In the aftermath of World War II, the US entered a new age of economic prosperity marked by technological advancements and cultural developments. This rapid economic growth and promise of the American dream enticed people from around the world. America saw an influx of immigrants in the 60s when the fourth wave of American immigration began, of which both my parents were a part of. These immigrants brought with them their customs, religious traditions, political beliefs, and values, many of which were foreign or even incompatible with what had been the “traditional American” way of life at that time. The age of information introduced the discussion of new ideas (or reintroduced the discussion of suppressed ideas) on college campuses, and the multiculturalism of American cities facilitated the exchange of those ideas. Yet at the same time, Americans (including newly-naturalized Americans) of all backgrounds sought to coexist despite all of their cultural, religious, and political differences. The traditional American way of life that was constructed mostly by families of Anglo-Saxon, Protestant heritage and was guided (for the most part) by virtue ethics was no longer the norm following the rapid growth of diversity in the late 20th century.
America quickly became a melting pot of cultures, ideas, and ways of life. Without any one identity to bring people together as a collectivist society, individualism flourished. Discussions of religion and politics became taboo as Americans of all backgrounds and creeds sought to live alongside one another in the same communities, all pursuing the American dream. A new virtue arose: political correctness. Furthermore, the economic boom in post-war America and the resistance to communism during the Cold War led to an increase in loyalty to capitalism. The extreme loyalty of the United States’ government to capitalism unsurprisingly had a complementary impact on American culture: consumerism–which is when a person regards themself as a consumer and views life as “a series of sensations to be experienced” in the words of St. John-Paul II (Centesimus Annus §39).
The new norm of multiculturalism and individualism naturally stripped American culture of its traditional ethical framework of Christian virtue ethics. There no longer ubiquitously existed any one general ethical framework which collectively bound all Americans together. Any ethical framework one would subsequently follow would have to be self-centered in nature. In this article, I offer that hedonism is that ethical framework that guides the modern post-Christian American individual. The type of hedonism I speak of is not just classical Epicureanism or utilitarianism, it’s exceptionally American, modern, and especially egotistical, and may even deserve a new name. This article draws attention to the negative impact of uninhibited desire on the individual and on society. I posit that this American hedonism is not fitting for humanity, and is literally killing people.
To begin, hedonism, as an ethical framework, is the idea that pleasure is the most esteemed good which ought to be pursued in all circumstances. In the US, hedonism has arisen as a consequence of consumerism and extreme individualism. The idea that it is natural and normative for one to feel content all the time is a product of consumerism, and the belief that it is ultimately good to pursue what is pleasurable for oneself in all circumstances is the effect of individualism. Both of these doctrines are deeply rooted in modern American culture, much to the disgust of people of other cultures. But the doctrines of individualism, utilitarianism, and consumerism, which facilitated the production of hedonism as an ethic, are inhumane because they are unnatural to the human person and are a product of modern times. Although pleasure is in fact good, it must be understood as a motivating force, not something to be consistently sought in itself. For example, the pleasure of eating food exists to encourage us to nourish ourselves, but to regularly eat too much would be gluttonous and self-abusive. Human beings are not animals: we are not meant to be controlled by our desires alone. We are endowed with reason and are meant to practice moderation.
In American culture, hedonistic living often manifests itself outwardly as “self-care,” but actually it is deeply rooted in the very character of the American individual and informs every decision they make. Americans frequently “do what’s best for themselves at the moment.” In this thought, “best” does not mean what is morally best, but most pleasurable for oneself. Virtuous living is not something to be strived for, only comfort is, even if it means being a bad teammate or disappointing those counting on you. This hedonistic ethic which has the individual’s contentedness at its core even violates aspects of utilitarianism!
The extreme self-centered nature of this ethic is very modern and distinctly American, but its impact goes beyond the individual alone. On the one hand, the negative impact of uninhibited desire on the individual is well known, specifically on the physical body. It is well documented that instant gratification with regards to junk food causes a variety of health issues. In addition, it’s been known that instant gratification has resulted in the lowering of attention spans over the past few decades and a loss of patience. The once popular “you only live once” justification helps us understand the detrimental pleasure-seeking mentality that is so ingrained in the minds of Americans. On the other hand, the impact of hedonistic American living goes beyond the American individual. The environmental impact of hedonistic living on the entire planet is well known. Convenient single-use plastics accumulate in the streets and in the seas, and greenhouse gas emissions continue to threaten our planet. Furthermore, hedonism has impacted the foundation of society: the family. The divorce rate has sky-rocketed because marriage is no longer about the unbreakable bond of the sacrament of matrimony, but about how much pleasure one can gain from their partner. Sex too has become debased. With the normalization of contraception, sexuality has become a commodity and people now view each other simply as objects of satisfaction. The beginnings of this shift in how we view one another can be traced back to the Sexual Revolution. Lastly, hedonism poses a threat to human rights. An even more extreme effect of hedonism is when it leads one to sacrifice even another innocent human being for one’s own comfort, as in the case of euthanasia and abortion. Hedonism’s impact is so extreme that it is literally killing people.
But most grievous of all of these is the fatal impact that hedonism has had on the spiritual health of the common person. The fact that American culture teaches people to live hedonistically has led to millions of people dying of spiritual death in mortal sin. The negative impact of uninhibited desire on spiritual health is something spiritual masters throughout history have warned of and advised against. The Buddha precisely states that it is attachment to cravings that cause suffering. Jesus calls on us to practice virtue, pray for strength, and avoid sin at all costs, never once giving in or compromising our soul. The American hedonism that is present in New Age spirituality is telling. The reason New Age spirituality is so appealing is because it promises additional personal control over one’s life and temporal gifts. Rather than pursue excellence, metanoia, theosis, or any spiritual growth at all, Americans who practice New Age instead practice manifestation or divination in order to receive a physical or temporal thing they desire. As another example of this, many engage in reading tarot cards or astrology in order to feel a sense of comfort about the near future rather than seek any change in themselves, and any deities they do claim to worship they only worship so long as the deity has something to offer back. This is true of some aspects of modern Protestant Christianity as well, with some American preachers proclaiming the so-called “health and wealth” gospel rather than the true gospel of Jesus Christ. New Age “spirituality” is completely self-serving and hedonistic and involves no turning of one’s own spirit at all towards our Creator.
Overall, modern American culture celebrates a morality of self-centered hedonism. Since the 60s, the hedonistic ethic has become oppressive, as its followers are not only critical of but also antagonistic to ideologies that challenge its liberal agenda. Just as Christianity was once mainstream and absorbed in American culture, hedonism is now the new norm, with those challenging its default position as part of a new counterculture. In this age, the most counter-cultural action one can do is to resist the ubiquitous hedonism. This can take the form of engaging in environmental activism, pro-life activism, following a religion, and pursuing virtous living. People of faith are told they are “repressed” for not being hedonists and “workaholics” are criticized rather than applauded for working hard with discipline. These are signs of the presence of a counter-culture.
It used to be the norm for people to look forward to the afterlife because it was hope for them because life was hard. Many people still have this hope, but nowadays in the Western world, people live more easy and comfortable lives, yet they bring judgment upon themselves because they are pursuing heaven on earth instead of holiness on earth. Those who live indulgent lives have already received their reward. As for the rest of us, we are called to pick up our cross, deny ourselves, and follow the Lord on the way to heaven (cf. Matthew 16:24-26). For it is he who must increase, and us who must decrease (cf. John 3:30).
To discuss these thoughts, please email me at dtabet@luc.edu. AMDG.