Epicurus thinks that these corrosive desires in themselves, they can't be satisfied because there's always more to want. And when you prioritize them, they take a lot of effort that you should be using on your friendships,. And then they are really competitive. They alienate you from other people when they leave you subject to envy and competition with one another.
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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