Lecture for 12 March

Hedonism and Ethics

Hedonism Focus: Discussion on pleasure vs. pain.
- Pleasure is seen as good; the absence of pain equates to freedom from distress.
- Epicurean defense against the criticism of hedonism as primitive or overly indulgent.

Pleasure Defined: Not merely indulgence, but relief from pain and anxiety.
Balance in Actions: Avoiding extremes in virtues (like bravery) to prevent pain.
- Example: Too much bravery leads to recklessness, causing pain. Too little leads to cowardice and anxiety.
Mental vs. Physical Pain: Distinguishes how mental pleasure can outweigh physical discomfort.
Personal Anecdote: Memorable dining experience demonstrates fleeting physical pleasure compared to enduring mental pleasure from memory.

Lasting Impact of Mental Pleasure: Memories provide ongoing joy, contrasting with the short-lived nature of physical pleasures like a meal.
Overcoming Physical Pain: Mental experiences can help alleviate physical discomfort, demonstrated by Epicurus during his suffering.
Impact of Long-term Physical Pain: Raises questions about how Epicurus's philosophy applies to chronic conditions today.

Fear of God:
- Ancient fears based on divine intervention and interpretations of events as punishments from gods.
- Present-day implications of fear stemming from belief in divine judgment (e.g., fear of hell).
- Notion that false interpretations of deities contribute to mental anguish.
Fear of Death:
- Materialist View: Death equated with nonexistence and absence of sensation; not inherently bad if it cannot be experienced.
- Analyzes why death is perceived as fearsome; likens it to dreamless sleep, suggesting it's not frightening if it simply ends existence.
- Promotes contemplation of death as part of life to alleviate fears.
- Lucretius' Argument: Reflect on the nonexistence before birth as a parallel to death's state; emphasizes no apprehension about nonexistence.

Core Principles:
1. Do not fear God.
2. Do not fear death.
3. What is good is easy to obtain.
4. What is bad is easy to endure.

Lost Writings: Only fragments and few letters survive; vast majority of ideas are reconstructed through scholars.
Discovery of Herculaneum: Insight into recreating Epicurean philosophy; potential for future discoveries of more texts.

Christianity's Rise: Transition through the Roman Empire from persecution to acceptance leading to theological establishment under Constantine.
Augustine of Hippo:
- Background: Life before conversion emphasized seeking love and fulfillment through vice.
- The Confessions: Reflective writing detailing his journey from sin to redemption.
Exploration of Sin and Evil:
- Key questions arise about the nature of sin, moral transgressions against God's will.
- Augustine draws parallels between human behavior and divine characteristics when exploring sinful acts.

Nature of Sin:
- How do actions define sin? Is it intrinsic to the actions or based on divine decree?
- Worst Sin Anecdote: Reflects on stealing pears as a key example of sin without motive beyond the joy of rebellion against God.
- Anticipates further conclusions on the implications of human morality and the inherent nature of evil.