Welcome to the Philosophy of Epicurus

Epicurus (341-270BC) was an ancient Greek philosopher and sage who founded Epicureanism. He established his school of philosophy known as the "Garden", in Athens. He is said to have written over 300 works, but most of these writings have been lost. From a few remaining collections and from later authors, his teachings continue to inspire and guide those who so desire, toward a life filled with wisdom and happiness.

"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."
-- Letter to Menoikos by Epicurus
(translated by Peter Saint-Andre)

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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

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 d

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 wi

21st Century Epicurean

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