Epicurus, Greek philosopher,
left us only three letters: the first, Letter to Herodotus, presents his
metaphysics, the second is the letter to Pythocles, explains atomic weather
phenomena, the third and most important, Letter to Menoeceus , introduced his
ethics.
Extracts
from the Letter to Menoeceus by Epicurus:
“That does not put off until
later, we’re young, the practice of philosophy and we never got tired of
philosophizing. Indeed, it is, for one, neither too early nor too late, when it
comes to ensuring the health of his soul. Besides, whoever said that the time
to philosophize is not yet come, or that time is past, is like the one that
says, in the case of happiness, that his time has not yet come or that it is
not. So the young man should, like the old man, philosophize in this way, the
second, while aging, rejuvenate the past and the first will be at the same time
young and far advanced in years, because he will not fear the future. So be
what produces is happiness , the object of his care, as it is true that, when
present, we have everything and that when it is absent, we do everything for
it.
Accustom thyself also in the
thought that death is nothing for us, since every good or evil lie in sensation
and that death is deprivation of sensation. Hence a correct understanding that
death is nothing for us, has the effect of allowing us to enjoy the nature of life, because this knowledge
deprives us of sorrow or desire
for immortality. Thus, the most
terrifying of evils, death is nothing for us, precisely because, when we exist,
death is not present and, when death is present, then we do not exist. It is
neither for the living nor for those who died, precisely because it is not for
the former and the latter is not. But the multitude ties to flee from death,
because sees in death the greatest of evils.
Commentary
on the Letter to Menoeceus by Epicurus:
This letter, written in a
direct style, friend to another, is a veritable manual of happiness. The
message is: Do as I say, and you’ll be happy.
Epicurus formulates his
ethical philosophy as an ascetic life of pleasure and virtue.
Happiness is the greatest
good, says Epicurus following Aristotle. And happiness, is the maximization of
pleasure. Whether all pleasures are good sources, Epicurus distinguishes between
the dynamic pleasures (eating) and static pleasures (satiety). Pleasure is a
state of static equilibrium between the satisfaction of desire and the birth of
new desires, frustrations and pain. Similarly, Epicurus distinguishes the
physical pleasures of psychological pleasures. This relates to physical
pleasures, which must be reduced to a minimum satisfaction. The future, and its
corollary fear of the future is what keeps the soul to reach equilibrium at
ataraxia.
As for desire, Epicurus says
that the wise must eliminate it and aim for desires that may be easily
accessible. Epicurus are three types of desires:
natural and necessary desires
unnecessary and natural
desires
unnatural and unnecessary
desires. These desires, as seeking fame or fortune, must be eliminated because
their satisfaction is unknown.
On virtue, Epicurus developed
a unique idea compared to other Greek philosophers: the virtues are only a
means to achieve happiness, and not an end in itself.
Finally, Epicurus seeks to
resolve the issue of metaphysical anguish of man, by advocating a philosophy of
non-thought of death. Death is annihilation, because the mind is a group of
atoms that disperses after death. If the mind is more, it can not be afraid,
death is nothing for us, according to Epicurus
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