/lit/ - Literature

>>7276074

Because the invisible hand only applies to free market economies. In morality, your selfishness affects others negatively.

If we behaved like economists wanted us to behave, aka the homo economicus theorem, then yes OP, you would see nonchalant, entirely rational hedonism in individuals and our societies would be.... shit.

The central tenet of morality throughout the 19th and 20th century was that Millian economic model, but that's changed, and as others ITT have pointed out:

Look, I could go into to the nuance and detail or boil it down to this: humans are innately caring, groupish beings. There's a reason that when a coworker offers to cover your shift you say "I owe you thank you so much" and emphasize your thankfulness with a feeling of being indebted in lieu of acting like homo economicus, who would gladly walk out of the establishment with a shit eating grin ready to take a nice day off.

So, as others have said, our societies aren't solely hedonistic because we're not all sociopathic. And, as it turns out, short-lived hedonostic pleasures do not make us happy. That is illusory; what makes us happy is the relationships we have the people. This has been proven time again.

So indulge your hedonism, but be mindful of those close to you when you do and especially don't abandon them or give them reason to ostracize you.