New Hedonism (NHF)

Several philosophers have attacked the idea of why we do anything at all. While their efforts have produced meritorious frameworks to describe human behavior, none seem to encompass all conscious actions. I attempt to address that fundamental gap in this paper, creating a thorough framework that is formed based on a proposition: every conscious action comes from a person's desire to get the most joy they can in that moment, viably, and through a subjective lens, where joy means any positive feeling they experience. Individuals may not always be aware of this internal assessment of possible behaviors through such a lens, but their actions follow the projected outcomes. Essentially, we act hedonistically to some extent; however, this form of hedonism is strongly nuanced from conventional definitions as it is inclusive of pride, fulfillment, peace, relief, and hope. Practical applications of this concept across various work fields and therapeutic settings are numerous.