Khanh Vu

Philosophy 1000
Alexander Izrailevsky
Paper on favorite Philosopher
EPortfolio Link: http://khanhseportfolio.weebly.com/philosophy-1000.html
Epicurus
Epicurus (341 207 B.C.E), one generation after
Aristotle, was a Greek philosopher involving a new view of
the goal of human of happiness, resulting from the absence of
physical pain and mental illness. He was the founder of the
school of philosophy called Epicureanism. Most of his works
was from the remains of fragmented letters and his written
books during his life time. Epicurus was born in Samos,
Greece after the Athenians divided up the lands for
colonization, and a few years after the death of Plato. His
Father and Mother was a schoolmaster and practiced art magic. Epicurus studied philosophy
for four year through the Platonist teacher Pamphilus. In 321 B.C.E, Epicurus left Athens
with his father in Colophon, on the coast of Turkey, where he continue of study his
philosophy with skeptical leanings. Many of Epicurus learning were heavily based on by
earlier thinker, especially by Democritus, but he deny this influence, denounce other
philosopher were confusing, and claims to be self-taught.
Epicuruss philosophy contain ancient standards, a complete and independent system,
including nature, evolution, knowledge, and the end goal of human life. The philosophy of
Epicurus is centered and surrounded by Epicuruss life, and it divided into four categories:
Physical theory, psychology and ethic, social theory, and Epicurean life. While some of the
treaties of Epicurus has been lost, his basic idea are very clear in his famous Letter to
Menoeseus.
Epicurus spent his life chasing happiness, but we all know it a very difficult thing to
chase. He thought that pleasure is the only thing in life that can create individual happiness
for human being. Because he was known for getting by on very little and often make meals
out of bread, water, and a few olives. Epicurus teaching for philosophy point out that humans
are not very good at understanding the basic of what makes us happy and that we can easily
and mistakenly conclude that material things are what will make us happy. Epicurus three
concept of happiness included: Friendship, Freedom, and Analyzed life.
When Epicurus moved back to Athens, he bought a house and ask his close friends to
move in and live with him, because he feels friends are a major source of happiness. He
thought friendship was one of the most important aspects of a good life. Not only does it give
us many benefits, it also benefits our friends as well. His view on friendship is something we
should seek to have around at all time, not occasionally. He determined it more important
who you eat with, rather than what you eat. This is when happiness occur.
The second things is feeling freedom. Financially independent and self-sufficient is
happiness. We must release ourselves from everyday life, politics, and whatever is dragging
us down into the blue. Epicurus followed his own philosophy so him and his friends left their
cities and started a commune. They have a very easy lifestyle but full of freedom. They
didnt mind looking that way they are or being wealthy, and in financial sense, they had
nothing to prove.
Third and last for happiness is an analysed life. If we know what causing us pain, or
unhappy, we should take time off and analyze and reflect why we are unhappy and how can
we deal with it. Epicurus explain pure happiness is resulting from the absence of physical
and mental pain. When you know you dealt with physical or mental pain, we should find an
alternate solution to get rid of it. When we removed what causing us pain, we can replace
them with what is pleasure and be happy again.
Happiness and all other things are desired as a means for producing happiness.
But what is happiness? Epicurus explain that happiness is Pleasure is our first and kindred
good. It is the starting point of every choice and of every aversion, and to it we always come
back, inasmuch as we make feeling the rule by which to judge of every good thing.
According to Epicurus, there are two self-imposed beliefs that do the most to make our lives
unhappy and full of pain. The first one Epicurus said the beliefs that we will be punished by
the gods for our bad behaviors and bad action, and second is the fear of one day we will face
death. Both of these create fear and anxiety, but there are completely unnecessary since they
are based on fictions. Even though gods do exist, we should not live our everyday live in fear
when we accidently do something to upset the gods and create an unhappy lifestyle, nor do
we need to spend time in laborious acts of pious worship. As for death he points out that
once sentient experience comes to an end there will be no sensation of pain. We should think
that death will eventually occur for everyone on earth, but we should not live in fear and
worried so much when we dont know when or how it going to occur to us. Death is
meaningless to the living because they are living, and meaningless to the dead because
they are dead.
Another concept Epicurus discuss was knowing the different and distinction between
necessary and unnecessary. Necessary desires are those that make is happy and create
happiness in our live, such as getting rid of bodily pain. He writes that the end of all our
actions is to be free from pain and fear, and once this is obtained the tempest of the soul is
quelled. When we feel pain, we will seek other solution for pleasure, and then, only
pleasure will release us from whatever is harming and creating unnecessary pain. Epicurus
said in order to get rid of this pain-pleasure cycle, we need to train our mindset to think there
is no pain exist. Of course pain do exist in every situation, but training our mind to think
positive pursuit of pleasure, we are aiming for a peace of mind or emptiness in the mind to
be happy as much as possible. The Greek word Epicurus uses for this state is ataraxia, which
literally means freedom from worry.
Epicurus further said that we need wisdom to help see which pleasure are really
pleasurable, and which pleasure are causing more pain. In fact, not all pleasure is
pleasurable, instead, some will actually create more harm or pain than good. On the other
hand, Epicurus explain some pain and sadness can lead to can lead to an appreciation for
life or compassion, which are highly pleasure states.
In Epicurus theory natural desires keeps us away from pain and lack of pain is good,
so that it is enough to pursue our natural desires to get the good and this would not be
difficult. Lastly is terrible is easy to endure. When terrible causing us pain we can push that
pain away by focusing on the opposite feeling, which is pleasure. When comparing Aristotle
and Epicurus, we could say that they both live a happy life because they have all the
answer for happiness. But both philosopher finds happiness is different theory. Both
Epicurus and Aristotle believed that human actions aim at a final good that is happiness, but
they came to this end through different methods. Aristotle believed that happiness is attained
through virtuous acts, and fulfilling their caste duties, and Epicurus believed that happiness is
reached through lack of pain and presence of pleasure.
Epicurus and Aristotle are both great philosopher in many ways. For Aristotle, he
define happiness is something that you seek for its own sake, whereas you seek others goods
to reach the happiness. Aristotle wants every individual to aim and reach happiness is a final
good, by everyone must fulfill their duties well enough to complete happiness and fulfilled
their life. According to Aristotle, virtue is a moral state that make a person perform their
duties in their caste system. It easier to follow the duties you have to do, instead of not doing
it and create unhappiness. Aristotle also said happiness as the ultimate purpose of human
existence. But what is the ultimate purpose of human existence? We see people seek
pleasure, wealth, and a good reputation all the time, instead each of these has some value,
none of them can occupy the place of the chief good for which humanity should aim.
Aristotles theory is link between the concepts of happiness and virtue. Pure happiness is
when people have a good moral character.
On the other hand, Epicurus explain happiness is the absence of pain that trouble one
soul. Also the state of happiness is accepting the four-part cure of Epicureanism: Do not fears
gods, do not worry about death, what is good is easy to get, and what is terrible is easy to
endure. Why do we have to fear gods, we don't, because gods is perfect, and gods will never
suffer anyone when they didn't do anything wrong. Everyone will eventually have to face
death, but no one know when and how. So fearing death is just pointless which create
unhappiness for no reason. Epicurus also said happiness is pleasure, turning away from
External, friendship, freedom and analysed life.
Both philosopher you could say live a "happy life" because they tend to have all the
answer for happiness, but both see it differently. Epicurus and Aristotle believed that human
actions aim at a final good that is happiness, but they came to this end through different
methods. Aristotle believed that happiness is attained through virtuous acts, and fulfilling
their caste duties, and Epicurus believed that happiness is reached through lack of pain and
presence of pleasure.
Overall, Epicurus is a great Greek philosopher. His philosophy contain Physical
theory, psychology and ethic, social theory, and Epicurean life. Epicurus teach us how to find
happiness in almost situation out there. Though friendship, freedom, analyzing our life, not
fearing gods or death, prudence, etc. I had learned so much about Epicurus and the
philosophy of Epicurus that I could apply for myself in my everyday life.












Work Cited
"Epicurus - Biography." Epicurus. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 July 2014.

"Epicurus." Pursuit of Happiness. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 July 2014.

Konstan, David. "Epicurus." Stanford University. Stanford University, 10 Jan. 2005. Web.
29 July 2014.

"Summary of Philosophy: A Guide to Happiness, Epicurus on Happiness (Part 2) - It's
Orange Not Red." Its Orange Not Red RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 July 2014.

"The Psycosocial Philosopher: Happiness: According to Epicurus." The Psycosocial
Philosopher: Happiness: According to Epicurus. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 July 2014.