Epicurus (341-270 BC) was a Greek philosopher of the Hellenistic period and founder of the school named after him, Epicureanism. Contrary to the everyday understanding of ‘epicureanism’ as mere pleasure-seeking, his philosophy aimed at achieving a happy and tranquil life (ataraxia) through moderate pleasure, friendship, and the avoidance of pain and fear.
1. Ataraxia: The Goal is Peace of Mind
According to Epicurus, the highest goal of life was ‘ataraxia‘: a state of lasting tranquility, free from fear, pain, and disturbance. This was achieved through understanding the workings of the world and managing desires.
Happiness was not the pursuit of intense, fleeting pleasures, but a stable, serene state of well-being.
2. Pleasure (Hēdonē) as the Highest Good, but in Moderation
Epicurus stated that pleasure (Greek: hēdonē) is the beginning and end of a happy life. However, he did not mean unbridled lust or luxury, but rather the *absence of pain* in the body (aponia) and *disturbance* in the mind (ataraxia).
He distinguished between:
- Natural and necessary desires: Basic needs like food, water, shelter, friendship. These must be satisfied.
- Natural but non-necessary desires: Luxury food, sexual pleasure. These can be enjoyed in moderation but are not essential and can lead to unrest.
- Non-natural and non-necessary desires: Desires for wealth, power, fame. These are empty, limitless, and should be avoided as they cause anxiety and frustration.
The focus was therefore on simple, sustainable pleasure and contentment.
3. The ‘Garden’ (Kēpos): Philosophy in Seclusion
Epicurus founded his school, known as ‘The Garden’ (Kēpos), just outside the city walls of Athens. It was a community where he and his followers withdrew from the busy public and political life.
In this tranquil environment, they lived simply, studied philosophy, and cultivated friendship. Remarkably for the time, women and slaves were also admitted to the Kēpos.
4. Friendship as the Highest Pleasure
For Epicurus, friendship (philia) was one of the most important ingredients for a happy life, perhaps the greatest pleasure of all. True friends offer security, trust, support, and shared enjoyment.
He believed that a life surrounded by reliable friends was essential for achieving and maintaining ataraxia. The community in the Garden was based on this value.
5. Materialism and Atomism
Epicurus’s natural philosophy was materialistic and atomistic, largely based on the work of Democritus. He believed that the universe consists solely of atoms (indivisible particles) and empty space.
Everything, including the soul, is composed of atoms. The soul is mortal and disintegrates upon death. This materialistic worldview was intended to eliminate fear of death and divine intervention.
6. Gods Exist, but Do Not Interfere with Humans
Epicurus did not deny the existence of gods, but he believed they were perfect, immortal beings living in a state of perfect ataraxia in the ‘intermundia’ (spaces between worlds). They were completely indifferent to human affairs.
Because the gods do not interfere with the world, humans need not fear them or offer sacrifices to win their favor. Fear of divine punishment or intervention is unfounded.
7. Death is Nothing to Us
One of Epicurus’s most famous arguments aims to remove the fear of death. He reasoned as follows: death is the absence of consciousness and sensation. As long as we exist, death is not here; and when death is here, we no longer exist.
Therefore, death is ‘nothing to us’ – it is not an experience we can undergo or be troubled by. Fear of death is thus irrational and a source of unnecessary disturbance.
8. Tetrapharmakos: The Four-Part Cure
The core of Epicurus’s teaching is often summarized in the ‘Tetrapharmakos’ (the four-part cure), a recipe for a happy life:
- Do not fear the gods.
- Do not worry about death.
- What is good is easy to get (simple, natural pleasures).
- What is terrible is easy to endure (pain is either intense but short, or long-lasting but mild).
By understanding and applying these principles, one could achieve ataraxia.
Epicurus offered a philosophy aimed at achieving inner peace and happiness in this life, through reason, moderation, and the cultivation of friendship. Although often misunderstood as a plea for crass hedonism, his teaching was actually a quest for sustainable well-being by minimizing pain and fear. His ideas about pleasure, death, and the role of the gods remain relevant to discussions about ethics and the good life.
