Epicurus: The Philosopher of Happiness
Epicurus, an ancient Greek philosopher born in 341 BC, dedicated his life to understanding what makes people happy. He observed that people often make three mistakes when thinking about happiness: they believe happiness comes from romantic and sexual relationships, wealth, and luxury.
- Romantic and sexual relationships: Epicurus noted that many unhappy couples are plagued by jealousy, misunderstanding, and bitterness, whereas friendships are often more fulfilling and decent.
- Wealth: The pursuit of wealth often requires sacrifices, such as long hours, jealousy, and backbiting, which can ultimately lead to unhappiness. Epicurus believed that work satisfaction comes from working alone or in small groups, helping others, and making a difference.
- Luxury: Epicurus questioned whether luxury truly brings calm and happiness. Instead, he suggested that people seek a sense of calm and purity of mind through reflection, writing, reading, and meditation.
Epicurus proposed that only three things are necessary for happiness:
- Friends: Regular contact with friends is essential for happiness.
- Downshifting: Taking a step back from the demands of work and society can lead to a more fulfilling life.
- Inner calm: Finding calm and purity of mind through reflection and meditation is crucial for happiness.
Epicurus’ ideas were so successful that they spread throughout the Mediterranean, with over 400,000 people living in Epicurean communities. Although the Christian church eventually ended the movement, the concept of Epicureanism continues to influence thought and philosophy, including the work of Karl Marx.
The legacy of Epicurus is a reminder that human beings often struggle to make themselves happy because they misunderstand what truly brings fulfillment. By reflecting on the moments that bring us happiness and having the courage to change our lives accordingly, we may find that we need to live in a very different way to achieve true satisfaction.
Key Vocabulary
| Term | Definition | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Epicurean | Relating to the philosophical system of Epicurus, which emphasizes the pursuit of happiness and the avoidance of physical pain and mental distress. | The Epicurean community was known for its emphasis on friendship and inner calm. |
| Fulfilling | Giving a feeling of satisfaction or happiness, especially because something is meaningful or purposeful. | Epicurus believed that friendships are often more fulfilling than romantic relationships. |
| Decent | Having or showing respect for the rights and feelings of others, and behaving in a way that is considered morally good. | Epicurus noted that friendships are often more decent and respectful than romantic relationships. |
| Backbiting | Saying unpleasant things about someone when they are not present, often in a way that is intended to harm their reputation. | The pursuit of wealth can lead to backbiting and jealousy among colleagues. |
| Downshifting | To reduce one’s level of activity or ambition, often in order to improve one’s quality of life or to achieve a better balance between work and leisure time. | Epicurus suggested that downshifting from the demands of work and society can lead to a more fulfilling life. |
| Inner calm | A state of peace and tranquility, often achieved through reflection, meditation, or other mindfulness practices. | Epicurus believed that finding inner calm is crucial for achieving true happiness. |
| Purity of mind | A state of mental clarity and freedom from distractions, often achieved through practices such as meditation or reflection. | Epicurus suggested that people seek a sense of calm and purity of mind through reflection and meditation. |
| Meditation | The practice of focusing one’s mind on a particular object, thought, or activity in order to achieve a state of mental clarity or relaxation. | Epicurus recommended meditation as a way to achieve inner calm and purity of mind. |
| Legacy | The impact or influence that someone or something has on future generations or events. | The legacy of Epicurus continues to influence thought and philosophy to this day. |
| Fulfillment | The feeling of satisfaction or happiness that comes from achieving something or realizing one’s goals or desires. | Epicurus believed that true fulfillment comes from living a simple life, free from excessive desires and fears. |
| Satisfaction | The feeling of pleasure or contentment that comes from achieving something or getting what one wants. | Epicurus suggested that people often misunderstand what truly brings satisfaction and happiness. |
| Misunderstanding | A failure to understand or interpret something correctly, often leading to mistakes or incorrect assumptions. | Epicurus believed that people often make mistakes when thinking about happiness due to misunderstandings about what truly brings fulfillment. |
| Plagued | To be constantly bothered or troubled by something, often in a way that is annoying or frustrating. | Many unhappy couples are plagued by jealousy, misunderstanding, and bitterness. |
| Bitterness | A feeling of anger or resentment, often caused by a sense of injustice or unfairness. | Epicurus noted that many unhappy couples are plagued by bitterness and jealousy. |
PHILOSOPHY – Epicurus 🎓
Explore the advanced terminology extracted from the source material.
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Vocabulary Quiz
1. What does Epicurus suggest people seek to achieve a sense of calm and happiness instead of luxury?
A) Wealth and material possessions
B) Reflection, writing, reading, and meditation
C) Romantic and sexual relationships
D) A busy and demanding work life
2. According to Epicurus, what is one of the mistakes people make when thinking about happiness?
A) Believing happiness comes from friendships and helping others
B) Thinking that luxury is the key to happiness
C) Believing happiness comes from romantic and sexual relationships, wealth, and luxury
D) Assuming that a simple life is the only path to happiness
3. What did Epicurus believe was necessary for work satisfaction?
A) Working long hours in a competitive environment
B) Working alone or in small groups, helping others, and making a difference
C) Pursuing wealth and material possessions above all else
D) Focusing solely on personal relationships and romance
4. How many people lived in Epicurean communities at the height of the movement?
A) Over 100,000 people
B) Over 400,000 people
C) Over 1 million people
D) Over 10,000 people
5. What is one of the three things Epicurus proposed as necessary for happiness?
A) Wealth and luxury
B) Inner calm through reflection and meditation
C) A busy social life with many acquaintances
D) Constant pursuit of new experiences and adventures
Answer Key:
1. B
2. C
3. B
4. B
5. B
Grammar Focus
Grammar Focus: The Use of Subjunctive Mood in Noun Clauses
Grammar Quiz:
Choose the correct form of the verb in parentheses to complete each sentence.
- Epicurus (propose) that we should live a simple life to achieve happiness.
A) proposes
B) proposed
C) propose
D) was proposing - It is necessary that Epicurus (be) remembered as a philosopher who valued friendship.
A) is
B) was
C) be
D) being - Epicurus believed that wealth (be) the key to happiness, but he later changed his mind.
A) is
B) was
C) be
D) were - I suggest that we (take) a step back and reevaluate our priorities.
A) take
B) took
C) takes
D) are taking - It is doubtful whether luxury (bring) true happiness.
A) brings
B) bring
C) will bring
D) is bringing
Answer Key:
- B) proposed
- C) be
- C) be
- A) take
- B) bring
