The document defines hedonism as the belief that pleasure is the most important thing in life. It describes hedonism as deriving from Greek words meaning "delight". It then lists characteristics of hedonism such as prioritizing pleasure over consequences, addictive tendencies, and not being opposed to breaking laws. The document also describes three types of hedonism: psychological focusing on motivation and norms of pleasure; ethical focusing on maximizing happiness; and discusses the history of hedonist thought from ancient civilizations to different philosophical traditions.