- 270 B.C.) explored this idea of how to reach happiness by claiming there are two things to avoid at all costs: the belief that we will be punished by the Gods for actions deemed as immoral and the idea that death is something to be feared. Death and punishment hinder our ability to become happy beings. They cause us to constantly have to worry of the possibility that our lives will end and whatever we do is constantly being watched by an all seeing God only to be faced by them at the end of our lives and to ask if we are worthy of living an eternity of peace in heaven. Epicurus also believed that happiness is to be achieved through critical thinking, not small pleasures, as this will be the key to a lasting happiness, as, in the words of Socrates, “the unexamined life is not worth living”. Although, many individuals deviated from this idea, as seen from characters within “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and searched for happiness in superficial items. Jay Gatsby surrounded himself with unimaginable riches in an attempt to reach the goal of happiness; however, this only lead to madness and
- 270 B.C.) explored this idea of how to reach happiness by claiming there are two things to avoid at all costs: the belief that we will be punished by the Gods for actions deemed as immoral and the idea that death is something to be feared. Death and punishment hinder our ability to become happy beings. They cause us to constantly have to worry of the possibility that our lives will end and whatever we do is constantly being watched by an all seeing God only to be faced by them at the end of our lives and to ask if we are worthy of living an eternity of peace in heaven. Epicurus also believed that happiness is to be achieved through critical thinking, not small pleasures, as this will be the key to a lasting happiness, as, in the words of Socrates, “the unexamined life is not worth living”. Although, many individuals deviated from this idea, as seen from characters within “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and searched for happiness in superficial items. Jay Gatsby surrounded himself with unimaginable riches in an attempt to reach the goal of happiness; however, this only lead to madness and