Suffering |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=Philosophy Now}}</ref>

Competing philosophies seek to balance hedonism with good acts and intentions, thus "earning" the pleasure.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Essay 1 on Hedonism at the Church Of Carnal Knowledge |url=https://churchofcarnalknowledge.com/essay-1-hedonism#paradox |access-date=2023-10-24 |website=churchofcarnalknowledge.com}}</ref>