Hellenistic Philosophies Essay

The Epicureans followed a philosophy that was a sort of hedonism, but one that required moderation due to its own precepts. Yes, Epicurus taught that pleasure should be sought, but he defined pleasure as the absence of pain.While other varieties of hedonism advocate reckless abandon in physical pleasures such as drinking or eating, an Epicurean might argue that the genuine enjoyment comes from not having a hangover or stomachache the next day.

Epicurus also stated that wisdom should be sought at all times. In his opinion, no one is too young or too old to learn everything they can, and that learning is good for the spirit. He urged people to reject the gods that the rest of the population worshipped, instead believing in a God who was alive, immortal, and joyous, rather than the Greek pantheon of the day.

Epicurus also stated that wisdom should be sought at all times. In his opinion, no one is too young or too old to learn everything they can, and that learning is good for the spirit. He urged people to reject the gods that the rest of the population worshipped, instead believing in a God who was alive, immortal, and joyous, rather than the Greek pantheon of the day.

He separated them into two categories: those that were natural and those that were not. Wealth and money, power, position or reputation, office, and leadership were examples of groundless demands. Natural desires were then classified as either required or non-necessary (of which, the desire that comes most readily to mind is sex). Necessary desires included those that were required to live, those that were required for the body to be free of distress, and those that were required to be joyous. Survival necessitates the consumption of food, drink, shelter, and sleep.

Health desires trump those that are required for the body to be free of discomfort. Lastly, because Epicurus was still a Greek philosopher, he considered friendship to be one of the essential goals for happiness.

The Epicureans and the Stoics are two of these ideologies that I find appealing. The Epicurean philosophy of limiting pain while enhancing pleasure appeals to me. Moderation and discipline are crucial in many aspects of life, and framing pleasure moderation as a technique to reduce suffering is a terrific approach to think about it.

I drink occasionally, but only one or two drinks at a time since I dislike the idea of becoming intoxicated or having a hangover. Similarly, I avoid eating too many sweets since I don’t want to get a stomachache (this all breaks down, however, if you ever talk to someone who is mildly lactose intolerant about cheese or ice cream).

Reference:

1. de Brito, R. P. (2021). AN ESSAY ON KABBALISM AND PHILOSOPHY. Revista de Filosofia, 12(22), 1-10.
2. Mari, M. (2020). The Hellenistic Reception of Classical Athenian Democracy and Political Thought, edited by Mirko Canevaro and Benjamin D. Gray. Polis: The Journal for Ancient Greek and Roman Political Thought, 37(1), 185-189.