Epicureanism
The philosophy of Epicurus that pursues modest, sustainable pleasure and freedom from fear and pain through friendship, prudence, and an understanding of nature.
Category: Philosophy & Wisdom
Tags: philosophies, philosophy, ethics, hedonism, wisdom
Explanation
Epicureanism is a system of philosophy founded by the ancient Greek thinker Epicurus around 307 BCE. It holds that pleasure is the highest good and the natural aim of life, but it defines pleasure not as indulgence or excess, but primarily as the absence of pain in the body (aponia) and the absence of disturbance in the mind (ataraxia). The goal is a tranquil, contented life rather than a life of intense sensory gratification.
Epicurus argued that many of our fears are irrational and can be dissolved through clear thinking. His famous tetrapharmakos, or four-part remedy, teaches that the gods are not to be feared, death is nothing to us because when we exist death is not present and when death is present we no longer exist, what is good is easy to get, and what is terrible is easy to endure. Understanding the natural causes of phenomena removes the superstitious dread that troubles the mind.
The philosophy distinguishes between natural and necessary desires, natural but unnecessary desires, and vain or empty desires. By satisfying only the natural and necessary desires, such as food, shelter, and companionship, a person can achieve a stable and self-sufficient happiness that is not at the mercy of fortune or luxury. Simplicity, moderation, and prudence are therefore central practical virtues.
Epicurus placed extraordinary value on friendship, calling it one of the greatest sources of a happy life. He gathered his followers in a community known as the Garden, where members lived simply and philosophized together. This social dimension counters the common caricature of Epicureanism as mere selfish hedonism, since a life of trust and mutual support was seen as essential to tranquility.
Over time the term Epicurean came to be associated in popular usage with refined indulgence in food and drink, a distortion of the original teaching. The authentic doctrine remains a disciplined pursuit of a calm, reflective, and materially modest life, and it profoundly influenced later thinkers, including the Roman poet Lucretius and, indirectly, modern secular and naturalist ethics.
Related Concepts
← Back to all concepts