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What Would You Take To Cease To Be An Epicurean?

  • Cassius
  • October 1, 2019 at 9:41 AM
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    Cassius
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    • October 1, 2019 at 9:41 AM
    • #1


    Note how sarcastic Cicero is when he says that "in your view even divine happiness involves being bored to death with idleness." This illustrates that in many cases Cicero wasn't reporting factually on Epicurean doctrine with the view toward getting to the truth, he was ridiculing and argumentatively distorting positions in a way that no Epicurean would have ever accepted. And Cicero *knew* that he was distorting and falsifying, because in other sections of his works (Torquatus on the best life) Cicero correctly recorded that the best life involves "living in the continuous enjoyment of numerous and vivid pleasures alike of body and of mind, undisturbed either by the presence or by the prospect of pain: what possible state of existence could we describe as being more excellent or more desirable?"

    And yet Cicero's ridiculous distortion -- "being bored to death with idleness" is what a large section of modern Epicurean commentators teach is exactly what Epicurus taught as his "tranquility" model of the best life!

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    • October 1, 2019 at 11:15 AM
    • #2

    This is a pretty good source to derail that criticism. So much of my time spent talking about Epicureanism to other philosophical people ends up being a kangaroo court, where I'm the defense.

    “If the joys found in nature are crimes, then man’s pleasure and happiness is to be criminal.”

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