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During the age of Epicureanism, people questioned the philosophy of Epicurus. In order to understand the history of Epicureanism, the person must first understand the knowledge of how and why it came to be. The how part which helps people to better understand the teachings of Epicureanism is "the art of making life happy. " To people in Athens this was reflected by the people as to why they not live their lives to fully while they are in this world. As for the why part, Epicurus decided in 310 B. C that people should want to live their lives knowing that they are living for themselves and not the purpose of pleasing others or society.
Epicurus then began to form a new school which would explain why someone would want to live for themselves and not for the satisfaction of someone else. Epicurus said, "We cannot live pleasurably without living prudently, gracefully, and justly; and we cannot live prudently gracefully, and justly, without living pleasurably" (new advent. org). This made people think that Epicurus was correct. Why should someone live life to in submission when, in fact, if he / she lives life to be fulfilled then they would feel better about their life and not have so many worries.
Thus, the Epicurean way isn't too far from today's world views on how Americans live. Thomas Jefferson, during the history of America, admitted that the teachings of Epicureanism, by saying this quote, "Epicureanism and Epicurus give laws for governing ourselves, Jesus a supplement of the duties and charities we owe to others, " (epicurus. net). Through the eyes of the beholder a person can be able to see that Epicureanism, in fact, can be put into the context of life without really thinking about the philosophy. The history of Epicureanism is important for people because his teachings are simple enough to live by, without submitting. The ethics behind Epicureanism are very simple.
Epicurus demonstrates that experience shows happiness is not best attained by directly seeking it. The selfish are not more happy but less so than the unselfish. This statement is very powerful for the simple person. Epicurus proves that if a person seeks to be happy he / she usually won't be able to find true happiness. Epicurus states Thus although virtue is inseparable from pleasure and necessary if we are to be happy, it is to be chosen not for its own sake but for the sake of pleasure. Beauty and the virtues and the like are to be honored if they provide pleasure, but, if they do not, we must say goodbye to them. (Intro.
Epicurus, 124) Happiness can only be found through the desire to be happy first, and then it maybe sought. Another ethic for Epicureanism is friendship. For Epicurus, the teachings of friendship are plain and simple. He teaches that if a person uses friendship for the sake of advantage, it is not true friendship in the proper sense of the word. If a person uses external actions to gain things, apart from affection, then it can not represent friendship.
In order for friendship to be fulfilled, the person must show that deep down, he or she, would be there for a friend and in his other deepest thoughts of giving up and having problems, then that person, would help him or her through them, and not just walk away. If friendships exist for the sake of advantage, and are employed in the search for the highest pleasure, there may be a point at which their claims will have to be set aside. (Intro. Epicurus, 129) For friendship, virtue tends to produce the truest and highest pleasure of all. Epicureanism is also based on the ethics of truth. The test of truth is pleasant and a painful belief. Epicurus is teaching that the truth is shown, just as a dog may bark furiously at a person that the dog has never seen before, but welcomes strangers belonging to the master.
Through the system of showing truth, a person can see that it is a hard road travel, but it is the most satisfying. Another virtue comes from the head itself, known as wisdom. Epicurus identifies this as the most basic virtue. To live wisely, by Epicurean standards, is to bring a broad awareness of life down to the level of our daily existence, thereby establishing a context for intelligent choice-making. Another virtue is honor; this apparently is Epicurus' most powerful issue about Epicureanism. To live honorably is to have the courage to persevere in the face of difficulties.
This implies that we assert the moral course we set for ourselves with consistency, without ever betraying our alleged standards for the sake of trust. Then the person has reached the true purpose of Epicureanism. They understand that being honorable is more important then wealth or power. As for the women in society, they were treated as equals. Epicurus tends to teach us that, if women are the care givers of the world, then men should not be given all the power. Epicurus seems, to have foreseen the future of what was to come in later life by allowing women to have a say in politics, and also how the, city or town is governed.
The psychology of Epicureanism is brought out by the human soul. In Epicureanism, the human soul is material and mortal, being composed of a finer kind of atoms, resembling those of air or fire. Epicureanism is taught to combine the bodily organism that holds together the atoms composing the one thing that matters most-the soul. Epicurus believed this, but he also believes that the human will is always free and not controlled at all. Epicurus declared; "Better were it to accept all the legends of the gods than to make ourselves slaves to the fate of the natural philosophers" (new advent.
org). The freedom that helps assert the psychology of the temper of unpleasantness towards not having free will is taught by Epicurus. The free will is always there; the person just has to knowledge it and must provide that his life will be happier. In conclusion, Epicureanism can be seen throughout life everywhere. It shows up when the person does not even think about it. The American government was based on Epicureanism because it shows the will to be free and to live happy.
Epicureanism can teach people in this world a great deal about life and how they should be living. It also encourages people to be more individual and less submissive to the demands of others on society. Epicureanism teaches that free will is in fact the only thing that matters in life, for if a person does not have free will and freedom of their mind, and then what does the person have. Epicureanism, I do believe, helps the people of the world to see that they could fight back when they are doing something they do not want to do. The quotes from Epicurus are powerful and should not be taken lightly. If a person really dissects the quotes and sayings of Epicurus, they do make a great deal of sense.
They provide a sense of life and happiness, which is a defining factor in Epicureanism. Thus, this philosophy is very important to all mankind. Bibliography: Website: 1) "Epicureanism" CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: 29 Nov 2004. 18 Aug 2004. 2) "Epicureanism" Epicurus & Epicurean Philosophy: 27 Nov 2004. 12 Jan 1990 Books: 1) Holy Bible: Information from John, Paul. 2) "Epicureanism" 2004, Encyclopedia of Britannica v. 5 pp. 758 - 805 3) J. M. Rist Cambridge. Epicurus; an introduction University Press, 1972
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