Final answer:
The hippie movement believed in human inherent goodness and pursued happiness in a way that aligns with hedonistic philosophy, which favors pleasure as the highest good, including a deep appreciation for nature and well-being.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question revolves around the hippie movement's perspectives on human nature and the pursuit of happiness, particularly through the lens of hedonism. Hippies were a group in the 1960s and 70s who often held the belief that humans are inherently good and sought happiness through various means, suggesting a hedonistic approach to life. In philosophy, hedonism posits that pleasure is the ultimate good and pain is the ultimate evil. This concept encompasses not just physical pleasure but also emotional and intellectual pleasures that contribute to a life well-lived.
Hippie culture emphasized personal freedom, peace, and a deep connection with nature. The movement involved rejecting traditional societal values, embracing nonmaterialistic lifestyles, and using drugs for both recreational purposes and spiritual enlightenment. John Stuart Mill's view that it is better to be a human dissatisfied than a pig satisfied underlines the hippie preference for higher, more profound experiences over basic animal pleasures.
Moreover, the hippie movement aligned with the ideas of protecting nature and promoting well-being for all living organisms, which counters a purely self-centered hedonism. This philosophy reflects an ethical standpoint that values harmony with life's processes and the health of humans and ecosystems.