I wondered a few days ago if the words decadence and decade were related, which made me first consider how decadence differs from hedonism, and later look the words up.

No relation. Decadence comes to us from the Latin decadere (to fall away, decay) and decade is just another way of expressing the Greek for the number 10 (dekas).

In similar but not etymological fashion, decadence and hedonism really have nothing in common.

Decadence describes the process of falling into an inferior condition. It means deterioration, decay. It also signifies moral degeneration, and in our times unrestrained self-indulgence.

The word has been around since the middle of the 16^th century.

Hedonism wasn’t used for another 200 years. It’s a philosophy: the doctrine that pleasure or happiness is the highest good. Straight from the Greek word for pleasure: hēdon. It can mean devotion to pleasure as a way of life, which starts to look like decadence and that may make the words synonymous as we proceed. But for now there’s a distinction. Hedonism is responsible and has no taint of decay.

You aren’t a good Hedonist if you ever have a hangover. You don’t succeed if you engage in acts which you later regret. Effective Hedonists understand that the first obligation of intelligence is to be happy, and that happiness is built of creative endeavor, exercise, and a clear conscience.

Decadence is about self-indulgence. Hedonism is about self-esteem.