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What does Epicurus think that the highest pleasure is? Why is his view plausible?

What does Epicurus think that the highest pleasure is? Why is his view plausible?

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What does Epicurus think that the highest pleasure is? Why is his view plausible?

LETTER TO MENOECEUS Epicurus Epicurus (c. 341-271) was born on the island of Samos of Athenian parents, and thus was an Athenian citizen. He eventually established a philosophical school outside of Athens, next to Plato's academy, where he bought a house and garden. Along with Stoicism, Epicureanism became a dominant philosophical system during the Roman Empire. In his letter to Menoeceus, Epicurus offers a summary of his ethical system. Translated by Cyril Bailey (1926). life enjoyable, not because it adds to it an infinite span of time, but because it takes away the craving for immortality. For there is nothing terrible in life for the man who has truly comprehended that there is nothing terrible in not living. So that the man speaks but idly who says that he fears death not because it will be painful when it comes, but because it is painful in anticipation. For that which gives no trouble when it comes, is but an empty pain in anticipation. So [1] Let no one when young delay to study philosophy, nor death, the most terrifying of ills, is nothing to us, since so long as we exist, death is not with us; but when death when he is old grow weary of his study. For no one can come too early or too late to secure the health of his soul. comes, then we do not exist. It does not then concern either the living or the dead, since for the former it is not, and the And the man who says that the age for philosophy has either not yet come or has gone by is like the man who says that the age for happiness is not yet come to him, or has passed latter are no more. away. Wherefore both when young and old a man must [4] But the many at one moment shun death as the greatest study philosophy, that as he grows old he may be young in blessings through the grateful recollection of what has been, of evils, at another yearn for it as a respite from the evils in life. But the wise man neither seeks to escape life nor fears the cessation of life, for neither does life offend him nor and that in youth he may be old as well, since he will know no fear of what is to come. We must then meditate on the things that make our happiness, seeing that when that is with us we have all, but when it is absent we do all to win it. does the absence of life seem to be any evil. And just as with food he does not seek simply the larger share and noth- ing else, but rather the most pleasant, so he seeks to enjoy
Transcribed Image Text:LETTER TO MENOECEUS Epicurus Epicurus (c. 341-271) was born on the island of Samos of Athenian parents, and thus was an Athenian citizen. He eventually established a philosophical school outside of Athens, next to Plato's academy, where he bought a house and garden. Along with Stoicism, Epicureanism became a dominant philosophical system during the Roman Empire. In his letter to Menoeceus, Epicurus offers a summary of his ethical system. Translated by Cyril Bailey (1926). life enjoyable, not because it adds to it an infinite span of time, but because it takes away the craving for immortality. For there is nothing terrible in life for the man who has truly comprehended that there is nothing terrible in not living. So that the man speaks but idly who says that he fears death not because it will be painful when it comes, but because it is painful in anticipation. For that which gives no trouble when it comes, is but an empty pain in anticipation. So [1] Let no one when young delay to study philosophy, nor death, the most terrifying of ills, is nothing to us, since so long as we exist, death is not with us; but when death when he is old grow weary of his study. For no one can come too early or too late to secure the health of his soul. comes, then we do not exist. It does not then concern either the living or the dead, since for the former it is not, and the And the man who says that the age for philosophy has either not yet come or has gone by is like the man who says that the age for happiness is not yet come to him, or has passed latter are no more. away. Wherefore both when young and old a man must [4] But the many at one moment shun death as the greatest study philosophy, that as he grows old he may be young in blessings through the grateful recollection of what has been, of evils, at another yearn for it as a respite from the evils in life. But the wise man neither seeks to escape life nor fears the cessation of life, for neither does life offend him nor and that in youth he may be old as well, since he will know no fear of what is to come. We must then meditate on the things that make our happiness, seeing that when that is with us we have all, but when it is absent we do all to win it. does the absence of life seem to be any evil. And just as with food he does not seek simply the larger share and noth- ing else, but rather the most pleasant, so he seeks to enjoy
not the longest period of time, but the most pleasant. [2] The things that I used unceasingly to commend to you, these do and practice, considering them to be the first princi- [5] And he who counsels the young man to live well, but ples of the good life. First of all believe that god is a being the old man to make a good end, is foolish, not merely be- immortal and blessed, even as the common idea of a god is engraved on men's minds, and do not assign to him anything cause of the desirability of life, but also because it is the same training which teaches to live well and to die well. alien to his immortality or ill-suited to his blessedness: but Yet much worse still is the man who says it is good not to be born, but “once born make haste to pass the gates of Death" [Theognis, 427]. believe about him everything that can uphold his blessedness and immortality. For gods there are, since the knowledge of them is by clear vision. But they are not such as the many believe them to be: for indeed they do not consistently repre- [6] For if he says this from conviction why does he not pass away out of life? For it is open to him to do so, if he sent them as they believe them to be. And the impious man is had firmly made up his mind to this. But if he speaks in jest, not he who denies the gods of the many, but he who attaches his words are idle among men who cannot receive them. to the gods the beliefs of the many. For the statements of the many about the gods are not conceptions derived from sensa- tion, but false suppositions, according to which the greatest misfortunes befall the wicked and the greatest blessings the [7] We must then bear in mind that the future is neither ours, nor yet wholly not ours, so that we may not altogether expect it as sure to come, nor abandon hope of it, as if it will certainly not come. We must consider that of desires some good by the gift of the gods. For men being accustomed al- ways to their own virtues welcome those like themselves, but are natural, others vain, and of the natural some are neces- regard all that is not of their nature as alien. sary and others merely natural; and of the necessary some are necessary for happiness, others for the repose of the body, and others for very life. The right understanding of [3] Become accustomed to the belief that death is nothing to us. For all good and evil consists in sensation, but death these facts enables us to refer all choice and avoidance to is deprivation of sensation. And therefore a right under- the health of the body and the soul’s freedom from distur- standing that death is nothing to us makes the mortality of
Transcribed Image Text:not the longest period of time, but the most pleasant. [2] The things that I used unceasingly to commend to you, these do and practice, considering them to be the first princi- [5] And he who counsels the young man to live well, but ples of the good life. First of all believe that god is a being the old man to make a good end, is foolish, not merely be- immortal and blessed, even as the common idea of a god is engraved on men's minds, and do not assign to him anything cause of the desirability of life, but also because it is the same training which teaches to live well and to die well. alien to his immortality or ill-suited to his blessedness: but Yet much worse still is the man who says it is good not to be born, but “once born make haste to pass the gates of Death" [Theognis, 427]. believe about him everything that can uphold his blessedness and immortality. For gods there are, since the knowledge of them is by clear vision. But they are not such as the many believe them to be: for indeed they do not consistently repre- [6] For if he says this from conviction why does he not pass away out of life? For it is open to him to do so, if he sent them as they believe them to be. And the impious man is had firmly made up his mind to this. But if he speaks in jest, not he who denies the gods of the many, but he who attaches his words are idle among men who cannot receive them. to the gods the beliefs of the many. For the statements of the many about the gods are not conceptions derived from sensa- tion, but false suppositions, according to which the greatest misfortunes befall the wicked and the greatest blessings the [7] We must then bear in mind that the future is neither ours, nor yet wholly not ours, so that we may not altogether expect it as sure to come, nor abandon hope of it, as if it will certainly not come. We must consider that of desires some good by the gift of the gods. For men being accustomed al- ways to their own virtues welcome those like themselves, but are natural, others vain, and of the natural some are neces- regard all that is not of their nature as alien. sary and others merely natural; and of the necessary some are necessary for happiness, others for the repose of the body, and others for very life. The right understanding of [3] Become accustomed to the belief that death is nothing to us. For all good and evil consists in sensation, but death these facts enables us to refer all choice and avoidance to is deprivation of sensation. And therefore a right under- the health of the body and the soul’s freedom from distur- standing that death is nothing to us makes the mortality of
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Epicurus has been a  Greek philosopher, the originator of the Epicurean school in Athens, He became a creative author, compiling thirty-seven books, however only, the components and 4 notes stay. His education might have an effect on many that followed consisting of the J.S. Mill and Bentham.

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