What Do Epicureanism And Stoicism Have In Common?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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They both offer

ways to avoid pain in life

; in Epicureanism by living very simply and having strong friendships, and in Stoicism by fully accepting the course of nature. … Stoics believe that all pain stems from our perceptions and that we have the ability to not suffer when things typically considered bad happen to us.

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What are Epicureanism and Stoicism both examples of?

Epicureanism and stoicism are both examples of

ancient Greek philosophical systems

, and each pursue the achievement of true happiness, or eudaimonia….

What culture did Epicureanism and Stoicism originate?

Stoicism originated as

a Hellenistic philosophy

, founded in Athens by Zeno of Citium (modern day Cyprus), c. 300 B.C.E. It was influenced by Socrates and the Cynics, and it engaged in vigorous debates with the Skeptics, the Academics, and the Epicureans.

What was the main concern of both the Stoic and Epicurean schools of philosophy?

What was the main concern of the Stoic and Epicurean schools of philosophy? The main concern was

how people lived their lives

.

What were the basic beliefs of the Epicureans?

Epicureanism is a system of philosophy based on the teachings of Epicurus, founded around 307 B.C. It teaches that

the greatest good is to seek modest pleasures in order to attain a state of tranquillity

, freedom from fear (“ataraxia”) and absence from bodily pain (“aponia”).

What is the difference between epicureanism and hedonism?

Epicureans and Hedonists

both pursue pleasure

, however while Hedonists will do anything whether it’s morally right or wrong in order to attain pleasure, Epicureans will not. Epicureanism teaches that we should seek pleasure, but that we should not over indulge in our pleasures – food, drink, sex, etc.

How can Epicureanism be the basis of morality?

Ethics. Epicureanism bases

its ethics on a hedonistic set of values

. In the most basic sense, Epicureans see pleasure as the purpose of life. As evidence for this, Epicureans say that nature seems to command us to avoid pain, and they point out that all animals try to avoid pain as much as possible.

How did Epicureanism influence Christianity?

Of all the Greek philosophical schools, Epicureanism was the one most at odds with the new Christian teachings, since Epicureans believed that

the soul was mortal, denied the existence of an afterlife

, denied that the divine had any active role in human life, and advocated pleasure as the foremost goal of human …

What did epicureans believe about 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. False beliefs produce unnecessary pain; among them, that the gods will punish us and that death is something to be feared.

What is Epicurean and Stoic philosophers?

Epicureanism is a

philosophy which stresses the importance of ‘training one’s desires

‘. … Stoic philosophers, in contrast to Epicureans, believed that there are many things outside of our control in life, and therefore many things which could befall us and make our lives very difficult.

What Epicureanism means?

In popular parlance, Epicureanism thus means

devotion to pleasure, comfort, and high living

, with a certain nicety of style. Epicurus.

What were the Epicureans known for?

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 did Stoics believe?

The Stoics believed that

perception is the basis of true knowledge

. In logic, their comprehensive presentation of the topic is derived from perception, yielding not only the judgment that knowledge is possible but also that certainty is possible, on the analogy of the incorrigibility of perceptual experience.

What does stoicism mean in philosophy?

Stoicism is a school of philosophy that hails from ancient Greece and Rome in the early parts of the 3rd century, BC. It is

a philosophy of life that maximizes positive emotions, reduces negative emotions and helps individuals to hone their virtues of character

.

What is epicureanism quizlet?

Epicureanism. The

purpose of philosophy was to attain the happy, tranquil life

, characterized by ataraxia—peace and freedom from fear—and aponia—the absence of pain—and by living a self-sufficient life surrounded by friends.

What is the difference between stoicism and epicureanism?

In summary, a

simple heuristic

to remember the difference between the Stoics and the Epicureans: The Stoics cared about virtuous behavior and living according to nature, while the Epicureans were all about avoiding pain and seeking natural and necessary pleasure.

What is the difference between hedonism and stoicism are there people now behaving like this?

Stoicism vs Hedonism: the distinction. When comparing stoicism vs hedonism, the most important distinction is

based on the idea of pleasure

. In stoicism, pleasure is perceived as neither ‘good’ nor ‘bad’, but rather something to view indifferently. In hedonism, one’s focus is largely set on the pursuit of pleasure.

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.

Why do Stoics reject hedonism?

Their premises are

fundamentally opposed

. Hedonism claims that pleasure is the sole or highest good; Stoicism claims that virtue is the sole good and pleasure is an indifferent.

Why is epicureanism important?

He was one of the first Greek philosophers to develop a strong tradition that avoids superstition as a core ideal. His

simple philosophy of avoiding pain

, leading a simple life, and attaining knowledge has made his philosophy both attractive and influential to many.

How did Aristotle think that virtue could be acquired?

Aristotle believed that virtue:

must be acquired through training

. How did Aristotle think that virtue could be acquired? Virtue is acquired through education and training.

What is Aristotle philosophy?

In his metaphysics, he claims that there must be a separate and unchanging being that is the source of all other beings. In his ethics, he holds that it is only by becoming excellent that one

could achieve eudaimonia

, a sort of happiness or blessedness that constitutes the best kind of human life.

What do the Epicureans think about the universe?

b.

Because Epicurus believes that nothing comes into existence from nothing, he thinks

that the universe has no beginning, but has always existed, and will always exist

. Atoms, too, as the basic building blocks of all else, cannot come into existence, but have always existed.

Is pleasure the absence of pain?

The Epicureans defined pleasure as the

absence of pain

(mental and physical), and hence pleasure can only increase until the point in which pain is absent. … To achieve such a state, one has to experience kinetic pleasures, that is, a pleasure one has when want or pain is being removed.

What is Epicurus’s point about happiness and virtue?

Epicurus agrees with Aristotle that

happiness is an end-in-itself and the highest good of human living

. However, he identifies happiness with the pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain rather than with the pure exercise of reason.

What did sophists believe?

They were secular atheists, relativists and cynical about religious beliefs and all traditions. They believed and taught

that “might makes right”

. They were pragmatists trusting in whatever works to bring about the desired end at whatever the cost.

Is Existentialism a Stoicism?

Existentialism states that man should be free and should be responsible for his actions and should exist in his will not being forced to do things. But Stoicism is where

when an individual is able to keep patience

and clam even in the state of highest misery & pain.

What are the stoic virtues?

The Stoics elaborated a detailed taxonomy of virtue, dividing virtue into four main types:

wisdom, justice, courage, and moderation

. Wisdom is subdivided into good sense, good calculation, quick-wittedness, discretion, and resourcefulness. Justice is subdivided into piety, honesty, equity, and fair dealing.

What is a stoic mindset?

Stoicism is a

mindset and philosophy that’s based on the logical premise that your mind determines your perceptions, which can be trained

. According to the Stoics, it’s not the outer world that’s the problem, but rather your internal world.

What did the enjoyment of life require based on the epicureanism point of view?

Epicurus suggested that

static pleasures

are the preferred form of pleasure. Physical pleasures and pains, he suggested, had to do with the present. Mental pleasures and pains had to do with the past and future.

Is Buddhism a Stoicism?

Stoicism and Buddhism are two remarkably similar philosophies that were created independently thousands of miles apart. … As philosopher and author Nassim Taleb once wrote on the similarities between the two: “

A Stoic is a Buddhist with attitude

.” Sure, both of them differ in their explanations of how our world works.

Do Stoics believe in purpose?

The Stoics saw an entirely material universe that was shot-through with reason and purpose, a

great world-city of human beings that were connected to it

and to each other as both rational and social creatures.

Why is stoicism wrong?

So Stoicism is inimical to freedom. It is true that we cannot control everything, but Stoicism is

the wrong response

. … But Stoicism is unable to work the “magic” of emotion, as Sartre says. In his view, people initiate emotions when they are confronted with obstacles they seemingly have no rational way of overcoming.

What is the chief goal of stoicism?

“It is

the power of the mind to be unconquerable

.” The ultimate goal of Stoicism is to develop the mind to such an extent that the practitioner would reach a state of being called eudaimonia.

Is born stoic and dies epicurean?

At its cradle (to repeat a thoughtful adage) religion stands, and philosophy accompanies it to the grave.

What is an epicurean lifestyle?

It means ‘

pursuit of pleasure

, especially in reference to food, comfort and other luxuries. All the concepts in the Epicurean Lifestyle are based on the teachings of ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus. He strongly believed that living a life full of simplicity was the way to achieve all the pleasures and comfort.

What is the contribution of Aristotle in philosophy?

Aristotle was one of the greatest philosophers who ever lived and the first genuine scientist in history. He made pioneering contributions to all fields of philosophy and science, he

invented the field of formal logic

, and he identified the various scientific disciplines and explored their relationships to each other.

What is the purpose of life according to Aristotle?

To summarise from Pursuit of Happiness (2018), according to Aristotle, the purpose and ultimate goal in life is

to achieve eudaimonia (‘happiness’)

. He believed that eudaimonia was not simply virtue, nor pleasure, but rather it was the exercise of virtue.

Is stoicism a good philosophy?

Stoicism type of philosophy

is good if you are going through bad time, midlife crisis or in prison

. If you are confined, alone and mentally tortured — stoicism brings mental toughness. … Some of Stoicism is like common sense but very handy to soothe you if you are having a terrible time all the way in your life.

How does stoicism differ from Christianity?

Stoicism follows Heraclitus and believes in one Logos; Christianity follows Jesus, and requires followers to believe in the one true God and have no other gods before him [her]. … Rather than be a slave to others, both Stoicism and Christianity involve

evolving from focusing on the self to a self rooted in serving God

.

Which of these traits did the Stoics value most?

Temperance. Justice.

Wisdom

. They are the most essential values in Stoic philosophy.

Amira Khan
Author
Amira Khan
Amira Khan is a philosopher and scholar of religion with a Ph.D. in philosophy and theology. Amira's expertise includes the history of philosophy and religion, ethics, and the philosophy of science. She is passionate about helping readers navigate complex philosophical and religious concepts in a clear and accessible way.