Choosing Hedonism As a Personal, Ethical, and Educational Philosophy
The concept of hedonism as a personal, ethical, educational philosophy can be interpreted as a way to succeed in life. Without knowledge or the pursuit of knowledge, the individual's life would not be as well fulfilled and they would open themselves up to a life filled with more work for sustenance and a life with more opportunities for sadness and pain. Though without knowledge, the individual could be ignorant to the level of happiness they might attain. The individual might turn from psychological or the mental side of hedonism and delve more into unethical or immoral practices to obtain pleasure with the physical side of hedonism (Sahakain and Sahakain, 2005). This would present a state of being that would make a poor educational leader, because following this personal ethical philosophy, without education, there are less opportunities for happiness through knowledge.
Though usually devoid of Christian connotations, hedonism included in the personal ethical philosophy would have to address religious ethical and moral issues. When making a educational decision, the educational leader might want to include the thoughts of Thomas More (1478-1535 A.D). More thought that in the pursuit of happiness and the diversion away from pain, the human would follow God's design and the pursuit would be justified in moral goodness (More, 1895). The educational leader, if he follows his personal ethical philosophy and includes More's sentiments, can follow the path of pleasure and have the confidence that in the end, ethical, educational decision making will become easier because it is the natural course of God's will.
This would make the personal ethical philosophy sound more like this, 'Education and knowledge brings more opportunities of happiness and well being. Thus the goal of educational staff and students should be to pursue those educational opportunities to bring them into the state of happiness and well-being. As we pursue toward knowledge and happiness, the natural course of outcomes will be morale because it is God's design.' The ethical philosophy will now be more steadfast because it presents a goal that is supported by a moral pathway that protects both the pursuit of happiness and the attainment of good moral decisions.