Posts by Bartleby

Thanks Amicus and Don.

I can see that this quick little article will actually require quite a bit of research and thought.

Is there anything extant where Epicurus discusses the three types pleasures? Or is that all just second hand?

I took the essential error within vainglories (unnatural unnecessary pleasures) to be that they assuage the ego more than they answer the needs of the mind/heart/body, which you could actually satisfy more fully by just sticking to natural pleasures. Uups are called imaginary and boundless, and they seem a type of madness -- tricks and ploys to distract you from the more fundamental pleasure of freedom of desire. Maybe sometimes it is good to indulge in a little folly, madness, and caprice; the problem is, of course, that they have a tendency to wrap their tentacles around our legs and pull us back down when we'd swim away.

Anyway, thanks again both of you for the help.

Best,

BW

Thank you Amicus,

I found this site while trying to answer a specific question, but I have long meant to deepen my knowledge of Epicurus.

I know little more than what was learned in a class on ancient Greek philosophy taken long ago.

I like most all the philosophers from that class, with Heraclitus, Parmenides, Socrates, Plato, and Epicurus being perhaps my favorites.

I'll try to read some of the suggested texts in the next couple weeks.

Best,

BW

Hello,

Years ago in philosophy class I learned that Epicurus counted romantic love as a vainglory (ie: an unnatural, unnecessary pleasure), equating it with other ego-driven illusionary pleasures like demanding a specific piece of cake or building statues to oneself. Now I've decided to write an article to set the record straight (https://www.pureloveshop.com/2020/11/29/rom…ot-a-vainglory/). However, I begin feel like I am fighting an opponent built of straws. I find evidence that Epicurus was against lust-driven relationships, but I see nothing where he calls romantic love a vainglory. I found this post by Cassius https://newepicurean.com/love-marriage-…e-modern-world/, which reminded me of Epicurus's faith in friendship and confirmed my vague memory that Epicurus had not been against marriage (the wise man may or may not marry). And I do not find anything where Epicurus calls romantic love a vainglory. I really begin to wonder if it wasn't so much romantic love that Epicurus disapproved of as placing sexual desire above friendship. But is there a place where Epicurus discusses romance and sexuality in terms of vainglories? Is there a place where he draws comparisons between needing a specific piece of cake (as opposed to the natural pleasure of desiring something sweet) and needing a specific sexual partner (as opposed to the natural pleasure of desiring sex)?