21st Century Epicurean

  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 so

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/hop

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