Distinguishing Epicurean Hedonism from Cyrenaicism - Essay Example

This essay aims to provide an analysis of this system of philosophy with a focus on clearing up common misconceptions while pointing out its shortcomings as well. Epicurus asserts that Man’s quest for happiness, which is the sole purpose, and the reason for his very existence is tied up with the pursuit of pleasure, which is and must be man’s ultimate goal in life. It is this emphasis on unadulterated pleasure that has created a ruckus, but which is unfounded as will be shown.

Principles of Epicurean Hedonism
According to Epicurus, “Pleasure is our first and kindred good. It is the starting -point of every choice and every aversion, and to it, we come back, since we make feeling the rule by which to judge of every good thing” (Qtd. from Cook). He believes that the essential truth of this statement is so obvious, that it renders debate and reasoning unnecessary. He believes that we are born with an intimate knowledge of the fact that pleasure is good and pain evil; it is the skepticism that is an inevitable accompaniment of the aging process that makes the truth so elusive for adults. However, the pursuit of pleasure must be governed by temperance. A glutting of the senses with sensual delights can cause pain in the long run; therefore careful judgment must be exercised to derive the maximum pleasure that life has to offer.

The fulfillment of desire is closely linked to gaining pleasure and Epicurus has a word of caution on the subject. There is pleasure in the satisfaction of desire, but more often than not this is short-lived as more desires take the place of the one that has been fulfilled, and soon endless desire takes the form of an insatiable monster, which is hardly conducive to pleasure. Thus an effort must be made to curb desire; this is done by settling for the bare necessities and resisting the temptation to over-indulge oneself. Epicurus distinguishes between desires where “some are natural, others are groundless, and that of the natural some are necessary as well as natural, and some natural only” (Qtd. from Cook).

Epicurus sets many stories by wisdom, as it is ignorance that is responsible for a lack of understanding between good and evil that is the cause of so much misery and turmoil. Wisdom is the wellspring from which the virtues of prudence, courage, and justice spring forth. The inherent values of these virtues are largely irrelevant as the only purpose they serve is towards achieving happiness. Read More