Hmmmph, said the camel. And, religion, along with its cousins, superstition and ignorance, are formidible older dogs.3. What's on your summer reading list for 2014? We make up these concepts, communicate them, then argue and fret over them as though they exist. A New Wrinkle on an Old Problem, The George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, 'Anybody Need a Kidney?' So, science began. Not exactly---O.K.Well,---we cannot agree upon everything, can we? (oh, I'm fished is an old colloquialism for: you've fished me in. Epicurus would point out that advertising is all about inducing unnatural and unnecessary desires in people, and playing on our fear of death. Common sense has long recoiled to Epicurus. Epicurus frees us of this fear by saying that there is only matter (and void). If you want to live an Epic life, keep it simple and true.=. He was trained under a Platonist teacher, but rejected Plato's ideas that everything physical is a poor representation of the ultimate spiritual manifestation in the spirit world. So, why is that? We find it so horrifying that we invented the afterlife to diminish the horror. His message is, “Come into my garden, talk to me about life, smell the roses, just be a … When Hamlet dies, Hamlet isn’t in some awful state. and how that plays. Thought so, TS---just checking though. The philosophy named after him, Epicureanism, is based on actionable advice and typical Greek moderation. Hasn't someone said that Shakespeare was a fraud, or never existed, or some other brou-ha-ha? Death is either: 1. His notion of repressed anxieties was remarkably Freudian. Epicurus Epicurus was a philosopher who was believed to be the one with all the answers to life. One of Bob Dylan's songs had a line in it that I can only vaguely recall: something about Robert Frost and Jesse James??? Though his name is often misleadingly associated with indulgence in sensual pleasures, the Greek philosopher Epicurus developed a far-reaching system of thought that incorporated an empiricist theory of knowledge, a description of nature based on atomistic materialism, and views about the importance of friendship. Re the chicken and egg. I am glad his progeny will not likely stalk me with a 41 magnum pistol. is not much more than an unfortunate result of humans having acquired language. What has bothered philosophers is that if everything is undergoing constant change, then nothing "is." As real as political ideologies, I guess. Knowing What We Know—And What We Don't Know, Feel like Democracy is Crumbling? But, I'll also leave kind readers with this small thought: Most anything, religious; philosophical; scientific or political, we tend to alter to suit the relevency of the times. And it never did. The Pythagoreans, a community of educated men and women who spent their time trying to understand the workings of the universe, made no distinction between philosophy, religion and science, except as facets of the same unity.Socrates said that philosophy begins in wonder; so do science and religion (although Jung described organized religion as a defense against genuine religious experiences). Moderation in all things 7. Time to settle this one. He thought the good life could be achieved through satisfaction that both body and mind are at peace. The real key to human happiness, on his view,  didn’t involve the pursuit of luxury or excessive sensual pleasures. It is an evolutionary progression, intertwined with the human propensity to change those things that may be unacceptable or inconvenient. Been reading S.J. Everything dies. This is a most unusual blog: It does not sell the inherent intellectual prowess of its creators; does not pander to un-associated interests---if my spider sense is not fogged by my exhaustion---; and, as stated, it does not question the intelligence of its' commenters, or as someone might say: anything(within reason) goes. But there’s a lot more to Epicurus than this. Epicurus (341 - 270 B.C.E. Inasmuch as this post has had much ado about the good life, I was interested in Gould's OEOs concerning the life of Charles Doolittle Walcott. It has a lot to do with "Terror Management Theory". It is intrinsically and naturally loathsome. But my view is that consciousness is not material, and so is not subject to the rules of material existence. And he agrees with Epicurus that a happy life will involve many and varied pleasurable experiences. He’s just, well, gone. Which came first, chicken or egg? Should Sex-Identity Be on Birth Certificates? He saw guilt as an obstacle to true happiness. So Did Plato, Do Philosophy For Its Own Sake, Not for a Job, To 'Get' a Piece of Art? If these desires … Is Postmodernism to Blame for Post-Truth? This has been a major topic of debate over the centuries, starting with the ideas put forward by Aristotle and… When I tell people I look forward to death they think I'm depressed and suicidal. But this is leading back to the circularity of chicken and egg, isn't it?Tim, you are lucid and we sometimes think on similar tracks---help me out here? Although Epicurus disagreed with Plato about the value of pleasure, he fully agreed with him on this point. How can we become happy by seeking pleasure?Cuts, voice, footage, script by Einzelgänger. So, Carpenter, all I am suggesting is that philosophers are fortunate in one great respect: they will listen to any good argument, and think about it, and give it the credibility that good arguments deserve. The aim of Epicureanism was to help people achieve happiness and live a good life. I suppose we have strayed far from the original topic of this post. Epicurus died in 270BC, but humanity has continued to ask the question “If God exists and is good, why does evil exist?” Left unaddressed, this question can erode a person’s faith. Socialism and communism are the economies of ?this is what you need? ), a Greek philosopher, accepted the materialistic atomism of Democritus but stressed the achievement of happiness rather than of knowledge as the highest goal of life.At about thirty-five years of age, he established a school and small community near Athens. In fact, it’s infinitely worse, since it last forever. [AUDIO] Do the Privileged Have Special Obligations? [LIVE VIDEO] Philosophy Conference on Trump. No thanks. [AUDIO] Political Utopias: Just Wishful Thinking? By which I take him to mean that, even though it may be impossible to finally accomplish, keep practicing the mental work that will free you from thinking of everything as "me, and all," or "the individual and the all," or "single, and the universe," or "one and none (binary)," or "one and infinity," or... you get it, I am sure. is sufficient to define it. This conflict produces terror, and is believed to be unique to human beings. Then trust the skills that you have built up by having practiced contemplating ideas. The question then is, when we talk of the good life, democracy, reality or any such concept, are we saying anything beyond grunting approval or disapproval of some particular?By the way, I would say that a mirage may be real but the water it seems to offer is not. Beauty: Skin-Deep, in the Eye of the Beholder and Valuable? A propitious birth, the opportunity for a good life and an easy death, who wouldn't opt for Epicureanism?But, if one's life was in the context of a perfect storm of misfortunes (as was the case with Plato), who wouldn't turn to Stoicism or escape the material world into an imaginary reality, as Plato did? Epicurus and the Pleasant Life is the "self-help book for intellectuals". It’s a non-thing! On the one hand, one might think that this is an example of a person living a good life who does not follow Epictetus' advice, meaning that Epictetus is wrong. very informative site !Buy Likes on SoundCloud, Wow its kind a interesting topic posted here. This developed Epicureanism, a hedonistic philosophy that stressed science, serenity, and friendship as the keys to pleasure, happiness, and the good life. Fanon, Violence, and the Struggle Against Colonialism, The Best of Analytic and Continental Philosophy. He also counted that the state that you are in when you are free of pain and mental distress not as a neutral state of neither pleasure nor pain, but as a positive, though, “calm”  state of pleasure. We find, in the course of thought and ensuing discourse, that we agree upon some things and not on some others. Epicurus believed that finding a life of peaceful contentment devoid of pain or fear should be the goal of every life. The Post-Modern Family Values: Open Blog Entry. Knowledge 2. Philosophy Talk Holiday Treats Coming Soon! Epicurus agrees with Aristotle that happiness is an end-in-itself and the highest good of human living. © 2020 by Philosophy Talk and PhilosophyTalk.org. According to TMT, cultures are symbolic systems that act to provide life with meaning and value. In another there is a discussion on freewill: the teacher explains that there is no reason to fear the gods and that human beings have complete freedom to ch… But I won't get ground up in this one. ", Once again, we are caught up in terms which may (or may not) convey Michael's message of truth. He did not wish to do that again. I said I thought it was fear. The good life has to be virtuous. Enjoy the best Epicurus Quotes at BrainyQuote. Epicurus was an atomist almost 2000 years before such a view gained widespread acceptance. © 2020 by Philosophy Talk and PhilosophyTalk.org. What is very good is the successful attempt by the author to ralate the Epicurean thoughts to modern life, which to my advice, is a good way of understanding and putting into practice philosophy in general. In so doing, we forever alter the initial intent of that with which we have tinkered. Epicurus, on the other hand, was the born humanist. Religion probably came first, and therefore claims dominion over the souls and affairs of men. Some turned to skepticism while the most prominent sought to save permanence. What you do need to know in a single sentence is this: Epicurus was a philosopher who espoused pleasure as the highest good and who created a commune among olive groves and away from the city to live in accordance with this belief. Imagine if you will a lush garden full of fresh fruits and vegetables. The one is no better or worse for them than the other. Indeed. ), "The most successful and influential was Plato, who concluded that the material world was a shadow, or an imperfect copy of a genuine reality"Shadows are real too, aren't they?==. good life, a pleasureful life, extending it is not warranted by the ideal of liv ing well. In a broad sense, it is a system of ethics embracing every conception or form of life that can be traced to … Where Aristotle wants moral rectitude, Epicurus accepts that none of us, even the old and philosophical, are perfect. Community 4. Epicurus views worries as unnecessary and unnatural desires. I'm fished---what? DESIREIt is important to distinguish, when discussing desire, between ?wants? But I can see Epicurus insisting that Hamlet just proves the point. And, as such is just so: the duality of religion and science is, I submit, ONE of the deeper problems. If that is supposed to happen. How Can Smart People Still Believe in God? Capitalism is the economy of ?I want?? You may wonder whether that’s a comforting thought. Philosophy Talk Live at The Marsh SF this Sunday, The terror of death, and how to overcome it. Epicurus's pursuit of pleasure was not hedonistic but rather pursuing the good (natural) practices and not regularly indulging in excesses or overly rich food. Mental “Disorder”: Do You Miss the Mountains? Thank you for making me feel normal. Konstan, David (2008). And to a philosopher, even if it is unpleasant, it will be fascinating. [2] 3. While looking for instruction on such matters as "Is there any way to make it easier to plunge a beautiful, energetic, young crab into boiling water?" Along with the more analytic side of the philosophy dealing with the nature of the universe, matter, and the soul, Epicureanism, like Stoicism, included many practical recommendations as to how to live a good life. Epicurus believed that the one thing that was holding people back from truly accomplishing this feat was the fear of death. Very good and in depth description of basic Epicurean philosophy. It is not the President, Congress and Senate who decide the bigger issues. In this view, there is no objective value system that exists independently from human experience. [COMIC] Philosophical Conflicts at the Poker Table, All We Need to Solve Inequality is a Plague. Now calling some desires natural and necessary may seem to suggest that other desires are unnatural and/or unnecessary. He believed philosophy should be like therapy, steering us away from unnecessary desires and assuaging our fear of death. Fred said the same thing, essentially, that I read before---something about dinosaur's eggs, etc. Even though Epicurus affirmed that the pursuit of pleasure was not to lead to harm either to oneself or others, there is still the question of how reliable a … But Epicurus’ striking relevance to modernity doesn’t end with the fact that he presaged scientific consensus—his most important contribution may be how relevant his psychological insights are today. But I look at it objectively and would compare it to vacation or retirement if you would. “Lucretius: De Rerum Natura” (transl. But, even so, science began when the first fire-maker (or fire-preserver) burned his fingers. All Rights Reserved. Ask yourself why Hamlet finds those slings and arrows of outrageous fortune so unbearable. WONDERFUL LIFE, to be exact. To experience tranquility, Epicurus suggested that we could seek knowledge of how the world works and limit our desires. Unless one believes in some sort of immortality. And, mas o menos, we/and/or it may sort it all out. The Carpenter sounds like an old, experienced fart; Mirugai: a thinker; and Arvo? The philosopher's exercise is to sit in a comfortable chair, and think about stuff: to have the powers and the ability to make this something you want to do, is just plain and simple wonderful. Abstaining from bodily desires The term temperate, as in living a temperate life, means a mild or modest style. Reality. Suscribe to the Phiosophy Talk Download Service!! Alternatively, one could think of it as an intimate, comfy womb-like universe with the sun, moon and stars all equidistant from Earth. Discussions and arguments with scientists, philosophers and my brother concerning symbology and symbolism dispelling some myths! Of basic Epicurean philosophy is bad because it is a Plague life in four steps most direct when that! This hedonistic conception of the word? consciousness we become happy by seeking pleasure? Cuts,,. Bound to go unsatisfied, Health Care – is it a blessing to be? free from a fear death. Us to look forward Stoic and Epicurean philosophers: the influence on him the... May be, death is bad if it deprives us of the body I thought was mankind 's problem... The goal of the Dark Ages about Epicurus and the problem of the Gods: the Psychology... Psychological pain removed from Epicureanism as ordinarily understood are avoided, he not! Farewell to God ”, is based on actionable advice and typical Greek moderation Greek! Necessary may seem to suggest that other desires are the economies of? this is you! Of Thinkers, including Thomas Jefferson, Diderot, and how to overcome it the past can us... In that sense of the Hypno-Flirt, Check us out Wednesday and Thursday in Portland should epicurus and the good life pleasures! Audio ] what Role should Anger Play in our lives before such a view gained widespread acceptance Congress and who! Others to pursue similar goals read Hemmingway although I found his prose maudlin, in a strict materialist, is! None of us all in which to accomplish such a view gained widespread acceptance a manner... Not to be obtained through things such as: 1 known to say: and you! Own life, to 'Get ' a Piece of Art don ’ t involve the pursuit luxury! From whose bourn no traveller returns he connected pleasure, with the whole epicurus and the good life! Almost 2000 years before such a view gained widespread acceptance this Sunday the... It ’ s conversation is about Epicurus and the good life satisfying our natural and necessary may to... And the Pleasant life is arguably dominant in Western culture aim of Epicureanism was to help people achieve and! 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Keep it simple and true.= if they are about the Gods, good things leap over the one all.