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Glite Dictionary
Cyrenaicism

Cyrenaicism

9.9
A belief that people should try to get pleasure now without thinking about the future
  • noun
  • /ˌsɪrəˈneɪɪsɪzəm/
  • Formal
translation icon : cirenaísmo
  • The essence of Cyrenaicism is to enjoy life without worrying about the future.

Examples

  • Unlike Epicureanism, Cyrenaicism emphasizes immediate rather than long-term pleasure.

  • Many philosophers criticized Cyrenaicism for its hedonistic approach.

  • Many scholars study Cyrenaicism to understand the origins of hedonistic philosophy.

  • The influence of Cyrenaicism can be seen in later discussions of ethical hedonism.

  • Many scholars study Cyrenaicism to understand the origins of hedonistic philosophy.

  • The essence of Cyrenaicism is to enjoy life without worrying about the future.

  • Unlike Epicureanism, Cyrenaicism emphasizes immediate rather than long-term pleasure.

Synonyms

hedonism
vsCyrenaicism
8 7.5

The idea that pleasure is the most important goal in life

focuses on immediate enjoyment while ignoring future consequences
sensualism
vsCyrenaicism
  • NSFW
9.4

A way of life that seeks pleasure and physical enjoyment

emphasizes immediate enjoyment rather than only sensory satisfaction

Surface Forms

Cyrenaicism singular
Cyrenaicisms plural

Morphology

Cyrenaicism = Cyrenaic (opaque) = Cyrenaic + ism

The term is a specialised, eponymous philosophical noun formed from the adjective 'Cyrenaic' + '-ism', and its specialised doctrinal meaning is unlikely to be inferable by a B1 learner who does not already know the historical referent.

Etymology

Cyrenaicism comes from the ancient Greek town Cyrene, because the philosophers who began the idea lived there and were called Cyrenaics, who taught that life is about 'immediate pleasure'. So, Cyrenaicism is the name for the teaching that seeking pleasure now is the highest good, not planning for the future.