I don't think most people can die rather than sell out their values. I would say if any of my friends are listening, I don't expect you to die for me. That's not necessary. But maybe there's some circumstance, some dramatic circumstances that Epicurus had in mindThere. we lose not only the confidence of our friend, but also of our community. This strikes me as a little, a little severe.
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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