Epictetus View Of Happiness Essay

The view of happiness as well as the role that pleasures and desires play in achieving happiness can be seen throughout Western philosophy. Detailing a hypothetical dinner conversation between Aristotle, Epicurus, Hobbes, and Epictetus, will such an understanding be described. In such an account, I will be detailing: what issue/s each guest would raise; what thesis would each defend, and how each would respond to the other; as well as who is most likely to disagree with whom and on which points, and who, on the other hand, might find allies or sympathizers.

Each philosopher defines/views happiness differently. Aristotle defines happiness as an activity of the soul in accordance to virtue and reason. For Epicurus, happiness is seen as something both attainable and in your control through his philosophical teachings. Hobbes, on the other hand, describes happiness as the fulfillment of desires. Happiness, according to Epictetus, was believed to be that which is in our control.

After detailing their definition of happiness, Aristotle, Epicurus, Hobbes, and Epictetus raise issues about happiness as well as the role that pleasures and desires play in achieving it. The conversation upon these four philosophers raised issues in regards to the good, good …show more content…
Life is an endless race, competing out of self-interest, consisting of unavoidable competition in human nature as a way to obtain man’s desires. Life as something in motion, with fears or desires. In the state of nature, human nature is the sum of appetites and aversions mediated by power struggles. No desires have an end, because a desire with an end would mean an end to man’s life. All actions of man lead to an assurance of a contested life through desire. The natural senses of man that allow man to escape the state of nature are fear and reason. Fear is the cause for the desire to escape natural law, and reason is the cause for laws to be put in