Emily Austin, a modern-day philosopher and author of "Living for Pleasure: An Epicurean Guide to Life," dives into the wisdom of Epicurus. She explores how ancient insights can help alleviate anxiety and enrich friendships. Austin challenges the myth of Epicurus as a mere hedonist, highlighting the three types of desires and their impacts on happiness. She emphasizes the importance of genuine connections over superficial ones, and comfort in confronting mortality, advocating for laughter as a tool for understanding ourselves. Discover how the past can illuminate our path to well-being.
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Quick takeaways
Emily Austin emphasizes that true happiness comes from understanding and pursuing necessary, meaningful pleasures rather than fleeting luxuries.
Epicurus' philosophy teaches that alleviating anxiety is essential for happiness, urging individuals to focus on present contentment over future fears.
Building deep, trust-based friendships is vital for well-being, as they provide mutual support and shared values in navigating life's challenges.
Deep dives
Understanding Epicurus's Concept of Pleasure
Epicurus is often misrepresented as a hedonist concerned only with indulgent pleasures. In reality, his philosophy emphasizes the pursuit of meaningful pleasures that lead to well-being, distinguishing between necessary pleasures for happiness and harmful indulgences. He asserts that the highest form of pleasure is found in the absence of pain and anxiety, suggesting that true fulfillment comes from recognizing and appreciating the satisfaction of our most essential desires rather than chasing after fleeting luxuries. By focusing on what genuinely enhances our life quality, Epicurus offers a nuanced view that balances enjoyment with mindfulness.
The Role of Anxiety in Epicurean Philosophy
Epicurus recognized that anxiety significantly undermines happiness and tranquility, stemming from both fundamental animalistic fears and complex human cognitions about life and death. To counter this, he developed strategies aimed at alleviating anxiety, offering practical advice alongside philosophical reasoning about mortality and the nature of the soul. By addressing these concerns, he aimed for individuals to understand that anxiety about the future, particularly death, should not interfere with present happiness. His work highlights the importance of balancing future planning with present contentment to achieve a tranquil life.
Epicurus’s Criteria for Happiness
Epicurus established a unique framework for understanding happiness that contrasts sharply with modern views. He categorized desires into necessary, extravagant, and corrosive, assigning importance to each in the pursuit of well-being. Necessary desires, such as food and friendship, are vital for a fulfilling life, while extravagant desires can enhance happiness without being essential. He warned against corrosive desires, which lead to endless competition and dissatisfaction, advocating instead for a focus on sustainable pleasures that promote mental and emotional fulfillment.
Friendship as a Foundation of Happiness
For Epicurus, friendship plays a crucial role in achieving happiness, grounded in trust and shared values. He believed that true friendships are built on mutual understanding, where friends support each other's well-being without pursuing superficial status. By cultivating deep and reliable relationships, individuals can share enjoyable experiences and navigate life’s challenges together. This perspective emphasizes the importance of maintaining strong, meaningful connections over fleeting acquaintances that lack depth.
Epicurean Strategy for Modern Happiness
The philosophy posited by Epicurus encourages individuals to take a proactive approach to their happiness by developing a strategy that aligns daily actions with core values. It highlights the necessity of intentional decision-making, especially regarding how we choose to spend our time and energy in pursuit of pleasure. Epicurus advises against allowing external pressures or material distractions to dictate happiness, reminding us that we have a significant role in shaping our joy. This strategic emphasis on living according to one's values while maintaining a sense of tranquility serves as a guide for achieving lasting fulfillment.
When we’re looking for insights on how to make friends, manage our anxiety, or just live a happier life, we rarely look to the past. Instead, we tend to focus on what today’s thinkers have to say.
But what if the recipe for happiness lies in the past, specifically the 2000-year-old past? What if the ancient writings of Greek philosopher Epicurus hold the answers?
That’s what modern-day philosopher, Emily Austin, argues in her book, Living for Pleasure: An Epicurean Guide to Life. She teaches us what Epicurus really thought about pleasure and why he made it a cornerstone of his life. She also points out the advantages of an Epicurean mindset over a Stoic one.
Emily’s book is proof that we still have much to learn, for our work and our life, from the ancient Greek philosophers, especially Epicurus!
Episode Links
The Good Life is the One Where Anxiety Falls by the Wayside
The Epicurean Search for Happiness and Serenity
Interview with Tali Sharot
The Team
Learn more about host, Gayle Allen, and producer, Rob Mancabelli, here.
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