hedonske

Hedonske is a theoretical term used in ethical philosophy and welfare economics to describe a framework that treats hedons—discrete units representing pleasure or positive affect—as the fundamental currency of welfare. The word combines hedon with a suffix suggesting pertaining to, and it is encountered mainly in discussions intended to illustrate a purely hedonic calculus rather than as a widely adopted doctrine.

Its core claim is that the value of any action or policy derives from the net hedons it yields to all affected beings. A hedonic tally would sum positive hedons (pleasures, satisfactions) and subtract negative hedons (pains, discomfort), typically across individuals and over time, often with a discounting rule. Proponents may allow hedons to be weighted to reflect distributional concerns or moral status.

Measurement and limits: As a conceptual tool, hedons can be difficult to quantify, and annotating hedonic intensity and duration introduces subjectivity. Critics argue that a sole focus on hedons neglects rights, autonomy, fairness, and long-term harms not explained by immediate pleasure, raising concerns about feasibility and moral justification.

Relation to other ideas: Hedonske is distinct from utilitarianism by its narrower metric, though it shares the aim of maximizing welfare. It is often discussed as a thought experiment or critique within happiness economics, hedonism, and policy evaluation.