Class 1: Epicurus & Hedonism

What does Epicurus believe humans are?

• hedonistic

• fallible

• finite

• natural

• social

• susceptible

What did Epicurus believe about philosophy?

had to be practical

What did Epicurus believe about philosophers?

had to be healer

What does Epicurus believe ‘is the word of a philosopher that doesn’t heal suffering of people?’

vain

What was the reason that Epicurus’ school was considered radical?

everyone’s equal

What was Epicurus’ philosophy goal?

ataraxia

What is ataraxia?

serenity

What did Epicurus believe about metaphysics?

materialist

What does a materialist believe?

atom → matter → reality

What does Epicurus believe about atoms?

• discreet

• invisible

• infinite

• varied shape / size

What does Epicurus believe about the supernatural?

NO supernatural

What does Epicurus believe about the world’s origins?

downwards natural motion BUT some randomly swerve to side & collide

What does Epicurus conclude about materials?

temporary atom bundle

What does Epicurus believe about death?

atoms disperse & recycle → self stops

What does Epicurus conclude about life?

if world was randomly made, why not live however?

What does Epicurus believe about the divine?

gods have nothing to do with humans

What is Epicurus’ reason for his divine beliefs?

gods pursue ataraxia

What did Epicurus believe about religion?

rejected religion

What was Epicurus’ reason for his religious beliefs?

• irrational desire

• pain source

What was Epicurus’ happiness vision?

pleasure

What is psychological hedonism?

all human acts yield pleasure → humans always seek pleasure

• natural

What is ethical hedonism?

humans should seek pleasure

• normative

What is the happy life?

• most pleasure

• least pain

What pleasure do many people pursue?

fleeting pleasure

What parallels philosophers to doctors?

diagnose civilization health

What does Epicurus conclude about pleasure types?

all pleasure = good

not all pleasure = valuable

What are the pleasure types?

• kinetic

What is kinetic pleasure?

temporary

• processed / physical

What is the only important pleasure?

static pleasure

What is static pleasure?

permanent

• mental

What is Epicurus’ hedonic calculus?

1. classify desire

2. classify natural desire

What are the natural desire types?

• unnecessary

• necessary

What are unnecessary natural desire examples?

• fancy food

• sex

• exercise

• sports

What is necessary natural desire?

• happiness

• comfort

• food

• water

• frie

What does Epicurus believe is virtue?

moderation

What does Epicurus conclude about humans before they were born?

didn’t exist → nobody worries about prior nonexistence

What does Epicurus conclude about human nonexistence?

indifferent to both periods ⟹ otherwise, waste time

What does Epicurus quote about death?

“Where death is, I am not. Where I am, death is not.”

What does Epicurus conclude about immortality?

remove desire

• anxiety source

What does Epicurus believe about the value of existence?

to be > not to be

• feel joy & celebrate

What is hedonic calculus?

rank desire

What are some highest pleasure examples?

• thinking

• writing

• remembering

>

• dialogue

• freedom

• friendship

What are some Epicurus critic examples?

• Aristotle

• Friedrich Nietzsche

What was Aristotle’s criticism of Epicurus?

more goods than pleasure

What are some excellence of character examples?

• magnanimity

• prudence

• rationality

• honour

• wisdom

What was Friedrich Nietzsche’s criticism of Epicurus?

remove pain → numbness

What were some other Epicurus criticisms?

• too apolitical / escapist

• hedonic calculus doesn’t make sense

What was Epicurus’ response to other criticisms?

if people return to simplicity, less injustice

What was Epicurus’ reason for his response to other criticisms?

tech corrupted people

What is the hedonic calculus criticism?

pleasures vary…

• content

• context

• function

• outcome

• between culture

What was an example of another hedonism?

Aristippus

What was Aristippus’ hedonism?

physical pleasure >

What are some Epicurus appreciation points?

• carpe diem

• see through false values

• useful if ill

What are some concepts mentioned in Epicurus’ Letter to Menoeceus?

• no age is too early/late to study philosophy

  • if old, be grateful for past good

  • if young, have no fear for future

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• if happiness is present, exercise

v.s.

• if happiness is not present, attain

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• gods = happy & immortal

  • ‘good happens to good people’ & ‘bad happens to bad people’ because of belief that gods favour good people

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one shouldn’t hate life / fear death

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• get used to use little so one can still be content IF one has little

• people who enjoy luxury without need enjoy most

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• virtues: prudence > honour > justice → pleasure

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• actions are split into…

  • choice
    >

  • chance

  • necessity

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• wise one’s misfortune > foolish one’s prosperity

  • fleeting bad > fleeting good