Epicurean Philosophy: Key Concepts in Value, Pleasure, and Life Goals

Argument

A set of statements where premises are intended to support a conclusion

Premise -

A statement offered as a reason or evidence in an argument

Conclusion -

The statement that the premises are meant to support

Distinction -

A conceptual separation between related ideas to clarify thinking

Unconditional value -

Something valuable in all circumstances

Conditional value -

Something valuable only under certain conditions

Intrinsic value (good) -

Something valuable in itself

Instrumental value (good) -

Something valuable as a means to something else

Ends -

Goals valued for their own sake (intrinsic value)

Means -

Things used to achieve ends (instrumental value)

Objectivism about value -

Value exists independently of anyone's attitudes

Subjectivism about value -

Value depends on an individual's preferences

Relativism about value -

Value depends on cultural or social standards

Normative hedonism -

The view that pleasure is the only intrinsic good and pain the only intrinsic bad

Descriptive component of normative hedonism -

Pleasure is what makes life good

Prescriptive component of normative hedonism -

We ought to pursue pleasure and avoid pain

Psychological hedonism -

The descriptive claim that humans always seek pleasure and avoid pain

Difference between psychological and normative hedonism -

Psychological describes behavior; normative evaluates what we ought to do

Two types of pleasure (Epicurus) -

Bodily pleasures and mental pleasures

Which pleasures Epicurus values more -

Mental pleasures

Why mental pleasures are more valuable -

They last longer and involve memory and anticipation

Overall goal of life (Epicurus) -

Ataraxia (tranquility or peace of mind)

Moving (kinetic) pleasures -

Pleasures involved in satisfying a lack

Static (katastematic) pleasures -

Stable pleasures consisting in the absence of pain

Why moving mental pleasures matter more than bodily -

They affect the whole of one's life, not just the present moment

Why static pleasures are most valuable -

They are stable, complete, and require nothing further

Cradle Argument -

An argument that pleasure is the good because humans pursue it naturally from birth

Cradle Argument Premise 1 -

Humans pursue pleasure and avoid pain from infancy

Support for Premise 1 -

Infants naturally seek pleasure without instruction

Cradle Argument Premise 2 -

What we naturally pursue from birth reveals what is intrinsically good

Cradle Argument Conclusion -

Therefore, pleasure is the ultimate good

Objection to the Cradle Argument -

Natural tendencies do not necessarily indicate moral goodness

Epicurean reply to objection -

Other pursuits ultimately aim at peace of mind and freedom from pain

Epicurus on the gods -

The gods exist but are blessed and unconcerned with human affairs

Why the gods matter for moral therapy -

Removes fear of divine punishment and anxiety

Epicurus' three types of desires -

Natural and necessary; natural but unnecessary; neither natural nor necessary

Natural and necessary desires -

Desires essential for happiness and survival

Why satisfy natural and necessary desires -

They are easy to satisfy and remove pain

Natural but unnecessary desires -

Desires that are pleasurable but not required for happiness

Why be cautious with unnecessary desires -

They can lead to dependence and pain

Neither natural nor necessary desires -

Desires for wealth, fame, and power

Why eliminate empty desires -

They are insatiable and produce anxiety

Epicurus' recommended way of life -

Simple living, friendship, tranquility, freedom from fear

What Epicurus advises avoiding -

Fame, luxury, political ambition, and excess