A foodie ponders Epicurus the epicurean

    https://www.academia.edu/11401…_the_foodies_philosopher_


    This essay was a nice accompaniment to my tea and dark chocolate this morning. I enjoyed the author's discussion of pleasure, food and friendship in the Garden. He also addressed Plato nicely. I'm not so sure about his linking Epicurus to liberalism, but I really haven't given that much thought so maybe I'm exposing my ignorance. All in all, I found it a very perceptive piece that, to me, conceives of Epicurus much as we do here and states the case very well.

    Godfrey I just started reading but already I am not sure if this is sort of tongueincheek. I agree with his contention that enjoyment of food has been misrepresented downward, but to place it at the CENTER of the philosophy? That seems almost like a joke. I will have to read more ;-)

    OK I finished it am and glad to see that he cites DeWitt, and I see several reflections of DeWitt in the text.


    Yet i still can't shake the view that his praise of "Foodies" is largely un-serious.


    I think you said it best Godfrey when you said:


    Quote from Godfrey

    This essay was a nice accompaniment to my tea and dark chocolate this morning

    I'm not sure exactly what audience I would suggest this to, but I do agree that to the extent he is making a serious point, he shows a lot of influence from DeWitt and his points are consistent with a DeWitt view of Epicurus as not being an ascetic at all

    You're right Cassius it does seem tongue in cheek in some parts, but he does make good points. The feeling I get is that he's writing as a "laughing philosopher".


    Maybe best read with a glass of wine and a bit of cheese. :/