Epicureanism, as we discussed, focuses more heavily on ataraxia and aponia, than the pursuit of pleasures. The freedom from fear and the minimization of pain are understandable objectives for a happy life, and Epicurus brought this new perspective into light in a time when nearly all philosophy focused on the internal balance. I applaud Epicurus for not going for full on hedonism, and for thinking of a radically different viewpoint in his time period. He was clever to veer away from telling his students to simply seek after what is pleasurable, for I would fear that man would take this idea too far and create a chaotic environment, similar to the frenzied maenads of the Bachhae. When given the advice to follow just their pleasures, man has the tendency to go overboard, and our pleasures slowly transform into pains through our own regret and shame. Epicurus paid mind to the human conscience, and deducted that following pleasures alone could not lead to a happy life.
Epicurus put forth ideas that were radically different from both Aristotle and Plato, the two most prevalent philosophers of the time. Unlike those two, he worried less over the definitions of good and virtue, and taught to simply follow what makes one feel good emotionally. He also controversially was an atomist, boldly believing of the mortality of the soul. This brings me to wonder if Epicurus and his followers were seen as cultural deviants. It was brought up that those who followed Epicurus normally did not involve themselves in politics and social issues, but how much of that was caused by the other citizens shaming them out? By leaving the main population, the Epicureans would then be able to be happy, minimizing pain, by not being around those who mocked them. Epicurus stated that friends were the most important aspect of happiness, and as a minority of people, Epicureans must have relied on likeminded others heavily.
Epicurus’ philosophy might have worked well in ancient times, but I feel like in our modern society the goal of minimizing pain may have become too easy to reach. We do not face the same trials as the ancient Greeks did, we sit at home and play video games and eat junk food. Comfort is more or less assumed, not earned. Modern day Epicureans would perhaps feel like this world is too easy to live in, becoming bored, or perhaps falling victim to sloth. I see modern day Epicureans also leaving the society, not because of social annexation, but to avoid falling into a routine. They would seek pleasures in different areas,traveling and going back to nature, following in the footsteps of the Epicureans who came before them.
I think the idea you raise about modern day Epicureans is an intriguing one. Comfort for most of at Rhodes is assured in traditional sense and we can minimize pain, especially physical pain, very easily. But I am curious to know what the Epicureans thought of boredom because when are bored you are certainly not in pain. A true Epicurean, I feel, would choose boredom over taking a risk with possible pain in the pursuit of pleasure. Most of us can think of people we know like this, who avoid taking risks out of fear. I see Epicureans following into a slothful, safe way of living, trying so hard to avoid pain that they deny themselves pleasure.
ReplyDeleteI agree that perhaps Epicurean philosophy has not aged as well as some philosophies. Epicurus' ideas on atoms, for example, was way ahead of it's time from a scientific perspective, but we now know how atoms actually work at a particular level, so it makes some of his writings less convincing as a whole, even if for no other reason than that we can identify things he writes as being 'not entirely true' so it's hard to argue that there mightn't be similar inaccuracies elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteI also like how you mention that 'minimizing pain' has lost relevance in today's society, because, at least for Americans, it's so true. Thing that actually 'hurt' us come few and far between, and the biggest 'fears' we have revolve around simple deadlines and relationships. Overall, Epicurean philosophy is interesting to look at, but just may not be a relevant to today as its counterpart philosophies.
I think Epicureanism is very relevant to modern American lifestyles. People are guided by pleasure and pain, and in a nonsensical world, one can easily replace good and bad with pleasure and pain. Also, Epicureanism is commonly criticized in the same manner that Caleigh, you identify with. Andrea has an interesting post on this modern-day label of Epicureanism as the "drink and be merry" philosophy.
ReplyDeleteI see the objection you raise to Epicureanism in modern society. Obviously, with society constantly changing and molding to advances in multiple aspects of life, a philosophy created over 2,000 years ago is going to have different implications in a modern context. But I wouldn't go as far as you do in saying that Epicureanism, in essence, no longer applies to today's society. Often, Epicurus' philosophy gets misinterpreted, as I said in my previous comment on Chandler's post, as the "YOLO philosophy" (yolo = you only live once). But many of the today's "pleasures" you mention are actions that Epicurus would not classify as pleasurable, even if he was sitting here right beside me living in today's society. He breaks desires up into three categories: the natural but necessary, the natural but unnecessary, and the "vain and empty". I do not think it would be valid to argue that we do not face the same trials as the ancient Greeks, because I believe there are many struggles that have remained constant for humans over the course of time. But I think that there has been a shift in the idea of what is "pleasurable". Much of what Epicurus would consider "vain and empty" gets a reputation as being pleasurable today. I would argue that this is the main difference with regard to Epicureanism between ancient Greek society and today's society and that if interpreted properly, Epicureanism still applies today.
ReplyDelete