For Epicurus, the most pleasant life is
one where we abstain from unnecessary desires and achieve an inner tranquility (ataraxia) by being content with simple things
, and by choosing the pleasure of philosophical conversation with friends over the pursuit of physical pleasures like food, drink, and sex.
What were Epicurus ideas?
Epicurus believed that, on the basis of a
radical materialism
which dispensed with transcendent entities such as the Platonic Ideas or Forms, he could disprove the possibility of the soul’s survival after death, and hence the prospect of punishment in the afterlife.
What is Epicurus theory?
Epicurus taught that the
basic constituents of the world are atoms, uncuttable bits of matter
, flying through empty space, and he tried to explain all natural phenomena in atomic terms. Epicurus rejected the existence of Platonic forms and an immaterial soul, and he said that the gods have no influence on our lives.
What did Epicurus believe were the 3 key ingredients to a good life?
He believed that there were 3 ingredients to
happiness
. Friends, Freedom, and an Analyzed life. He also believed that we needed to be self sufficient in our lives to procure happiness.
What did Epicurus do for a living?
Epicurus, (born 341 bc, Samos, Greece—died 270, Athens), Greek philosopher, author of
an ethical philosophy of simple pleasure, friendship, and retirement
. He founded schools of philosophy that survived directly from the 4th century bc until the 4th century ad.
What kind of person is an Epicurean?
In modern popular usage, an Epicurean is
a connoisseur of the arts of life and the refinements of sensual pleasures
; Epicureanism implies a love or knowledgeable enjoyment especially of good food and drink.
How does Epicurus define happiness?
Epicurus makes the following claims about human happiness:
Happiness is Pleasure
; all things are to be done for the sake of the pleasant feelings associated with them. … This state of ataraxia can be achieved through philosophical contemplation rather than through pursuit of crass physical pleasures.
What is Epicurean motto?
Epicureanism was later summed up as a motto:
eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we may die
. It is also known as hedonism, the philosophy of good living.
What is wrong with epicureanism?
One problem with both Stoicism and Epicureanism is
their excessive focus on the self
. The good of deep and loving relationships with others carries with it an unavoidable vulnerability to pain and suffering.
What kind of hedonism does Epicurus recommend?
“[According to Epicurus], you need to stop desiring anything you don’t naturally need.” For Epicurus, a
hedonistic life is one free from bodily and mental pains
. Most people live miserable lives because they’re so worried and anxious, and so the key to Epicurean hedonism is eradicating all anxiety.
What are the 3 mistakes we make when we think of happiness?
2,400 years ago, the Greek philosopher Epicurus said that people were making three mistakes about where to direct their energy in order to be happy: they were
over-valuing romantic relationships, money and luxury
, and that they were under-valuing friendship, satisfying work and simplicity.
What is the good life Aristotle?
According to Aristotle,
happiness consists in achieving
, through the course of a whole lifetime, all the goods — health, wealth, knowledge, friends, etc. — that lead to the perfection of human nature and to the enrichment of human life. This requires us to make choices, some of which may be very difficult.
What are Epicurus four basic truths?
Epicurus wrote:
Don’t fear god
. Don’t worry about death. What is terrible is easy to endure.
What did Epicurus say about God?
Epicurus
taught that although the gods exist, they have no involvement in human affairs
. He taught that people should behave ethically not because the gods punish or reward people for their actions, but because amoral behavior will burden them with guilt and prevent them from attaining ataraxia.
What does Epicurus say about death?
Epicurus’ Argument
Death, Epicurus argued, cannot touch us because “
while we exist death is not present, and when death is present we no longer exist.
” Since death cannot touch us it cannot be bad. Fear is rational only for something bad. So Epicurus concludes that fearing death is pointless.
