Thank you for the extensive introduction! Given all the reading you have done i would recommend you add to that list at some point Norman Dewitt's "Epicurus and His Philosophy." You will find it touches on many specifics of the philosophy not mentioned in the other books you listed.
I appreciate the recommendation. I've added it to my list.
Hello, Peace and Safety. I am still a novice at applying Epicureanism to my daily life but I have been reading about it and studying it for a little over a year now. I started with Stoicism but found that it wasn't for me. I don't care for the call to civic duty and I don't agree that virtue is the highest good, I fell in line with Epicurus's view that they are instrumental to achieve mental tranquility.
My self-education started with watching any and all relevant videos on YouTube from casual explanations to full lectures from collegiate professors. I have read On the Nature of Things and The Art of Happiness, owning my own copy of both. I am currently reading Living for Pleasure and have on my shelf to be read next Tending the Epicurean Garden and How to be an Epicurean.
My philosophical education isn't solely Stoicism and Epicureanism; I have explored other schools of thought such as Cynicism (interesting but not my thing either) and several flavors of Existentialism. Epicureanism fit my natural inclinations better than any other philosophical view (like justice being merely an agreement between parties, crudely summed up).
I am an atheist, so no appeal to the supernatural from me. I don't see this as clashing with Epicureanism even though they were theist to some degree as any deity that does not interact with the world may as well not exist or only represent an ideal at most.
While I don't think it is an issue, I did see it listed in the first graphic, I am sympathetic to the concept of Hard-Determinism. However, I only find this view plausible from a purely physical point of view. While I think HD is more likely than not, I don't base my interactions around it or behave with the assumption that nothing matters since everything is determined. I am of the mindset that even if everything is determined, the brain doesn't behave with that in mind. As I see it, we act as though we have free will because we have no choice otherwise. I generally see HD as an unfalsifiable proposition, and as such, it doesn't go beyond an interesting conversation topic for me.
My focus for practicing Epicureanism is to have a philosophy of life that makes sense when observing the world and can lead towards a satisfying life. I think the Epicureans were well ahead of their time in terms of understanding the world, especially without the equipment that would be necessary to test their assertions (atomic theory, the swerve/"random" atomic motion, and implications of evolution/natural selection to name a few).
Finally, I found this forum from one of the older videos on the Society of Friends of Epicurus YouTube channel.
You may want to check out this thread:
epicureanfriends.com/thread/3096/
I appreciate you linking of this thread. Seeing examples of the small pleasures is helping me remind me of those which I may have overlooked over the course of the day.
BTW it's nice to hear that the Epicureans are at least getting a frequent mention!
I knew they would be spoken about as a rival school, but I am glad they are getting a regular minor focus. I feel it's the next best thing since Epicureanism didn't have a course of its own as of yet.
One reflection which probably wouldn't find its way into Epictetus' or Seneca's lists is to think back on the pleasant things you experienced today. These could include big things, accomplishments, brief moments....
Building memories of pleasures is useful for bringing to mind when things aren't going well. It's also useful because the more you do it, the more you appreciate joyful moments throughout the day as they happen. As you reflect on specific experiences of pleasure, you can also examine what made them pleasurable to you, and relate these experiences to Epicurus' categories of desires and PDs dealing with pleasure.
This is a great recommendation and simple addition to daily reflections. Thank you. My wife asks me a similar question fairly regularly, "What did you enjoy about today?" Reframing it in terms of pleasure sound simpler to me and easier to note the small things that can add up. I appreciate the response.
Hello all, Peace and Safety. I am new to this site; well, I have browsed a few times before, but newly a member. I have been following Epicureanism for about a year now after discovering Stoicism just wasn't for me. My collegiate career has brought me into a course on Stoicism since they lack a course of Epicureanism. To my pleasant surprise, Epicureanism is referenced in nearly every topic and lesson. This week we have to charge of daily reflections. Part of the reflections is to ask oneself questions about their day and their performance and progress. I have read Epictetus's and Seneca's outlines but am curious if there were or could be Epicurean-specific reflection topics that wouldn't already be covered by the seemingly generic question from Epictetus or Seneca. I appreciate any feedback and I look forward to interacting with this community. Peace and Safety.
