How Does Epicurus Pursue A Virtue?

When describing the presence of pleasure and pain in a blessed life Epicurus writes that “we are in need of pleasure only when we are in pain because of the absence of pleasure, and when we are not in pain, then we no longer need pleasure” (Epicurus Letter to Menoeceus). This quote written by Epicurus in Letter to Menoeceus describes the ability of pleasure to remove pain, however from this quote alone one could misunderstand the nature of the pleasure Epicurus suggests seeking. The pleasure one needs to alleviate pain is the one that accompanies a virtuous life. For Epicurus it is the prudent pursuit of pleasure that is needed to obtain a blessed life, one that has achieved a completion of the body and soul. To understand how to pursue this …show more content…
He begins by writing that prudence is “the greatest good… for prudence is the source of all the other virtues” (Epicurus Letter to Menoeceus). This high praise of prudence is well deserved as he sees it as the most necessary component of life, one that is tangent to the greatest good. Additionally prudence is needed as its goodness acts as the source of other virtues. Epicurus describes the role of prudence as one that is “teaching that it is impossible to live pleasantly without living prudently, honorably, and justly (Epicurus Letter to Menoeceus). We see here that prudence’s main purpose in life is to teach us how to live in a pleasant way. By enacting a prudent analysis of our pleasures we can obtain a life that is virtuous and therefore pleasant. Epicurus goes on to explain that “the virtues are natural adjuncts of the pleasant life and the pleasant life is inseparable from them” (Epicurus Letter to Menoeceus). A pleasant life and the possession of prudence are intertwined. One cannot live a good life without the mediating function of prudence as it is both the greatest good, the source of virtues, and inseparable from the pleasant