Cicero called these three classes of desires natural, necessary and unnecessary. And I think it's actually just very difficult shorthand. So what I ended up doing is calling them necessary extravagant and corrosive. Epicureanism thinks we need some things like friendship but they're not strictly necessary for our well being. Those who least need extravagance enjoy it most - which is a great observation.
The Greek philosopher Epicurus made a rather bold claim over two thousand years ago. The key to life, he said, was simple: pursue pleasure and avoid pain. Around this maxim he developed a school of philosophy, Epicureanism, which promised its adherents that if they took care of their basic needs, surrounded themselves with trustworthy friends, and developed a basic understanding of science, they would be happy. But is it really that simple? Can the advice of someone born 2,363 years ago still hold true? To answer these questions, we turned to Emily Austin, professor of philosophy at Wake Forest University and author of the delightful new book "Living for Pleasure: An Epicurean Guide to Life.”
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