EPICUREANISM:

“LIVE FOR PLEASURE."

Epicureanism is a school of thought in
Ancient Greek Philosophy founded by
Epicurus of Samos. It holds the belief
that the best life is one of long-term
pleasure that results from moderation.
Epicureanism declined with rise of
Christianity certain aspects were
revived during renaissance period.
 Epicurus’ Life
Born on 341 BC and grew up in
Athenian colony of Samos. He
founded the Garden
(Philosophical Community and
School) in 306 BC and died
from kidney stones between 271
and 270 BC. Founder od
Epicurus of Samos
 SCOPE
Epicureanism has often been
misunderstood because people tend
to collapse it with extreme
hedonism which is known for the
famous line: “Eat now, drink now,
have sex now, and be merry for
tomorrow you will die”.
 -The ultimate goal of life is not the
attainment of maximum pleasure but
ataraxia or peace of mind.
Peace of mind characterizes the
“good life” which for him must be attained in
this world.
Believed that postulating
supernatural influences in nature was a source
of terror.
 For this reason, Epicurus and his
followers preferred naturalistic
explanations to supernatural entities. And
they strongly protested against magic,
astrology, and divination. This led
Epicurus passionate disciple Lucretius to
proudly refer to the master as the
“destroyer of religion”.
The type of pleasure, therefore, that
we can glean from Epicurus’s notion
of hedonism is one that results from
the satisfaction of ones basic needs.
Hence, the good life for Epicurus
consisted more of the absence of pain
than the presence of intense pleasure.
 Epicurus also urged his followers
to avoid power and fame because such
things make others envious and that
may become enemies. This explains
why Epicurus and his followers
withdrew from society and live a
simple life.
As a matter of fact, for Epicurus also
urged his followers and his followers,
the good life, free, rational, and
moderate. And in this sense, the good
life is characterized by sufficient food,
comfortable dwelling, peaceful
relationships.
 SIGNIFICANCE IN EDUCATION
1. It teaches that the greatest good is to
seek modest pleasures in order to attain a state
of tranquility, freedom from fear ("ataraxia")
and absence from bodily pain ("aponia").
2. Emphasizes the importance of friendship.
Epicurus suggested that friendship was one of the
greatest means of obtaining pleasure. He believed
that connection with friends offered a sense of
safety, whereas lack of connection can lead to
isolation, despair, and peril.
 Major beliefs of Epicureanism Philosophy

-Emphasize the pleasures of the mind and seek

only the pleasures that are natural and necessary.
-Avoid all unnatural desires at all costs. Stay away
from human affairs. Don’t participate in politics or
the lust for power will take your peace of mind.
-Seek good and supportive friendships.
 Major beliefs of Epicureanism Philosophy

-Wanting to avoid pain and seeking pleasure is innate.

However, by pain, Epicurus did not just indicate bodily
pain. He suggested pain as any unpleasant negative
sensation that affects our peace of mind.
-The Epicurean social contract is a “pledge of
reciprocal usefulness neither to harm one another nor
be harmed.”
-Don’t chase fame and wealth.
-Epicureans think most people hold this false belief
that all sense-impressions are not true. Because
Epicureans assume that all sense-impressions are
indeed true.
-Belief in supernatural powers can bring fear, so
eliminate such beliefs.
-Avoid entering into marriage or passionate love
relationships or it will cause pain.
-The Epicurean philosopher said life is a “bitter
gift.”
-Apply knowledge and reason while making
decisions. It will lead to pleasure.
-Live simply and peacefully. Don’t keep fears and
anxieties in your mind.
-Epicureanism believed in the concept of soul but
they believed it was mortal just like our body.
-The concept of the afterlife was rejected in
Epicureanism theory and it instructed to get rid of
the fear of death. The Epicurean philosophy states
that death has no sensation so there is no need to be
scared of it. “Death is nothing to us; for that which
is dissolved, is without sensation, and that which
lacks sensation is nothing to us.”
IMPACT OF EPICUREANISM
-emphasized the pursuit of pleasure and the
avoidance of pain.
-emphasized on the rejection of religious dogma.
-way of reconciling the pleasures of the world
with a belief in reason and the pursuit of
knowledge.
-Emphasized the importance of empirical
observation and the rejection of religious dogma.
-Emphasized on skepticism and critical thinking.
-Provided a framework for questioning commonly
held beliefs and assumptions, which was seen as
essential to the pursuit of knowledge and
understanding.
-Established the value of the individual when
humanism arose as a backlash to religious
authoritarianism.
-Inherent in human nature to pursue happiness,
and that an ethical society should allow every one
of its members that opportunity.
-Developed an unsparingly materialistic
metaphysics, empiricist epistemology, and
hedonistic ethics.
Thanks for Listening!