Aristotle 's Views On Teachings And Beliefs Of Philosophy

Hedonism basically is how people chose pleasures over pain; pleasures are the thing that drives them in life. Aristippus’ view showed that pleasures and/or the good life were the end rather than happiness. He felt strongly that pleasures are often chased after by all people, whereas pain is often avoided. He also states that physical pleasures are valued more than intellectual pleasures because physical pleasures require more units of pleasure. Aristippus believed that people should go after the pleasures that are immediate as opposed to those that come over time.

Epicurus was a hedonist, a materialist and a consequentialist who strongly believed that in order to attain the good life one must live a pleasant existence free of worry and pain. Through reflection of the concepts in Epicurus’s Letter to Menoeceus this paper will

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.

The first four Principal Doctrines, deal with anxiety in people’s lives, and how they should think. Epicurus, is telling people not to fear death, God, nor pains in one’s life because they do not last long and they are for the week. The problem with this way of thinking, is that it removes the true God from the person’s life. But, that is not what he is saying. He, “believed that the true life of pleasure consisted in an attitude of imperturbable emotional calm which needed only simple pleasures, a healthy diet, a prudent moral life, and good friends” (pg. 342). This is quit opposite of what people say of Epicureanism in today’s time.

Stoicism offers optimism and reinforcement of self-worth, providing mental strength often needed in times of the worst possible suffering. In his Handbook, Epictetus suggests that man believes that certain innate “things that are up to us and some things are not up to us. Our opinions are up to us, our impulses, desires, aversions – in short whatever is our own doing” (Epictetus, ch1). He contends such elements of the individual are “by nature free, unhindered, and unimpeded,” thus

I came to think of how our world would be shape today if would follow his beliefs. And I must disagree when he stated “if you kiss your child or your wife, say that you are kissing a human being; for it when it dies you will not be upset” (89-90) as a human being we are bond to love and care for those around us. If we did what Epictetus mention our world would not consist of what it is today. We would not be able to find the motivation to strive for happiness. Our world and reality would be comprised of having the capacity to think performed and live but with no emotion and motivation to do

In David Suits' article, An Epicurean Idea Suits addresses in detail the theory of Epicureanism. Suit begins by introducing the major fear humanity faces and explains to us how Epicurus would refute each fear. Suit then goes one step further to explain the different aspects of life that allow humans to achieve the ultimate goal in Epicurus’s mind ataraxia, which is peace of mind.

In the “Letter to to Menoeceus,” Epicurus explains his principle doctrines and prescripts on how one can live the best life possible. His letter argues two distinct beliefs to reconsider. The first argument suggests that we do not need to fear the gods as the fear of punishment from the gods will deteriorate one’s overall happiness. The second argument suggests that the fear of death is an irrational fear as one will no longer feel sensations after death. In this paper, I will defend these two arguments made by Epicurus and show that the removal of these beliefs will allow an individual to live a more fulfilling life with happiness and less fear and anxiety.

Epicurus was born on (341-271 B.C.) on the island of Samos, his parents were Athenians. So he had an Athenian citizenship, he joined the military as an obligation of the city. After the death of Alexander The Great, Athens was really in a political turmoil of who was going to replace him. Epicurus parents were evicted from Samos by the Macedonians, who had taken over the area, he and his family moved to Colophon in Asia minor and lived there for ten years. It was in Colophon under the tutelage of Nausiphanes, a philosophy that he learned a version of atomism. His version was quite different from his predecessors.

People who are viewed as happy in our culture today are also seen as being rich, having a loving family, and a great occupation. Our society is attracted to material things, rather than spiritual ones. Can a person who does not have many possessions and an elevated social position still live a happy life? Epicurus believed that each one of us could achieve true happiness, and our only problem is that we stubbornly search for it in all the wrong places. Epicurus states that we only need three things to be happy besides the essentials needed for survival: friends, freedom, and an analyzed life. I will be comparing contemporary American notions of happiness to the Epicurean view.

Epicurus, held the belief that there was nothing more than the physical world. He believed that the entire world was comprised of microscopic bits of matter moving through the void. Epicurus taught that ordinary objects that we can see feel in touch are nothing more than conglomerates of these bits of matter that become entangled as they move through the void. Holding to the Greek believe that nothing in existence can come from nothing, Epicurus believe that the universe had no beginning, he believed the universe had always existed and that it would always continue to exist. But he also believed that anything that was in existence now was only a temporary binding of atoms and that someday they will become untangled and therefore things made

During Epicurus’s early years he looked towards other philosophers as an inspiration. Epicurus first discusses the idea and “importance of sensual pleasure” (50). To express these teachings Epicurus created a place where people could go to “study [the] pleasure” (51) that he preached about in his teachings. Many found this type of study to be morally uneasy, however, it consistently gained support, to many especially the wealthy. After some time, these places of study began to disappear. Epicurus then began to look at how one can achieve a happy and healthy life. To do this one must originally look towards what makes them unhappy and “dissatisfied” (54) in their lives whether that be their job or something else. Therefore, through Epicurus’s teachings one should not act “on first impulse” but look towards what our desires are telling us that we want in life. Epicurus looked at friendship to achieving a happy life. One must have a connection to others in order to feel complete in the world. Therefore, Epicurus lived amongst many friends where he noticed and expressed that “we don’t exist unless there is someone who can see us existing” (57) therefore, by having friends in our life we always feel that we are part of something in the world that is larger than ourselves. Epicurus also expresses that our friends “do not evaluate us… to worldly criteria” (57). Once one has friends who accept them and show unconditional love, one many look towards Epicurus’s view of freedom in finding happiness. One needs to be free of “everyday affairs and politics” (58) to live a happy life. From giving up these mundane affairs, Epicurus and his friends were able not be reliant on a “material basis” (58) but could find happiness on the simplicity of life. The next

Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines Hedonism as, “The belief that pleasure or happiness is the most important goal in life,” which may be true depending on one’s viewpoint. After all, life will be dreary without happiness or some form of pleasure or excitement. Another qualifying reason for Hedonism is its prolonged existence. Hedonism – like other belief systems, has been in existence since ancient times; it’s even older than Christianity. Aristippus of Cyrene (a disciple of Socrates) was the first great exponent of Hedonism. He was also the founder of the Cyrenaic School of Hedonism that taught the individual person to perform acts that generates pleasure (Herbermann et al. p. 187).

These passions, like great winds, have blown me hither and thither, in a wayward course, over a deep ocean of anguish, reaching to the very verge of despair. Love and knowledge, so far as they were possible, led upward toward the heavens. But always pity brought me back to earth. Echoes of cries of pain reverberate in my heart. Children in famine, victims tortured by oppressors, helpless old people a hated burden to their sons, and the whole world of loneliness, poverty, and pain make a mockery of what human life should be. I long to alleviate the evil, but I cannot, and I too suffer.3 The Greek philosopher Epicurus is most likely the first recognized philosopher to ask how the existence of evil could be compatible with the nature of God (The Wrath of God 13).4 According to Epicurean philosophy, the notions of good and evil are identified with pleasure and pain respectively. The Epicurean claim is that only pleasure is good. Accordingly, this translates into “pursue pleasure (good) and avoid pain (evil).”5 David Hume in Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion says of Epicurus: “Epicurus’ old questions are yet unanswered. Is he (God) willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is impotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Whence then is evil?”6 Even if Epicurus is regarded as the first to raise

Epicurus lived a life of simplicity, and studied at great length what happiness meant, and announced a set of insights that we only need three things to be happy. These were not of grandeur, riches, or fame, they were simple truths that hid underneath those desires. His beliefs were as follows, that you need your friends around, not just on an every so often basis, regular contact is what counts. Secondly, working for yourself instead of others, getting a sense of helping people out of your work. And lastly that we need to stay calm. We will always be in search of happiness, and the Epicurean lifestyle may be of some insight to us even in the present day.