Final answer:
Contemporary hedonists view well-being as a combination of intellectual and long-lasting pleasures that contribute to a meaningful life alongside the desires and the attainment of objective goods such as health, knowledge, virtue, and friendships.
Step-by-step explanation:
Contemporary hedonists conceive of well-being and the good life through the lens of obtaining pleasure and avoiding pain, which includes both mental and emotional aspects, alongside physical ones.
It's not only about momentary and fleeting pleasures but also intellectual and long-lasting ones that contribute to a meaningful life. This philosophical approach, known as hedonism, has evolved from its origins with Epicurus, who advocated for a life of moderation and ataraxia, a state of tranquility, as the paths to pleasure.
Well-being, in a broader sense, is not simply about personal satisfaction; it often includes other factors like the satisfaction of desire and the pursuit of objective goods. For example, the satisfaction of desire, also called satisfactionism, relates to taking actions or holding beliefs that fulfill one's desires.
Meanwhile, objective goods offer a contrasting approach where certain aspects like health, knowledge, and virtue are considered intrinsically valuable and contribute to a flourishing life regardless of personal preferences.
Navigating through these philosophical tenets helps identify what constitutes a valuable and good life beyond just the presence of pleasure, including the satisfaction of desires and attainment of knowledge, virtue, and friendships as elements of well-being.