The Modern Epicurean

Epicurean philosophy is often characterized as having for its motto, carpe diem, seize the day. Take what you can from day to day, and try to maintain a stable level of enjoyment and freedom from too much suffering. Live in the now.

This is a false characterization.

Epicureanism is not a carpe diem philosophy. Let me explain why:

Friendship is the first and most important ingredient in the happy life.

Epicurus bought a big house and asked a bunch of his friends to move in with him. It was not enough for him to see friends casually like we usually do. He thought that to be real friends you have to be more permanent companions.

This reminds me a lot of the eco-village impulse my wife and I and a few of our close friends have had in the past, and still do to some extent. This might be partly why Epicurean philosophy appeals to me so much. He even thought that you should never eat alone if at all possible. It is more important to have someone to eat with than to have something to eat. Eating alone is the life of a lion or a wolf (clearly Epicurus didn't have the discovery channel, since neither of these species tend to dine alone but almost always in packs).

Second ingredient is freedom, to be financially independent. This means leaving the polis, so they started a commune. The life was simple, but they enjoyed their freedom, and where emotionally and intellectually independent.

The Third ingredient is to do philosophy and examine our life. We should take time to think things through. This will not only be pleasurable in itself, but also helps us to avoid suffering from ill-conceived plans and self deceptions. We need to step back and have some quiet time to think about what we really want, to reflect, to contemplate our life.

So if its all so easy, since these best things in life come quite cheap, then why are so many people unable to see how easy it is and just be happy? Epicurus says that this is the effect of the business of the polis. The City takes over our life, and in this state we can never be happy. If you are poor, but you have true friends and are self-sufficient, then you can still be happy. But if you have lots of money but no friends and are not self-sufficient, then you will not every be happy.

It is because of the epicurean communities that were founded all throughout the ancient world and which were widespread for some four centuries that we have access to any writings by Epicurus whatsoever. All of his three hundred books are lost. But his philosophy was so influential to so many people, that it has been passed down to us like a folk creed. It is present in the Kibutz,

We must also be reminded of the proper philosophy of life or we will forget. We are creatures of habit, and if we only read the philosophical arguments once or twice then we are still likely to be distracted by the problems and glamour and glittering vanity of the city. We need to counteract the effect of the city business and its advertising by creating opposing advertising that remind us of what we really do need. Diogenes built a wall inscribing the tenets of epicurean philosophy in the center of his town for just this purpose. He built the wall right next to the agora, so that even while citizens were out shopping, with all the advertisements of the bustling marketplace tempting them, they could be reminded that shopping will not make them happy. That no amount of money or luxury or entertainment will produce happiness, only philosophy can do that.

So Epicureans did their own form of advertising. But it was a form of subversive advertising; like Adbusters producing and anti TV ad for prime time. The epicurean advertisements did not try and sell anything, so much as try and remind people to live philosophically, not politically. The polemics were necessarily opposed to the entire idea of the city politics, but still engaged with it in this way and so was not entirely a-political.

Don't get them wrong. You could be happy with great wealth, a big fancy house and all the rest. But happiness doesn't come included. It doesn't say you won't be happy if you are materially rich, but happiness is not a consequence of wealth. Thus the old adage, "money doesn't buy happiness" is fitting.

Happiness may be difficult to attain, but the obstacles are not primarily financial.

It is ironic that the word 'epicurean' has become somewhat synonymous in its usual use with 'hedonist'. Epicureanism isn't hedonism in the usual sense.

He did not feel that intense pleasure was the goal of life, but rather ataraxia, or freedom from stress and anxiety. This view has certain implications.

Mental pleasure is of greater duration than physical pleasure, and is therefore more valuable. Active pleasures are things like eating when hungry and drinking when thirsty and resting when tired. Passive pleasures are things like enjoying freedom from pain. This avoidance of pain is really the most important thing. The goal is seeking freedom from stress by seeking long term pleasures that can be sustained throughout life. Epicurus would rather discuss philosophy or listen to music or research a scientific question than have an orgy or a feast or any other pleasure of excess.

The just life is full of the most disturbance, but the unjust life is full of the most disturbance.