Editing Hedonism (section)

=== Others ===
Aesthetic hedonism is a theory about the nature of [[aesthetic value]] or beauty. It states that a thing, like a landscape, a painting, or a song, has aesthetic value if people are pleased by it or get aesthetic pleasure from it. It is a [[Subjectivity and objectivity (philosophy)|subjective]] theory because it focuses on how people respond to aesthetically engaging things. It contrasts with objective theories, which assert that aesthetic value only depends on objective or mind-independent features of things, like symmetry or harmonic composition. Some aesthetic hedonists believe that any type of pleasure is relevant to the aesthetic value of a thing. Others offer a more nuanced characterization, saying that aesthetic value is only based on how people with a well-developed [[Aesthetic taste|taste]] respond to it.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Matthen|Weinstein|2020|loc=§ Introduction}} | {{harvnb|Van der Berg|2020|pp=1–4}} | {{harvnb|Gorodeisky|2021|pp=1–2}} }}</ref>

Outside the academic contexts of philosophy and psychology, the word ''hedonism'' is often used in a more narrow sense as a pejorative term. Sometimes called ''folk hedonism'', it describes a lifestyle dedicated to the egoistic pursuit of short-term gratification. For example, a person who indulges in sex and drugs without concern for the long-term consequences of their behavior is acting hedonistically in this sense. The negative connotation of the term is associated with a lack of interest or foresight regarding the potential harm or ethical implications of such actions. Negative consequences can impact both the individual and the people around them, affecting areas such as health, financial stability, relationships, and societal responsibilities. Most philosophical hedonists reject the idea that a lifestyle characterized by folk hedonism leads to long-term happiness.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Weijers|loc=§ 1a. Folk Hedonism}} | {{harvnb|Buscicchi|loc=§ 1. Condensed Conceptual History, § 2. Paradoxes of Hedonism}} }}</ref>