Wiser Than Yesterday

Epicurus


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Epicurus

Epicureanism is powerfully and refreshingly relevant, offering a straightforward way of dealing with the issues of life and death. The chapters in this book provide a changeable of contemporary opinions about Epicurus' teachings.

Key to happiness:
  1. Don't fear god
  2. Don't fear death
  3. What is good is easy to get
  4. What is bad is easy to endure
  5. This doesn't mean Epicururs pleaded for overindulgence

    He made a hierarchy of desires

    Natural and necessary desires
    Natural and non-necessary desires
    Vain desires

    Natural and necessary desires

    Natural desires have a natural limit (food)

    2 types of pleasure:

    Moving pleasure: the act of eating
    Static pleasure: the contentment being satisfied after a nice meal

    Static pleasure: the absence of needs or wants -> the best pleasure

    Epicurus was celibate and lived with followers. He was also more focused on friendship as opposed to romance.

    Natural and non-necessary desires

    Ex. Luxurious food

    Normal food will bring static pleasure in the same way luxurious food does

    Vain desires

    Power, fame, extreeme material wealth

    These are unnatural and based on opinion, what society makes us think we need

    There is no afterlife

    It is pointless to not enjoy this life to be able to enjoy the next
    Death is not bad for neither the living, nor the dead, and we shouldn’t fear it

    Remind ourselves of the shortness of life, do not postpone happiness

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    Wiser Than YesterdayBy Sam Harris & Nicolas Vereecke