Epicurus

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Epicurus

• 341-270 BCE

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Hedonism
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Hedonism

• Pleasure is ultimate good

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Hedonism

• Pleasure is ultimate good
• Pleasure Happiness

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Hedonism

• Pleasure is ultimate good
• Pleasure Happiness
• Mental v. Physical Pleasure

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Hedonism

• Pleasure is ultimate good
• Pleasure Happiness
• Mental v. Physical Pleasure

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• We must then meditate on the things that make
  our happiness, seeing that when that is with us
  we have all, but when it is absent we do all to
  win it.

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• We must then meditate on the things that make
  our happiness, seeing that when that is with us
  we have all, but when it is absent we do all to
  win it.
• Worry What we value vs. what we should value

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• We must then meditate on the things that make
  our happiness, seeing that when that is with us
  we have all, but when it is absent we do all to
  win it.
• What we value vs. what we should value
• Is vs ought

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• We must then meditate on the things that make
  our happiness, seeing that when that is with us
  we have all, but when it is absent we do all to
  win it.
• What we value v. what we should value
• Is v. ought
• Description v. Prescription

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• For all good and evil consists in sensation

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• For all good and evil consists in sensation
• The right understanding of these facts enables
  us to refer all choice and avoidance to the
  health of the body and the souls freedom from
  disturbance, since this is the aim of the life of
  blessedness. For it is to obtain this end that
  we always act, namely, to avoid pain and fear.

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Mental v. Physical
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Mental v. Physical

• We must consider that of desires some are
  natural and others vain

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Mental v. Physical

• We must consider that of desires some are
  natural and others vain
• Not every pleasure is to be chosen.

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Mental v. Physical

• We must consider that of desires some are
  natural and others vain
• Not every pleasure is to be chosen.
• How do we decide?

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Mental v. Physical

• We must consider that of desires some are
  natural and others vain
• Not every pleasure is to be chosen.
• How do we decide?
• Plain savours bring us a pleasure equal to a
  luxurious diet, when all the pain due to want is
  removed and bread and water produce the highest
  pleasure, when one who needs them puts them to
  his lips.

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Mental v. Physical

• Remove un-necessary physical desires

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Mental v. Physical

• Remove un-necessary physical desires
• Choose mental pleasure over physical pleasure

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Mental v. Physical

• Remove un-necessary physical desires
• Choose mental pleasure over physical pleasure
• When we maintain that pleasure is the end, we do
  not mean the pleasures of profligates and those
  that consists in sensuality, as is supposed by
  some who are either ignorant or disagree with us
  or do not understand, but freedom from pain in
  the body and trouble in the mind. contd

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Mental v. Physical

• For it is not continuous drinking and
  revellings, nor the satisfaction of lusts, nor
  the enjoyment of fish and other luxuries of the
  wealthy table, which produce a pleasant life, but
  sober reasoning, searching out the motives for
  all choice and avoidance, and banishing mere
  opinions, to who are due the greatest
  disturbances of spirit.

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Mental v. Physical

• What is mental pleasure?

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Mental v. Physical

• What is mental pleasure?
• Freedom from disturbance

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Mental v. Physical

• What is mental pleasure?
• Freedom from disturbance
• Politics, death, idle speculation

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Mental v. Physical

• What is mental pleasure?
• Freedom from disturbance
• Politics, death, idle speculation
• Friendship

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Mental v. Physical

• What is mental pleasure?
• Freedom from disturbance
• Politics, death, idle speculation
• Friendship
• Moderation

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Mental v. Physical

• What is mental pleasure?
• Freedom from disturbance
• Politics, death, idle speculation
• Friendship
• Moderation
• Justice

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• Prudence is a more precious thing than even
  philosophy for from prudence are sprung all the
  other virtues, and it teachers us that it is not
  possible to live pleasantly without living
  prudently

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• How would you describe the ideal life according
  to Epicurus?