Epicurean Week Development Project

(This is currently under development)

Daily Focus -- Each day will have readings to support the daily focus

**Day 1 or Week 1** - The Royal Road to Happiness
A. Why study Epicureanism?

1. Reasons presented by the Letter of Menoeceus

2. Reason presented by Wall of Oinoanda

3. Reasons presented by VS14, VS54

4. Reasons presented by Lucretius

5. Modern reasons

B. The life of Epicurus and historical context of the Epicurean School

C. Historical figures influenced by Epicurus

1. Lucretius

2. Philodemus

2. Thomas Jefferson

3. Frances Wright

4. Nietzsche

D. Overview of the Epicurean texts extant remains

1. Lucretius - De Rerum Natura - a major source of Epicurus

2. Diogenes Laertius - The Lives of Eminent Philosophers

3. Wall of Oinoanda

**Day 2 - The nature of the cosmos and how we come to understand it

A. Natural Physics - 12 principles from Lucretius / Letter to Herodotus

1. Atoms and Void: the underpinnings of a new world view

B. Epicurean Canonics

1. Can we adapt Epicurean canonics for modern use?

F. Hellenistic Epicureanism contained many ideas which lead to the later development of the modern scientific method

G. Modern scientific understandings which have superceded Epicurean natural physics

**Day 3 - On God, Death, and Fate
A. The nature of God (or the gods) - not supernatural and does not intervene

1. Observations which lead to the belief that the gods were not involved

2. The riddle of Epicurus (not actually by Epicurus)

B. The nature of death - no need to fear death PD2

C. The nature of the soul

D. There are no angels, demons, ghosts, after-life, or supernatural elements

E. Accustom yourself to understand that "death is nothing to us"

F. No Fate

G. Revolutionary thinking - why atoms and void, natural physics and canonics, and no supernatural god(s) or supernatural phenomenon is revolutionary, then and now

**Day 4 - Pleasure as the goal

A. Epicurus held that pleasure is the beginning and end of a happy life

B. Understanding the nature of pleasure and pain

C. Enhancing pleasure and reducing pain (PD4)

D. Pleasure is our motive and our goal

E. Living as blessed as the ancient Greek gods

F. Understanding why pleasure as the goal was revolutionary and why it was and is stilll misunderstood or misrepresented

**Day 5 - Prudence, friendship, and justice

A. Virtues are tools that are used to create a pleasurable and pleasant life, and are not the end goal (PD5)

B. Friendship is one of the most important aspects of a pleasurable life - VS52, VS78

C. Justice depends upon laws created by human beings, does not originate from any absolute source or God, and depends upon our correct understanding of pleasure and pain. Justice should be maintained or amended when circumstances change according to the needs of human beings (not God).

D. Epicureanism vs. Platonism and Stoicism

E. Current challenges in presenting the true Epicurean world view

**Day 6 - Practical Applications in Modern Life

A. Choices and Avoidances (VS71, PD8)

B. Clear and correct understanding of causes and effects in decision making

B. Natural desires, necessary desires, unquenchable desires

C. Further discussion on practical applications of Epicurean ethics to increase well-being

**Day 7 - Recap, and Epicurean 20th Commemoration
A. Recap:

--- Life on Earth (and on other planets) proceeds naturally in ways we can understand

--- The senses are a basic tool we can use in the test of truth

--- There is no need to be troubled by God or religious/superstitious fears

--- Death is natural and in the end all things must die, but that is motivational, not depressing

--- You only live once so seize the day and be confident that when you make good choices your troubles will be limited

--- Prudent pursuit of the fullness of pleasure is the path to happiness

B. Commemoration of Epicurus on the 20th of each month -- past and present (On this day a potluck, picnic, or pub meal will be held which will include open discussion of the Epicurean philosophy).

Practical (modern) Epicurean Exercises by Kalosyni - (Currently under development)

A. Pleasure, Desire, and Choices and Avoidances

1. Write out a list of things that bring you physical pleasure and which are experienced through sight, sound, taste, touch, smell. Include as much detail as possible in your desciption of each item.
2. Proprioception, otherwise known as kinesthesia, is your body's ability to sense movement, action, and location. It's present in every muscle movement you have. This is also a source of pleasure, as in dancing. Do you currently enjoy some type of physical activity? (add it to your list above). If not, is there something you might like to try?
3. On your list of physical pleasures, put a star next to the ones that are your favorites. Put a question mark next to the ones that bring both pleasure and pain at the same time. On the ones which have a question mark ask yourself if the pain that comes also leads to a bad outcome or a much worse pain in the future or if the pain increases your future pleasure or your future well being.
4. Think about what the word pleasure means to you, and how and when you use that word. Do you feel guilt or embarassment about pleasurable experiences? Why might this be so? Journal your thoughts.
5. Write out a list of things that bring you mental pleasure -- thinking, reading, learning, memories, imagination, contemplation, discussion, etc. Include as much detail as possible in your desciption of each item.
6. Put a star next to the ones which are your favorite mental pleasures. Put a question mark next to the ones that bring both pleasure and pain at the same time. On the ones which have a question mark ask yourself if the pain that comes also leads to a bad outcome or a much worse pain in the future or if the pain increases your future pleasure or your future well being.
7. The enjoyment of pleasurable memories: Start a journal to record good things that happen each day (to assist in recalling past pleasures).
8. Take a "pleasure walk": Choose a busy city area or a quiet nature area (or do both). Pay attention to things which draw your eyes while looking for pleasing elements. Listen for pleasing sounds. Notice if there are pleasing smells or aromas or things you can touch which have pleasing textures.

B. Friendship

1. Think about why friendship important to living a pleasurable life.
2. Do you have (or have had) a friendship that made you feel happy? If so, write about why your friendship brought happiness to you. If you have found past friendship to be painful or difficult, first write about what was difficult, and then imagine specifically what would need to be different so that it would contribute to happiness instead. Write out your insights into a story imagining a future friendship with a new friend who brings you happiness.
3. Make a list of your family members, your friends, and your acquaintances. Then write about the good things that result from those interactions. Can you trust them to help you out in an emergency?
4. Remember a past time when you helped out a friend or a family member during a difficult time. Did it help make the relationship stronger? If not, think about why and what would have needed to be different.
5. Think about and then write out ways to make new friends or ways to improve your current friendships.

C. Reducing Fears of Death and Pain

1. Visit a local cemetery and read the inscriptions on the tombstones as a way of reflecting on the shortness of life and that you too will one day be gone forever.
2. How does it feel to you when you think about there being a limited amount of time in which you can experience, think, and feel?
3. Pains are short when strong, and lesser pains that last longer
   do not prevent pleasure from being experienced. The next time you experience pain in your body, during illness or something like accidentally stubbing your toe, have this ready for contemplation.
4. Pain is a like a warning light to the body, and yet some pain now can lead to greater pleasure and benefit in the future. When is it worth it to endure pain in your body during exercise or for some future benefit?
5. How does pain detract from the feeling of pleasure? Write about the times when you experienced this happening to you.
6. Is mental pain different than physical pain?

D. Knowledge of the natural world: its materialist and non-supernatural essence, and the nature of God's non-involvement

1. Study the nature of various phenomenon so that you can make prudent choices. What is lightening and how do you stay safe if you are caught outside in a thunderstorm? What are ticks and how do you prevent tick bites? Or river safety when rafting. Chose something that reflects a personal interest or is specific to where you live.

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** References:

1. "Every friendship is an excellence in itself, even though it begins in mutual advantage." VS23
2. "Friendship dances around the world, announcing to each of us that we must awaken to happiness." VS52
3. "Of all the things that wisdom provides for the complete happiness of one's entire life, by far the greatest is friendship". PD27

I. Part 1 - Intro to Epicurean Philosophy

A. Why study Epicureanism? Epicureanism gives guidance for the following:

1. It answers existential questions, such as what is the nature of the soul and how to deal with the fear of death

2. When we no longer believe in heaven or an afterlife, guidance as how to live the best life as a life of pleasure

3. How to understand the proper place for pleasure and pain

4. How to use prudence for making good choices and avoidances

B. Reasons presented within the texts

1. Reasons presented by the Letter of Menoeceus

2. Reason presented by Wall of Oinoanda

3. Reasons presented by VS14, VS54

4. Reasons presented by Lucretius

C. The life of Epicurus and historical context of the Epicurean School

1. Born in Samos, Greece in 341 BCE

2. Started the Garden in Athens in ____ BCE

3. Died in Athens in 270 BCE

4. The Garden continued on until:

5: There were Epicurean communities in many places:

D. Historical figures presenting Epicurean philosophy or writings influenced by the philosophy of Epicurus

1. Diogenes Laertius - wrote The Lives of Eminent Philosophers, which includes a biography of Epicurus, three of his letters, his will, and a presentation of Principal Doctrines.

2. Lucretius - wrote De Rerum Natura, a major source of the philosophy of Epicurus

3. Philodemus

4. Diogenes of Oinanada - erected a Wall of Oinoanda with an inscription which presents the philosophy of Epicurus (much of it was destroyed but it has now been partially reconstructed)

4. Thomas Jefferson - wrote in a letter "I too am an Epicurean"

5. Frances Wright - wrote A Few Days in Athens a fictionalize account of the Garden of Epicurus in ancient Greece

6. Nietzsche

E. Supplimentary Suggested Reading (optional):

1. Living for Pleasure: An Epicurean Guide to Life by Emily Austin

2. Epicurus and His Philosophy by Norman DeWitt

The following "Seven Steps to the Ethics of Epicurus" is a work in progress:

1. The nature of the world, the soul, death, and god(s) - The basis of everything is atoms and void and nothing comes from nothing - there are no supernatural elements or forces, no afterlife, and no angry gods. Death is natural and not something to dread.

2. Pleasure is the guide of life. Pleasure is good and pain is evil. But at times the painful is chosen if it prevents a worse pain or leads to a greater pleasure or health and happiness of the soul. The virtues are useful when they lead to pleasure and health.

3. Choices and avoidances according three categories -- natural & necessary for the health or the body and the soul; natural but not necessary (a variation of sensation); unnatural and unnecessary

4. Friendship

5. Safety

6. Justice

7. The gods are blissful beings who are to be emulated

8. Study natural science and practice the Epicurean ethics

This will incorporate text excerpts followed by commentary, and when completed it could be divided into a "Seven Days" or "Seven Steps" study guide.

LM - Letter to Menoeceus

PD - Principal Doctrines

VS - Vatican Sayings

The Importance of Studying the Philosophy for Wisdom and Happiness

"Let no one put off the love and practice of wisdom when young, nor grow tired of it when old. For it is never too early or too late for the health of the soul." - LM

"Reflect on what brings happiness, because if you have that you have everything, but if not you will do everything to attain it." - LM

Why Study What is Natural

"If our suspicions about astronomical phenomena and about death were nothing to us and troubled us not at all, and if this were also the case regarding our ignorance about the limits of our pains and desires, then we would have no need for studying what is natural." - PD11

"It is impossible for someone who is completely ignorant about nature to wash away his fears about the most important matters if he retains some suspicions about the myths. So it is impossible to experience undiluted enjoyment without studying what is natural." - PD12

"It is useless to be safe from other people while retaining suspicions about what is above and below the earth and in general about the infinite unknown." - PD13

Commentary:

'Natural' here is referring to natural physics. We can read about this in "On the Nature of Things" by Lucretius. For our current times we have all been educated with a modern scientific understanding of the world, but in Epicurus' time many things were not yet understood and so they were attributed to the mysterious workings of the gods. People in ancient Greece were very superstitious and had fears about weather and astrological phenomenon being punishments given out by the gods.

In our current times there is still a percentage of the population who have religious beliefs about heaven and hell and an after-life in which God either rewards or punishes. Atheists and agnostics are growing in number and base their worldview in the understanding of science free from religious mythology. And yet fears about the nature of death still pervade current society because our culture is still under the influence of religion.

In PD11 we see: "...and if this were also the case regarding our ignorance about the limits of our pains and desires…". This points to the need to observe what is natural, and by studying the nature of pain and desire we can come to understand the boundaries of where pain and desire both begin and end. (More on this below).