Choosing Happiness: The Epicurean Formula for a Good Life
There is often great debate as to what can be considered the good life and how one can achieve it. In this paper I will argue that Epicurus’ moderate hedonism will make for the most flourishing life because it promotes happiness and gives each person a clear formula through which they can make decisions. I will do this by first defining the good and bad life, then introducing Epicurus’ ideas and finally showing how they will lead to the most flourishing life according to my definition.
In order to discuss how to achieve the good life, we must first begin with a definition of what we can consider to be “the good life.” In this paper I will narrow that definition down to two main parts. The first part of a good life is happiness. Happiness is the simplest characteristic in life that makes it enjoyable, everything else that leads to an enjoyable life is merely instrumental form of happiness. This life, one in which you are …show more content…
Fistly, in introducing the component of virtue Socrates makes two very big assumptions, that everyone is pious and that everyone will gain happiness from living a virtuous life, even if it only consists of philosophizing. Furthermore if these assumptions are true those types of people could easily still achieve the good life according to Epicurus. In their search for happiness they would realize that philosophizing and striving for virtue is their way to maximize pleasure. Thus where Socrates limits the spectrum of people who would really achieve a good life from his philosophy, Epicurus allows each person to find their own path to happiness whether that means philosophizing or even just being outside. Overall Epicurean philosophy will lead more directly to the good life- forgoing the condition that you must achieve virtue
There is often great debate as to what can be considered the good life and how one can achieve it. In this paper I will argue that Epicurus’ moderate hedonism will make for the most flourishing life because it promotes happiness and gives each person a clear formula through which they can make decisions. I will do this by first defining the good and bad life, then introducing Epicurus’ ideas and finally showing how they will lead to the most flourishing life according to my definition.
In order to discuss how to achieve the good life, we must first begin with a definition of what we can consider to be “the good life.” In this paper I will narrow that definition down to two main parts. The first part of a good life is happiness. Happiness is the simplest characteristic in life that makes it enjoyable, everything else that leads to an enjoyable life is merely instrumental form of happiness. This life, one in which you are …show more content…
Fistly, in introducing the component of virtue Socrates makes two very big assumptions, that everyone is pious and that everyone will gain happiness from living a virtuous life, even if it only consists of philosophizing. Furthermore if these assumptions are true those types of people could easily still achieve the good life according to Epicurus. In their search for happiness they would realize that philosophizing and striving for virtue is their way to maximize pleasure. Thus where Socrates limits the spectrum of people who would really achieve a good life from his philosophy, Epicurus allows each person to find their own path to happiness whether that means philosophizing or even just being outside. Overall Epicurean philosophy will lead more directly to the good life- forgoing the condition that you must achieve virtue