Studying the philosophy of Epicurus

 

"Let no one put off the love and practice of wisdom when young, nor grow tired of it when old. For it is never too early or too late for the health of the soul. Someone who says that the time to love and practice wisdom has not yet come or has passed is like someone who says that the time for happiness has not yet come or has passed. Young or old, it is necessary to love and practice wisdom, so that in old age you can be youthful by taking joy in the good things you remember, and likewise in youth you can be mature by not fearing what will come. Reflect on what brings happiness, because if you have that you have everything, but if not you will do everything to attain it."

"Do and practice, then, the things I have always recommended to you, holding them to be the stairway to a beautiful life."

----- from the opening to the Letter to Menoeceus.

Diogenes Laertius' book 10 - the "Principal doctrines", the three letters of Epicurus, and the "Wise Man Sayings", the Vatican Sayings, Lucretius' "De Rerum Natura", the wall of Diogenes of Oinoanda, and Cicero's Torquatus section -- these are the sources that we need to study to get a good picture of the philosophy and to know what wisdom Epicurus speaks of -- So first studying and then implementing (practicing).

The last paragraph of the Letter to Menoeceus says this:

"So practice these and similar things day and night, by yourself and with a like-minded friend, and you will never be disturbed whether waking or sleeping, and you will live as a god among men: for a man who lives in the midst of immortal goods is unlike a merely mortal being."

I think that this recommendation to practice (as well as study) together with another is a great way to bring deeper learning and make it an enjoyable experience.

And going forward there will be greater and greater clarity, so that the philosophy will be accessed with greater ease.

Letter to Menoeceus text source: 

https://monadnock.net/epicurus/letter.html

Inhabiting the World as an Epicurean

  

In this post I take up point number 4, for both extroverts as well as the introvert "sensitive souls" among us.

As Epicureans how do we see ourselves in relation to the world? And how do we feel our own self-presence? How do we move through the world? How do we inhabit the world?

There is a Bible verse about "being in the world but not of it", but as Epicureans I would suggest that we take up the opposite idea -- of being in the world AND of it. We are not separate from the world and we aren't going somewhere better when we die. This is it. So how do we want to live this one life that we have?

For the sensitive soul we may decide to create and spend some time in a nice nest or retreat (maybe a "man-cave"/"woman-cave" we've set up somewhere in our homes). This could be a place for creative activities and/or for meditation. Yet, fully inhabiting this world has so much to offer -- beauty, fun, and pleasurable new experiences. Making wise choices, we can venture out of our homes to experience the pleasurable aspects as we see fit, and keeping in mind the results of our actions. And as Principal Doctrine 8 says:
"No pleasure is bad in itself; but the means of paying for some pleasures bring with them disturbances many times greater than the pleasures themselves."

We can set the intention to experience what we can, now, and be in the world in the fullness of pleasure. And sometimes we need to overcome subtle feelings of uncertainty, and move forward with activities that will bring us greater joy and well-being over the long-term. I am specifically thinking about activities which may bring up feelings of social akwardness in which we may need to "feel the fear and do it anyway" (btw, this is a self-help quote from a book by Susan Jeffers).

As Epicureans we enjoy the activity of studying, thinking, and philosophizing -- yet we need to make time to move and be in our bodies. Being outdoors is a great way to more fully inhabit the world, and being sure to add in some "mindfulness" to this experience - opening up our eyes, ears, nose, skin-sense, and body-sense (observations of all of our surroundings -- and sensing the sun and wind, etc. -- feeling all the sensations of our own bodily movement and our inhalations and exhalations).

And finally, for myself, as I think of inhabiting the world more fully, it brings up the desire to share Epicurean philosophy with others. This is still something that I am working on, as to how exactly to do it, since it requires clear knowledge and understanding and also finding those who might be interested in hearing about it.
 

Epicurean Philosophy for the Sensitive Soul

 

 Each person varies as to their individual dispositions and sensitivities, and we are unique in how we experience sensations within our body. An Epicurean relies upon the feedback of the feelings of pleasure and pain to decide what to move toward and what to avoid. When choosing between various options, we applying reasoning based on past experience to answer the question: "What will happen if I do this, and what will happen if I do not", and there is an anticipation as to how the future result may unfold.

1. Embracing sensation - As Epicureans we can stop feeling guilty about enjoying sensation, and live life like a "happy leaping pig". Take the time to really notice how good a warm shower feels. See what else you can enjoy through-out your day.

2. Balancing the feelings -- Sometimes painful feelings crowd out the pleasurable ones, and you need to see what you can do to get back into a balanced state of well-being. Here are some of things which may throw us off kilter:

 -- Not taking care of our body properly - not enough sleep, eating a poor diet (or vitamin deficiency), or over-eating, not drinking enough water, or not getting enough exercise). 

-- Exposure to too much noise or too much energy of people -- and this may take some effort to come up with creative solutions for getting needed space or quietude. (or maybe just add in some "recovery" time for yourself after you finish activities which require you to be in high energy spaces).

-- Physical illness -- put effort into your wellness by visiting a doctor and/or finding treatments to improve the health of your body. 

-- Not taking care of your "heart", and by this I mean doing the necessary things for happiness and primarily focusing on developing or maintaining good connections with friends and loved ones.

-- Poor mental habits developed during past stress or trauma, or falling back into poor mental habits due feeling overwhelmed by current challenges -- this one will likely need the help of a therapist to work through (but you could try the library or bookstore to find books on "Positive Psychology".)

3. Creating a "joy basket" - instead of a "bucket list" which often has big vacations or other activities to do before you die, a "joy basket" is a collection of activities that you enjoy doing on a regular basis and which bring you a feeling of pleasure, or meaning. For myself, one activity that I enjoy is going to rose gardens to smell the roses. I have a very sensitive nose so I am able to experience sublte differences between various roses. I also enjoy taking pictures of the roses, as I walk through the garden and notice the variations of shape and color. Be sure to collect enough activities in your "joy basket" so that you have something to do every week or several times a week (or even every day!)

Stay tuned...I will be covering more soon (points 4 through 8).

A Happy Life: the Emotional Feeling Tone of the Epicurean Lifestyle

 

 

Does the Epicurean lifestyle lead to a happier life?

I would like to present the idea that happiness is a practice that can be learned. So it is possible to enhance one's happiness by doing and thinking certain things.

In several of the Epicurean verses we see indications of the feeling tone present in an Epicurean lifestyle:

"One must laugh and seek wisdom and tend to one's home life and use one's other goods, and always recount the pronouncements of true philosophy." (VS 41)

"Friendship dances around the world, announcing to each of us that we must awaken to happiness." (VS 52)

"It is not the young man who is most happy, but the old man who has lived beautifully; for despite being at his very peak the young man stumbles around as if he were of many minds, whereas the old man has settled into old age as if in a harbor, secure in his gratitude for the good things he was once unsure of." (VS 17)

Consider the feeling tone of your last three days. What kinds of feelings predominated? Did you feel some happiness? If not, why not?

How is your sleep quality? Poor sleep or not long enough sleep can affect how we feel and think, so try to get good sleep by making any needed adjustments in your bedroom environment or in your habits (such as avoiding caffeine if you are sensitive and setting a specific time to go to bed).

Are you ruminating or spending a lot of time thinking about problems in your life? Are you feeling some anxiety regarding uncertainties in your future? If you have unsolved problems in your life, take some time to sit down and think through all your options (write them out) or get advice if you need it. Of course there will be times when we aren't always settled down or we have some important decisions to make, but these should be brief transitory times.

Are you ruminating or spending too much time thinking about problems in the state of the world? Do current events tend to rile you up? Check in to see if this could be robbing you of your happiness and enjoyment of life. If so, perhaps take a day every week in which you have a "news-free" / "media-free" day, and instead focus on doing a fun activity which energizes and makes you feel alive.

Do you have fun events to look forward to? (hopefully which include loved ones or friends). Plan activities in which you can share a meal or go out in nature together. Or look for community events which align with your interests (and may give an opportunity to meet new friends). Having something fun to anticipate and look forward to can increase your feeling tone of happiness. 

There could be many other ideas for increasing happiness, such as simply taking a moment to feel gratitude for all the good things in your life, or sitting in the sunshine and enjoying the warmth it brings. All of these can be part of creating and living a pleasurable and blessed life.

 

An Epicurean Journey into Weight Loss

This is the time of year in which many people take on New Year's resolutions and take on a diet to lose excess pounds gained during the holidays. 

Even before the holidays, the dopamine rush that tasty foods bring to our bodies can lead us to eat more calories than we burn. We may slowly gain weight, with health consequences such as high blood pressure, low energy, or wear-and-tear on knee joints. Our appearance and comfort also diminishes when clothing gets too tight.

As Epicureans we choose pleasure that leads to happiness and good health. The following are Epicurean aphorisms from the Vatican Sayings (St. Andre translation) on which to ponder and may help encourage you on a path toward healthy eating.

54. Do not pretend to love and practice wisdom, but love and practice wisdom in reality; for we need not the appearance of health but true health.

59. The stomach is not insatiable, as most people say; instead the opinion that the stomach needs unlimited filling is false.

68. Nothing is enough to one for whom enough is very little.

69. The ingratitude of the soul makes a creature greedy for endless variation in its way of life.

71. Ask this question of every desire: what will happen to me if the object of desire is achieved, and what if not?

 

Practical Weight Loss Tips

There is a lot of advice on the internet which I have read over the past years, and here are a few thoughts off the top of my head:

1. Weight loss phase -- for one month or more, until you reduce your weight -- reduce the daily number of calories that you consume so that your body turns to fat storage for its energy needs. Women can reduce daily calories to 1,200 calories per day and men to 1,500 calories per day. This number can be adjusted as to individual body size. Also, each meal should be no more than 400 calories for women and no more than 500 calories for men. It is possible that if your metabolizm is very slow then you might need only 350 calories per meal for women, and 400 calories per meal for men. In order to know how many calories you are eating, you will need to measure out portion sizes with measuring cups -- 1/2 cup - 3/4 cup - 1 cup. You can then look online to find calorie amounts according to portion size -- for example 1 cup of cooked brown rice is 216 calories (according to one website I found). It is important to cut out processed foods and high calorie desserts during the weight loss phase. Eat fresh fruit as your "dessert". Have your last meal of the day no later than 6pm, and do not eat any more after that time. I personally do not recommend fasting, or keto diets because these do not help you learn good eating habits -- they cause fatigue, brain fog, and other discomforts and you will gain back all your weight once you return to a more normal eating pattern. You can speed up your weight loss by cutting out all sugar, all dairy, all wheat, and all processed foods -- instead eat brown rice, quinoa, yams, oatmeal, eggs, chicken, fish, pork, beef, and a mix of fresh and cooked vegetables, and choosing fresh fruits which are low in sugars (berries are lowest). Of course this means cooking your own meals, and there are ways to make cooking for yourself easier and less time consuming.

2. Prevention of weight gain - on-going healthy eating habits  - maintain a regular habit of correct portion sizes, and eat healthy snacks such as apples or carrots. High calorie desserts should be reserved for special occasions and perhaps a once a week special day in a small portion -- otherwise eat fresh fruit as your "dessert". Avoid going out to eat as much as possible, because portion sizes are often too large and foods are high in fat and often flavored in such a way as to make it difficult to stop eating when you are full. See my other blog for heathly eating ideas: My Healthy Eating Lifestyle

3. Eating foods that support good health

     -- increase the number of vegetables you eat every day

     -- consider taking a multivitamin, especially when you are in the weight reduction phase

     -- learn to cook healthy meals and try out new foods which will support your goal of healthy eating

4.  Change your attitude toward your food -- this is important because we gain weight when we have turned off the normal mechanism of feeling our stomach's fullness. So we will need to relearn what that feels like to know when we have had enough food. Enjoy your food while you eat by adding a dash of salt and some spices, and eat slowly. Find other things in life with which to reward yourself or which can bring you the stimulation and excitement you were previously seeking through "food entertainment". Learn to eat only when you actually feel hungry and stop eating when you feel full. See your smart food choices as something which brings you better health and more energy. Resolve to stick with your good choices, even when you see others around you making poor food choices. Shop in stores which support good choices (like health food stores) or be sure to make a shopping list ahead of time to avoid making unhealthy impulse purchases.

--Good luck and happy eating!

 

 

The Epicurean Art of Taking Pleasure

 

Some random musings today about pleasure, and the holiday season...

As human beings we make choices based on both conscious and unconscious motivations and on our internal conceptual construct of the world. We can have either a "default" (letting things happen as they may) or we can hold a stance focused toward consciously chosing -- such as the creation and contemplation of personal goals. And we can set for ourselves the goal of focusing more on what brings pleasure and joy, as well as noticing what brings a smile to our face as we interact with others.

How our life unfolds depends on this:  We are subject to the options we perceive when we make choices. But what affects the options that we perceive? I would say that positivity and a sense of competence (based on my reading of the book "Positivity" by Barbara Fredrickson -- this may need to be a future blog). Thinking further about positivity and competence...perhaps this is the meaning behind one of the four points in the Epicurean Tetrapharmakos: "What is good is easy to get". When we feel confident, then even challenging things can unfold much easier.

As Epicureans, we might need to consider and remember the "natural goods" -- friendship, wisdom (of the natural world as it functions under cause and effect rather than superstition), and self-sufficiency (not being overly-dependent for our wellbeing on people and things which are unreliable mentally or materially). *I could be defining these slightly different than what is found in Epicurean philosophy*

So we can put some effort into setting up a good foundation for ourselves in which we are freed from unnecessary worries and anxieties regarding the future. And putting in some effort into doing what creates good physical and mental health. This is the foundation which is needed to most fully experience the sweet moments of being alive and the experience of both mental and physical pleasures.

Most importantly is an active "turning toward pleasure" and what feels good and what is enjoyable. Does the experience of the color red, used so often during the holidays, have an enlivening feeling for you? Every year in the month of December many people actively prepare to celebrate Christmas, either as a "secularized" holiday or as a Christian holiday. I'm not on board with big spending to display status or wealth or buying more stuff for the sake of consumption. Instead, I am thinking about the importance of tuning into the body and tuning into the feelings of what makes us as humans enjoy life.

As Epicureans we can choose what feels most pleasurable in this regard as we evaluate our choices and avoidances based on our internal guide of pleasure and pain. The tradition of preparing for Christmas is in a sense a kind of savoring of winter in the lead-up to the Winter Solstice, when we know that the sun will once again begin to move higher and days will begin to lengthen. Actively pursuing the "pleasures of Christmas" is a kind of antidote to the cold, cloudy, rainy or snowy weather and the short days. As Epicureans, we can chose to move through life in pursuit of pleasure year-round (and maybe we need more holidays spread through-out the year).

There are always things surrounding us in which to savor the sights, sounds, tastes, smells, and touches -- even beyond the holiday decorations and holiday treats. We choose to focus on taking in the pleasures of life by opening up our senses and noticing what feels good. This opening up could be considered by some to be  a kind of "spiritual practice" that we can engage in. (And the sense of "spirit" I am refering to is the sense of self and the sense of conscious awareness that we subjectively experience as we are alive). It can be as simple as noticing how good it feels to comb or brush your hair (as it stimulates the blood flow to your scalp).

 So this "art of taking pleasure" is something to put some pleasurable effort into, through contemplation and perhaps talking about it with friends and loved ones -- asking questions, and turning toward and tuning into pleasure. 

Blessed be! May you be blessed by pleasure, this holiday season and every day!

 

 

 

An Epicurean Exploration of Minimalism Leads to Hygge

​I am not a minimalist, but I have read various articles on the internet about adopting minimalist tips. I can see that the benefits and pleasures that would arise from this would be more clarity, order, time, space to create, and ease in finding things. 

I am currently in a temporary situation staying with my sister, in which most of my possessions are in the one room that I sleep in (and in which I spend all my time in when I am at home). And there are a few other things I have left in boxes and keep stored in the garage. So trying to stay organized is challenging for me right now, since I am always digging through boxes to find things, and I don't have enough selves to organize everything.

Through the understanding of Epicurean ethics, there is no absolute rule regarding what and how much one owns. So the choice is to decide what brings pleasure. I think that there are elements of minimalism that could aid in bringing happiness for people who might be drawn to the need for simplifying life.

"Principle Doctrine 5: It is not possible to live joyously without also living wisely and beautifully and rightly, nor to live wisely and beautifully and rightly without living joyously; and whoever lacks this cannot live joyously."

I like the feeling presented when this Principle Doctrine says "to live beautifully" -- the artist in me feels like there is validation and a way to feel good through what I choose to surround myself with.

I am dipping my toes into the idea of bringing in some minimalist elements of a cleaner and simpler environment into my life (and there is no need to go off into adopting asceticism). I can choose what works and according to what I think I need. I close my eyes and imagine a very clean and clear space, where everything is perfectly organized. And I don't want to feel like I am living in a storage closet. This is a good article on minimalism: https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/what-is-minimalism

Some areas in my life that I want to simplify:

1. First off is my wardrobe: I don't use all the clothes that I own, but I still hang on to them "just in case". Also, I keep things that I don't really like because they might be useful later, and so that I won't have to re-buy them in the future. I think my solution will be to sort and box up some things (properly labeled) and also give away some things to a thrift store.

2. Everything else that I don't use and don't need - this would include supplies for craft projects that I know I won't ever do. Paperwork that I no longer need. Books I know I will never read again.

As for the starkness of minimalism, that is something that I don't like one bit. So ideally I would blend minimalism and hygge.

"Like any widespread trend, hygge has drawn criticism from those seeking to defend its roots. While American stores often brand cozy socks, sweet coffee mugs, and candles as “hygge” in an effort to capitalize on the trend, some Danes haven’t been shy when pointing out that hygge is not about buying things—in fact, it’s quite the opposite." https://bungalow.com/articles/all-about-hygge-learn-how-to-enjoy-danish-style-coziness-and-conviviality-at

I was surprised to read that hygge is more about people than things. So the cozy quality is for the ambiance of shared space and shared time with loved ones. So the question is: what is a single person who is very introverted and has just moved to a new city to do? Perhaps there are others who have few friends, and so the hygge lifestyle becomes more of a "how to build a cozy home interior" -- and that's okay. 

My first step to become more hygge: create a better Zoom meeting space by bringing in some hygge elements -- and I think my Zoom friends will appreciate it!  :-)

A List of Life Pleasures

This list is a combination of self-reflection, observation, and reasoning regarding pleasure. It is both those that arise naturally and those that take some effort to seek out: day to day, week to week, and over a lifetime. It comes out of pondering foundational teachings of Epicurean philosophy. There are no writings of Epicurus that indicate that he thought through things in this manner, yet this might be a step toward understanding "natural and necessary" categories. This is not a complete list (I will add more soon), and it is a mix of personal and hypothetical pleasures (for example I don't play tennis but decided to list it as a sport). This may need to be re-organized, and the categories may need shifting also.

 

A List of Life Pleasures

I. Shorter duration

A. Shorter lasting and occur often or daily (for everyone) 

-eating: smelling, tasting, enjoying

-other brief pleasurable sensations of sight and sound

B. Shorter lasting and occur daily (but depends upon individual circumstances)
-playing with pet cat or dog (if you have one)
-kissing your life partner good-morning and good-night (if you have partner)

C. Shorter lasting and could occur daily or once or twice a week (but depends on the individual)
-hugging friends when you see them
-dancing in your living room
-listening to enjoyable music
-pleasure of the procurement of needed food and sundries   

D. Shorter lasting and only occurs rarely or occassionally
-receiving a present on your birthday or Christmas
-enjoying brand new clothing

II. Medium length duration

A. Pleasures of medium length (neither short nor long)
- reading a good book
- going on an adventure (hiking, camping, driving by car, train or plane trip, exploring a new place, vacationing)
- engaging in a sport (boating, fishing, mountain biking, tennis, etc)

B. Medium length (neither short nor long) and occurs daily or weekly (and it depends upon your circumstances)
-date night with partner (if you have a partner)
-a lunch or dinner occassion with good friend(s) (if you have friends)

-cuddling or sexual expression with a partner (if you have partner)

-engaging in art/craft/sport 

III. Longer lasting duration (longest lasting)

-the enjoyment of studying of philosophy
-engaging in a lifelong hobby (arts/crafts/music)
-long-term friendship
-the pleasure of being together with people that you love
-the feeling of good health
-the pleasure of making wise choices which lead to good outcomes
-helping out friends and family (and being certain of reciprocity)

 

IV. Guarenteed pleasures (occur naturally and easy to come by)

-eating-smelling, tasting, enjoying 

-activities which soothe the vagus nerve -- a warm bath/shower, breath meditation, soothing music 

-light exercise - stretching, going for a walk 

-the feeling and scent of clean clothes/sheets

-the feeling of sunshine on your face  

V. The pleasure which comes from the removal of pain
-relief of quenching thirst
-relief of eating to remove hunger
-resting after hard work
-recovery from illness (or pain relief from aspirin)
-quietude after too much noise
-seeing familar faces after being amongst strangers

 VI. Remembrance of past pleasures
-remembering good holidays or vacations
-remembering pleasant sights seen
-remembering good moments with friends and family
-remembering past important accomplishments

VII. Anticipation of future pleasures
-imagining
-planning 

Life Enhancing Benefits of Epicurean Philosophy

 

Why study Epicurean philosophy?

There could be many reasons why a given individual might want to study this philosophy.

1) An enjoyment of engaging the mind in philosophical thinking - this might be experienced differently for everyone, and could be an aspect of reading, taking notes, listening to podcasts, or in engaging personal contemplation or interpretation of the philosophy.

2) The enjoyment of philosophical discussion - engaging with others in a way that challenges one's own thinking -- or discussing the philosophy in order to come to a better understanding.

3) Learning, contemplating, and putting into practice the wisdom of this philosophy -- as a means toward living a better life.

 

How does Epicurean philosophy help one live a better life?

1) There can be ease and peace which arises when one feels more clear and understands one's own personal worldview -- a worldview which is free of superstitious thinking, free of a belief in a supernatural god -- as well as free of the fear of death and free of what might happen after death.

2) The worldview of Epicureanism helps one make decisions in a more consistent and wise manner -- the way in which choices are made.

3) Epicurean philosophy helps one live life in a much more pleasant and enjoyable way -- by making choices which lead to a wise and happy life -- the types of choices one makes.

4) Epicurean philosophy puts engagement with wise friends as a central component of learning the philosophy and living enjoyably.

In Defense of Desire and How to Enjoy It

 

First I will give some background about what I came out of before studying Epicureanism. For a time I studied Buddhism and attended a Zen Buddhist group. In Buddhism, meditation is the practice by which one seeks to quiet one's desires, because certain unfulfilled desires can cause mental anxiety and stress. One may discover a momentary inner sense of contentment while sitting still, but after leaving the meditation cushion, one discovers that those all too human desires are right back there again. 

Desire is what keeps humans beings alive. If we don't eat food we die; likewise water and shelter are naturally essential needs. Yet what of all the other myriad desires that come with being alive and human? As Epicureans we seek to live a happy and enjoyable life, and we learn how to dance with our desires. 

Epicurus said in his Letter to Menoeceus:

"And we must consider that some of the passions are natural, and some empty; and of the natural ones some are necessary, and some merely natural. And of the necessary ones, some are necessary to happiness, and others, with regard to the exemption of the body from trouble; and others with respect to living itself;"

First briefly on alcohol: everyone knows that the drinking of excessive alcohol can lead to pains far greater than the original pleasure, and so knowing this an Epicurean takes care of the body's enjoyment by choosing to drink the amount which stays within their own individual bodily limits.

Principle Doctrine 3: "The limit of enjoyment is the removal of all pains. Wherever and for however long pleasure is present, there is neither bodily pain nor mental distress."

Principle Doctrine 8: "No pleasure is bad in itself; but the means of paying for some pleasures bring with them disturbances many times greater than the pleasures themselves." 

For myself, I have never had trouble with excessive alcohol intake, because my body gives me very clear and painful messages when I drink more than I should. I also notice that I enjoy alcohol best by only drinking a few times a month in small quantities, so I have on hand non-alcoholic drinks such as carbonated mineral water and non-alcoholic ginger beer. Alcohol is not a necessary need for the body, and one must sense the inner feelings of the body to determine for oneself when the pleasures of drinking alcohol are worth a loss of vigor and vitality which can accompany even moderate consumption. There can be a personal hedonic calculus to decide if and when to drink and there are times when alcohol can have a much needed medicinal value, but it should be respected and not abused to the point of addiction.(See this earlier post: https://epicureanphilosophyblog.blogspot.com/2021/12/evaluation-of-activities-for-benefit_6.html)

Some people really enjoy their sweets, and find they have frequent and excessive sugar cravings. This can become like an addiction when one constantly thinks about or plans for the next sweet treat. In modern times sweets are both easily procured and inexpensive. Sugar is everywhere and in many foods, and it is very hard to avoid the consumption of sugar. I'm sure this was not the case in Epicurus' time. So we must think about this and see how to best to deal with sugar cravings. There is a very unsettling feeling in the mind when sugar cravings become too prominent in one's consciousness.

I have tried at times to completely eliminate sugar from my diet. This may work for some people, but doesn't work for me. (Maybe my brain chemistry is permanently wired to enjoy sugar - life is just not very fun without it). It is important to realize that there is a bodily limit to the enjoyment of sugar that can be found, but just as with alcohol each person must discover this limit for themselves. This limit is what I call the "sugar yuck factor", when sugar no longer feels pleasureable. This requires one to be especially sensitive to the feelings which arise within the body while eating more sugary treats than one "should". For example, this excessive feeling can occur when eating too much homemade sugar cookie icing. Feeling the unpleasant feelings in the body is a great way to "reset" the sugar cravings, but it must also be combined with choosing to buy healthier foods and avoiding bringing home large quantities of sugary treats. One focuses the mind on learning to desire foods which are healthy and good for the body, and which increase feelings of vigor and vitality. I still choose to eat sweet treats on occasion, and I do so keeping in mind moderation, and that if I eat a treat every day it isn't as pleasureable as spacing out the treats over time. 

It's up to every individual to determine their own sugar limit, and to do so with respect for maintaining the pleasureable feeling of health of the body.

Enjoy!

Philosophy of Epicurus: Overview of Sources

Epicurus is said to have originally written over 300 works on various subjects, but the vast majority of these writings have been lost.

1) Diogenes Laertius - A major source for Epicurean doctrine is Diogenes Laertius, a Greek biographer (3rd century CE). Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers Book 10 contains three of Epicurus’ letters to his disciples: the "Letter to Herodotus" on physical theory, the "Letter to Menoeceus" on Epicurean ethics, and the "Letter to Pythocles" on astronomical and meteorological matters. Also contained in this book are the “Principal Doctrines” (Kuriai Doxai) in which Diogenes quotes a collection of short sayings excerpted from the writings of Epicurus. Diogenes also fills in topics not covered in the Letters, and provides a list of Epicurus’ writings and other biographical information.

https://monadnock.net/epicurus/principal-doctrines.html
https://monadnock.net/epicurus/letter.html

http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0258%3Abook%3D10%3Achapter%3D1

http://www.attalus.org/old/diogenes10c.html

2) Lucretius - wrote the philosophical Latin poem "On the Nature of Things" (De rerum natura) in six books of hexameter verse (first century BCE). This poem covers Epicurean physics and natural philosophy. 

http://classics.mit.edu/Carus/nature_things.html

3) Diogenes of Oenoanda - erected a large inscription on a stone wall in the city of Oenoanda (second century CE, in what is now modern day southwestern Turkey). The Greek inscription contains the basic tenets of Epicureanism, including a treatise on ethics. To this day it is only partially excavated, and the work to reconstruct stone fragments continues.

http://www.english.enoanda.cat/the_inscription.html

4) Herculaneum scrolls - Several works of Epicurus, including parts of his major treatise, On Nature have been recovered in damaged condition from the library of a villa in the town of Herculaneum. The papyri rolls were buried and preserved in the ash from the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 CE.  They were rediscovered in 1752, but early attempts to read the scrolls proved difficult and unrolling destroyed the papyri. Scrolls are now being virtually read by newly created technology.

5) Philodemus - The Herculaneum library also held the writings of Philodemus, an Epicurean philosopher in the first century BCE. Philodemus' writings both preseved Epicurean philosophy and also dealt with ongoing developments within Epicurean communities. New editions and translations continue to come forward.

6) The "Vatican Sayings" - a collection of short sayings which partially overlap with those from Diogenes Laertius. Some of these maxims might not be attributable to Epicurus. This 14th century manuscript was rediscovered in 1888.

https://monadnock.net/epicurus/vatican-sayings.html

https://archive.org/details/EpicurusTheExtantRemainsBaileyOxford1926OptimizedForGreekOnLeft/page/n376/mode/1up

7) Cicero - presented and also criticized Epicurus’ ideas, especially concerning ethics, in several of his philosophical works, including "On Moral Ends" (De finibus) and the "Tusculan Disputations".

8) Plutarch, Sextus Empiricus, and the Greek commentators on Aristotle - these writings which contain short citations of Epicurus’ works, however they are often taken out of context or presented in a polemical and distorted fashion.

References:

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/epicurus/
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epicurus
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucretius
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_rerum_natura
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diogenes_of_Oenoanda
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herculaneum_papyri
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/philodemus/

Evaluation of Activities for Benefit and Pleasure

The following blog post came to me after reading an email in which a friend wrote the phrase: "I guess I better....". It got me thinking, because I've also noticed that phrase in my self, in various situations. It is sometimes also phrased as "I guess I better stop...."The following is intended to be helpful for evaluating whether or not a given activity is "working" or bringing benefits or bringing pleasure for your unique situation.

Based on some of my philosophy studies, this personal exploration of a hedonic calculus leads to an evaluation of activities and possible future decisions in light of one's own individual pleasure and benefit. Of course we must honor all social commitments and agreements, as well as deeply consider the well-being of our loved ones.

In Epicureanism the word "pleasure" has a complicated understanding - it's not just short-term sensory pleasures, but also includes long-term mental pleasures such as peace of mind. The following is a way to evaluate a given activity for both long-term and short-term benefits and pleasure. Life is a balance of activities between working for daily provisions/long-term security, meeting daily needs (eating, sleeping, etc.), people engagement/commitments (friends/family/community), cultural engagement/expression (art/music), and aesthetic/sensory enjoyment (walking in nature, enjoying the smell and taste of fresh coffee, etc.). Also consider how relationships/friendships/good family connections, when they function well, can contribute to a greater overall sense of security, peace of mind, and mutual/shared enjoyment of life.

"Activities Evaluation" (both short-term and long-term).
State the specific activity (or possible future decision) that you wish to evaluate:

Evaluate this activity (or possible future decision) by choosing the best guess for each point below:

1) How likely is this to result in the pleasure and enjoyment of increased future security?(Increased resources of monetary, material goods, or friendship/community).
---Gauranteed/Likely/Uncertain/Unlikely/Impossible---            -(or not applicable)-

2) How likely is this to result in the pleasure and enjoyment of increased status or good reputation? (Being evaluated by others as knowledgeable, wise, skilled, courageous, or compassionate AND which also leads to increased resources of friendship/community. *Virtuous activities engaged in during isolation and/or exhibited only in the presence of strangers are less likely to increase "social security" and less likely to lead to long-term benefit).
---Gauranteed/Likely/Uncertain/Unlikely/Impossible                     -(or not applicable)-

3) How likely is this to result in the pleasure and enjoyment of more stable existing relationships and/or new friendships/new community engagement?

---Guaranteed/Likely/Uncertain/Unlikely/Impossible---                 -(or not applicable)-

4) How likely is this to result in pleasure and enjoyment from increased skill and artistic flow? (The joy of doing this, and the enjoyment of the focused discipline to do this).
---Gauranteed/Likely/Uncertain/Unlikely/Impossible---                 -(or not applicable)-

5) How likely is this to result in immediate sensory pleasure and enjoyment?
---Gauranteed/Likely/Uncertain/Unlikely/Impossible---                 -(or not applicable)-

6) How likely is this to result in a bad outcome? (Loss of property/wealth/reputation, loss of friendship/community, loss of good health, emotional/physical pain caused to self or to others, or a conflicting opportunity cost (time which could have gone to establishing future security -or- a more pleasure-worthy endeavor).
---Gauranteed/Likely/Uncertain/Unlikely/Impossible---                 -(or not applicable)-

7) How likely is this to lead to an immediate sense of satiation or feeling of satisfaction?
---Gauranteed/Likely/Uncertain/Unlikely/Impossible---                 -(or not applicable)-

8) How likely is this to lead to more opportunities for long-term personal well-being, such as peaceful abiding, intellectual engagement, social involvement, feelings of satisfaction, or simply more freedom to make personal choices?

---Gauranteed/Likely/Uncertain/Unlikely/Impossible---                 -(or not applicable)-

9) Over-all, will a small amount of pain now (effort of an input of time and work to overcome some obstacles) result in more long-term well-being in the future?

---Gauranteed/Likely/Uncertain/Unlikely/Impossible---                 -(or not applicable)-

Why Tranquility Should Not Be the Main Goal for the Epicurean

In this blog I want to step outside the bounds of classical Epicurean scholarship and explore pleasure and tranquility using a simple “common sense” approach. Pleasure and tranquility need not be mutually exclusive. Not all stress should be avoided and modern Epicureans should move away from seeing tranquility as a main goal.

Epicureans want to live enjoyably and happily, yet modern life is far from tranquil and can create a lot of stress. As modern Epicureans we can see that some people greatly enjoy excitement, activity, and stimulation, and other people enjoy quietude, relaxation, and tranquility. Introverts are estimated to be 25% of the population, and tend to desire more tranquility than extroverts. So keeping in mind that there can be differences in temperament, it makes sense that what is considered pleasurable will also depend on temperament. It would be wrong to impose any one group’s preferences onto another group. 

For the sensitive constitution of introverts, the right level of tranquility can be deeply pleasing. Believing that tranquility leads to an enjoyable and happy life, they will limit certain activities and there will be many activities they would never do. However, if they don’t live independently in a remote or rural location, they will need to decide how much stress they want to take on, and make choices. This will often be by trial and error.

With our common modes of transportation, our speed of life is much faster than in the time of antiquity. The structure of 21st century civilization is stressful, complex, and specialized. At the time of Epicurus, life would have very easily and naturally fallen into a simple and tranquil structure, but now it would take much more effort to recreate the tranquility of Ancient Greece. What was tranquil then, to us now appears as an ascetic lifestyle. Our modern brains are now wired for a certain level of stimulation, and the happiest life will need to find the most agreeable level of mental and sensory stimulation. Too much tranquility can become unhealthy and for some can lead to feelings of emptiness, lethargy, and even lead to depression. So for these reasons it becomes questionable as to whether setting tranquility in life as a main goal will result in the most happy life. In addition, human beings are social animals and need to interact regularly with others to experience feelings of belonging and security. All social interaction contains within it a certain level of stress, but the goal of attaining pleasureable social interactions will help guide the modern Epicurean.

While the introverts might focus on modulating the level of stress in their lives, the other more extroverted folks will be busy taking on more challenges and living a much more active lifestyle. They will seek out adventure and novel sensory experiences. They will enjoy a lively environment that tickles the heart and mind with pleasure and joyful social interactions.

Regardless of introvert or extrovert tendencies, some stresses in life actually do lead to a kind of mental pleasure that cannot be produced by any other way. One example is participating in a gathering of people. With the right kind of people and in the right setting, the kind of joy that can well up within the heart cannot be found in solitude. And yet again this may best be enjoyed by those who have learned how to navigate a social environment. It is possible to learn and practice socializing in order to move from introvert to ambivert, and I would greatly encourage any introverted Epicureans to put effort into this, as the rewards are great.

Extroverted Epicureans already know and enjoy the pleasure of socializing, and they can help the introverts ease into the social fabric of a community, through thoughtful questions that pull introverts into conversation. Introverted Epicureans can also be of service to the community by bring the gifts they have learned through mastery of their sensitivities. They can help modulate the energy level if it gets too fast or loud, by requesting a resting break during community discussion. When attending a party and the dancing has ended, they can bring in more flowing soothing music conducive to good conversations.

The best kinds of gatherings would be between Epicureans who put forth the enjoyable meeting of the mind and the heart, as the agreed upon social goal. They would have no need for the social behaviors that cause stress, because they would set aside competition for attention, passive aggressiveness, pessimism, irritability, impatience, and harsh judgements. They would focus on sharing the joys of insight into the Epicurean philosophy and embody any kind of behavior that leads to pleasurable and agreeable friendship and conversation: smiles, encouragements, positivity, patience, clear and direct speaking, warm greetings and farewells of kisses and hugs. This kind of gathering would be stimulating for the mind and the senses, and yet enjoyable, and it very well could be considered both tranquil and stimulating at the same time.

Joyful Right Living

A Call to Joyous Epicurean Living (Revised 01/16/23)

Rejoice in the joys of the body and the soul. Rise up and dance! For the soul keeps safe the seat of wisdom. Mother Nature governs the body and easily teaches us the wisest ways to enjoy living.

Partake in the all the joys of the body often and with prudence. Feel your skin, feel your breath, see the sunlight and all the colors, taste the delight of water and sometimes wine, smell and savor that which nourishes you at every mealtime.

As the ancient song of Seikilos says: "While you live, shine! Have no grief at all. Life exists only for a short while, and time demands its due."

The soul does not live forever, as some may believe. For it only comes to animate the flesh just as heat comes from a burning fire. And when the organs of the body cease to function and the heat of the body dissipates, so too does the soul cease to be.

And just as a kernel of wheat ripens, so too the soul ripens with the experience of living. Even in the midst of a feast of pleasure, you must always hold pain in its proper place, or you will lose the benefit of its guidance. By pain we learn what to avoid, and by pleasure we learn what to move toward. Through this we learn that a life of joy takes no pride in pain or the endurance of painful over-indulgences. We endure the pains that we must when we know that a greater pleasure will come in the future, such as when we must work to sustain our future security and happiness.

A life of joy rejoices in the merits of wisdom, the fullness of delight, and the intimacy of uplifting friendship. A life of pleasure dances with the past, present, and future free from fear and anxiety. A life of joyous Epicurean living unfolds with blessedness, daily knowing that this is the best way to live.

 

A Call to Joyous Epicurean Living (First Draft 11/21/21)

Rejoice in the joys of the spirit. Rise up and dance! For the spirit keeps safe the seat of wisdom. Partake in the joys of the body often and with prudence. For the spirit animates the body and it knows the wisest way to enjoy living.

As the ancient song of Seikilos says: "While you live, shine! Have no grief at all. Life exists only for a short while, and time demands its due."

The spirit does not live forever, as some may believe. For it only comes to animate the flesh just as heat comes from a burning fire. And when the heat of the body dissipates, so too does the spirit.

And just as a kernel of wheat ripens, so too the spirit ripens with experience of wisdom. Even in the midst of a feast of pleasure, you must always hold pain in its proper place, or you will lose the benefit of its guidance. For pain always guides one who makes foolish mistakes. By pain we learn what to avoid, and by pain we learn wisdom. A life of joy takes no pride in pain or the endurance of painful over-indulgences. Instead, a life of joy rejoices in the merits of wisdom, the fullness of delight, and the intimacy of uplifting friendship.

 *Above image: William Stott 1857-1900
"Hide and Seek in the Garden of Epicurus, Leontium and Ternissa"

Thoughts on the Epicurean Revival

The modern revival of Epicureanism should be practiced as a philosophy not as a religion. There is no need for faith or symbolic rituals to embolden the empirical understanding of this philosophy. One studies and implements this philosophy to directly and personally experience the benefits of this wisdom.

While one might at times feel an intense gratitude toward the teachings and the original teacher Epicurus, there is no need to create a religion out of it. The world has seen too much harm and violence from organized religion. By maintaining the identity of a philosophical society rather than a religion, Epicurean revivalists offer a feeling of openness and freedom to those who have experienced past injury from religious fundamentalism.

Instead of the worship of a leader (be it Epicurus or a currently living guide) thorough study and practice of Epicurean principles take center stage. Each individual in the society of Epicurean friends can then become a natural ambassador of joy. There is no need for a missionary aspect to this philosophy, because those who see the benefits of this happy living will naturally be interested to learn more.

These teachings should not be turned into commodities, and teaching Epicurean philosophy should not be used as one's sole source of income. It would be fine to be reimbursed for the cost of materials such as paper or books. Freely giving the teachings without need for compensation is more conducive to the development of friendship and the development of emotional intimacy. In the act of giving we awaken the impulse to reciprocity and the basis for the commitment to longterm friendship. Since free time is precious in the modern world, Epicurean revivalists seek not to spread the teachings to the most people, but rather to spread the teachings to those who seek friendship and community within the safety and comfort of a shared worldview.