Although Epicureanism has much that is morally worthwhile, philosophically it suffers a decisive weakness which is exposed by these questions: who is to tell us what is pleasurable and who is tell us that we are to choose our pleasures judiciously? Such must occur of necessity: Since Grace builds on Nature, a Christian who adopts a view of Nature completely at odds with Christian Revelation thereby blinds himself to some of that Revelation. Epicurean atomism was remarkably similar to nineteenth-century atomic chemistry: atoms as indivisible, eternal building blocks, things as mere accumulations of atoms colliding with each other. How can we become happy by seeking pleasure?Cuts, voice, footage, script by Einzelgnger. Epicureanism: the ancient philosophy that won't go away Andrew Petiprin December 12, 2019 at 12:00 am How to Be an Epicurean By Catherine Wilson Basic Books, 304pp, 30/$30 "Our starting point. Every day we can choose to be an Epicurean or a Stoic, taking what we find useful from both philosophies. If this is the case, why does Christianity have a reputation for being a faith about suffering? We already know that the Stoics had much in common with the early Christians; not so the Epicureans, for whom lifes highest goal was individual pleasure. According to Wood, Epicureanism took its name from its founder, Epicurus, who was a Greek philosopher living in the third century BC. What is clear is that many people are brave in the face of death, even when they are convinced it is the end of them. Epicurus (341-271 B.C.) What is The Difference Between Leadership and Motivation? The story of how these two came to divide between them the contemporary moral debate is fascinating. (initial capital letter) of, relating to, or characteristic of Epicurus or Epicureanism. In the middle, there often seems to be no ground at all, but thin air, an abyss. In the balance of these two forces, stoicism teaches us that we can live a good life that is worth living no matter what happens. But this doesn't do justice to Epicurus, who came closest of all the ancient philosophers to understanding the challenges of modern secular life. One of the best ways to attain pleasure is to avoid pain, and the best way to do that is to live an easy life free from the hassles of life: We must therefore not [crave] for anything that is absent, for so we shall be less likely to miss it. Finally, the Epicurean could appeal to the psychopaths sense of self-preservation: if he attempts to kidnap and murder someone, he might end up being killed by his victim who reaches for her gun first. The Epicurean has discerned objective moral values but cannot ground them as objective in the face of the psychopath because of a naturalistic world view. For Epicurus, the fear of death was the greatest anxiety of the human mindthe pain most worth eliminating. Christians largely regard the non-Christian world as fallen, and therefore inherently corrupting. Lol. Instead, the stoics tell us to accept the situation as it is and do our best with what is in our control at the time. Peter is a freelance writer who has been published in publications such as Christianity Magazine and online for Patheos. So Im afraid ascribing truthfulness to a doctrine based on the good works of its adherents is a rudimentary fallacy because virtually every doctrine can claim to have had good effects. If youre interested in reading more about stoicism, you can find out more about it here. Founded around 307 BC, the philosophy emerged originally as a challenge to Platonism. The relation has its foundation in Jesus as the physical manifestation of God. Epicureanism is a philosophy which stresses the importance of 'training one's desires'. Woods question therefore is why would anyone reject such a great philosophy? It is therefore not judicious for him to murder. This is a wonderful and heartfelt critique of Christianity. On the contrary, Christian belief is about the restoration of friendship with God and each other and the restoration of the natural world made possible by the atoning death of God the Son incarnated as Jesus of Nazareth and his resurrection (John 3:16; Romans 8:19-21). Its a frightening belief, one that perpetuates constant guilt and feelings of inadequacy. There is Scriptural warrant for agreeing that the great majority of people condemn murder as wrong for Romans 2:14, 15 states that generally people, whether they know God or not, have a conscience. History. Benjamin D. Wiker is a Tutor at Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula, California. The moral divide is wide and deep, and across it two cosmologies two incompatible visions of the universe, of nature and human nature confront each other. There are other reasons, however, for why Christian culture is legitimately so deeply concerned with suffering. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'mindbydesign_io-banner-1','ezslot_8',111,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-mindbydesign_io-banner-1-0');Stoicism and Epicureanism can be a battle of philosophies, they share similarities which we will cover below but lets look at their differences. Having already written about Islam, I hope to complete an analysis of the three monotheisms with a post of Judaism, so look out for that over the coming months. (Born again), Seen The term Stoic comes from the stoa, or porch, where students of Stoicism used to gather. Christianity kept me afraid and anxious for many years. In the stoic philosophy, we should try and become self-sufficient so as to not rely on others for help and support. The consequences, however, are the same: in the end, the Epicurean is forced to live with the same temperance and justice as the Stoic. If this represents Christian behaviour, fine. 20. p.75 n.1 A clear statement of the points of resemblance and of contrast in the teaching of Stoicism and Christianity may be found in Fisher, The Grounds of Theistic and Christian Belief, pp. Such pain will end with death for the dead one, but whilst we are alive, we can think about our deaths, even though we cannot experience death on an Epicurean view, and that is this great pains source. The term "Epicureanism" means the philosophy of Epicurus (b. Samos c. 342-341 BCE, d. Athens c. 271-270 BCE) and the school founded by him.Epicurus was one of the most famous Greek philosophers of the Hellenistic period (which traditionally dates from the death of Alexander the Great [323 BCE] to the Battle of Actium [31 BCE]) and its influence on the history of Western . CAN ONE CHURCH PEW HOLD TWO MORAL UNIVERSES? Get a roundup of new Word by Word articles in your inbox each Friday. His materialism led him to a general attack on superstition and divine intervention. The philosophy of Epicurus (341-270 B.C.E.) So that I can have a relationship with my creator now and forever.Hope you come to know the full meaning and implications of the Cross of Jesus The Christ in your life.Amen Amen. Though it fell out of favor in the third century AD, it nevertheless anticipated todays intellectual climate in startling ways. In these endeavours, continuous assistance was rendered by Epicurus himself, who, even when old and ill, was occupied in writing letters of admonishment, guidance, and comforteverywhere announcing his gospel of peace and, under the name of pleasure, inviting to love. The accusation that Christianity causes people to endure suffering patiently and meekly because of the promise of an everlasting afterlife compensation is true if one half of the Christian message is ignored. Science denial was rife amongst the Christians I knew, even on issues like climate change that have nothing to do with Christian doctrine. When we trust ourselves and our thoughts, we can put them into action no matter what people think of us or how they react to our ideas. They had managed to build themselves up to be strong and confident adults who knew how to live their own lives without being bogged down by external pressures or expectations. Fundamentalism in any political or religious discourse seems to generate division and above all, fear. . Many people are under the false impression that there is more to life than what is right in front of them. Either, God is incapable of stopping evil. By pleasure we mean the absence of pain in the body and of trouble in the soul. Interestingly, all three philosophies arose in similar times, both chronologically and in terms of social setting. The historical and contemporary record of Christianitys humanitarian acts such as establishing hospitals, charities and schools is impressive. Epicureanism gets its name from the philosophy of Epicurus, another ancient Greek philosopher. Epicureanism Versus Pyrrhonism. It sounds like that Evangelical church put some certain ideas into your head or perhaps you just misunderstand. Most importantly, remember to open your heart as well as your mind. Christianity claims to absolve its believers from sin, yet Christians behave as if they are just as guilty as before, because Christianity demands absolute obedience to God, even after having believed in the resurrection. For during the centuries-long contention between the two cosmologies, a large group on the Christian side has incorporated Epicureanism into itself and has mutated though still calling itself Christian into its own enemy. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. These are just some of the important principles that we need to learn in order to live a better life in a world that is full of hardships and tragedies. As I said before, Christianity is fundamentally about the death and resurrection of Jesus. Writes Epicurus: Epicureanisms matter-of-fact approach to social living shares much with Lockes utilitarianism, and even modern libertarianism. We do not have to accept everything that happens as it is, nor do we have to react with anger or frustration. Love your children and never mistreat them. Then, you can really dive into the great Mysteries of the Rosary Jimmy might enjoy listening to heavy metal music in the early hours, but he wears headphones so as not to cause his housemates and neighbors the pain of disturbed sleep. In contradiction to Stoicism that holds the pleasure principle responsible for reducing humans down to the level of primal sensuality, Wood argues that pleasure drives our rational thinking and communication because they are in themselves pleasurable. Both philosophies teach that there is no true evil. Epicurus (341-270 BCE) was an ancient Greek philosopher known today (particularly in skeptical circles) for providing what some claim is a knockdown argument against belief in God.Epicurus' argument focuses on the problem of evil and how it might present a problem for a classical concept of God generally embraced by theists; Epicurus presents the following set of questions and propositions, there is an infinite number of worlds, some like this world, others unlike it. Its little different from the polytheisms that preceded Christianity, killing animals as sacrifices to vengeful Gods. If we prefer to live a life of pleasure and joy, then we should come to the Epicurean path. Learn how your comment data is processed. Not all things are going to go our way, but if we have hope in our ability to live a better life, we will be much happier. Better that people reform because it is the right thing to do, but fear can work the same results. Avoid wealth because having it causes anxiety. Learn to say no and dont take on more than you can handle. The stoic does everything for himself and the Epicurean does nothing for himself. Were Jesus Disciples a Bunch of Hoaxers? In the battle of philosophical ideas, its easy to pit Stoicism vs Epicureanism. Both philosophies regard a happy life as the end goal. The Stoics teach us that its important to think positively and to have faith in ourselves. They believed that life was about. God musn't exist because evil does. Christianitys ability to ground human value depends on its truthfulness, but Christianity has no more burden of proof than Epicurean materialism does. Stoicism makes you feel like youre dependent on yourself and others. Maybe some Christians see their religion through the prism of fear, and therefore feel they have to obey all the rules and regulations or be damned. Basically, the complex question fallacy occurs when someone presents a statement or claim and then asks a question that presupposes either all or part of what, Read More What is the complex question fallacy?Continue, Youre interested in learning about the law of attraction and how to boost your manifestation habits. Epicureanism suggests leading a simplistic life with friends while the Stoic perspective is accepting life as it comes. was a complete and interdependent system, involving a view of the goal of human life (happiness, resulting from absence of physical pain and mental disturbance), an empiricist theory of knowledge (sensations, together with the perception of pleasure and pain, are infallible criteria), a . The possibility that he might be killed by one of his victims heightens his pleasure because he enjoys risk-taking. Is Atheism just another religion? Bravery certainly can fit within the Epicurean moral economy. Its hard to say which one is the best, as they are both backed up by strong philosophy and rational ideas. B.C. The collection of essays resulted from a conference of . So how do you break free from the dependence on, Read More How To Stop Relying on One Person for Happiness (13 Ways to Independence)Continue, The difference between a mindset vs mindfulness is in the why. The occasion was the vision of the editor, Troels Engberg-Pedersen, to provide something like a synoptic account of philosophy in the so-called post-Hellenistic period of about 100 BCE to 100 CE, roughly from Panaetius (185-109 BCE) to Plutarch of Chaeronea (c. 45-125 CE). A stoic is supposed to be free from fear and not be bothered by things that are outside of his personal control, like whether or not he is going to die today. What can account for consciousness is a mind-or non-physical reality-in perpetual interaction with the brain. Required fields are marked *. The pleasure we seek centres on the spiritual. As the psychopath cannot see the Epicureans point, what can be done? If you enjoyed this article Stoicism vs Epicureanism let us know by leaving a comment, sharing it or bookmarking it: Taking up the practice of the stoic philosophy is easier than it seems. For the Epicurean to be right contra the psychopath, she would have to demonstrate that people are intrinsically valuable as a fact, something which the psychopath cannot see, but is objectively true. Intellectual pleasures were available also. Particularly when I was young, I wasnt allowed to learn about other religions properly. separation from body; ascent to uppermost sphere; continued consciousness. Empiricism, atomism, extreme individuality, fear of death as the root of all anxietywhat makes these parallels really interesting is that they arent straighforward lines of influence. The stoic does not care what happens after he dies. We can turn our worries and fears into a source of motivation that helps us to become better people in this world. Out of the three Abrahamic monotheisms, Judaism is perhaps the most unique. . The former is a materialist philosophy, claiming that nothing exists beyond the empirical realm that humans can know about. In fact, Epicureans believe that its better to be trapped in a cave and not know whether snow or rain is falling outside than to have knowledge of the heavens above. Epicureans believe that pleasure (and not wisdom) is the most important thing in life. The said [Epicurean] Zeno opposed the disturbance of the community, and proposed that we should not mix ourselves up with the affairs of this life, nor engage in business, but live quiet lives on our own, each acting for himself.. Certain aspects of Epicurus' thought were revived during the Renaissance and early modern periods, when reaction against scholastic neo-Aristotelianism led thinkers to turn to mechanistic explanations of natural phenomena. Are things in this world just as they are, or are things here because of a higher. In the end, its all about just trying to make the most of what life gives us and helping others as much as we can. As an Epicurean, I think people of all religions are capable of living highly fulfilling lives. Lastly, why does He help? Its unfortunate that someone with so little understanding about Jesus and the faith of HIS disciples offers so much about it. But as they chanted so I believed. His definition of what is good is pleasure gained through our senses. He then states that all of the worlds people are damned to an eternity in hell unless they accept his blood sacrifice. . The Epicurean Paradox is one formulation of the problem of evil. Others said, "He seems to be advocating foreign deities," because he preached Jesus and the resurrection. For that to happen, God would have to work an act of grace inside the psychopath. "It is an honorable alternative to Christian teaching." Epicurus: His Continuing Influence and Contemporary Relevance, printed by the RIT Cary Graphic Arts Press, explores the philosophy of Epicurus through 2,000 years. Epicureanism In contrast to its modern connotations, the goal of Epicureanism is tranquility, which is achieved by moderating our desires, not by indulging them; it teaches us to understand our needs and desires so we can live a happy life. Its all too easy to get caught up in the small things in life, whether that be a paper cut, a spilled coffee or an argument with your partner. . 2023 This question is a profoundly searching one on philosophical and pastoral levels, hence the amount of emphasis it has received within Christian thought. 300. Its up to each person to determine what he can control and what he cant and then to take action towards what is in his control. What Christianity offers to those who cling to Jesus as his or her sins atoning sacrifice is not personal extinction of all and the universes heat death, but an everlasting enjoyment of relationship with God and his people. Nothing less could be expected from an omnibenevolent, omnipotent, and everlasting God who desires ceaseless relationship with people. Epicureans believe that the best thing we can do is to forget about what is going on in our lives and instead focus on living a life with meaning and purpose. Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. Such a prospect is comforting for those struggling with lifes pains. He said worship of the Greek gods and said the afterlife was nonsense. Benjamin D. Wiker |. Perhaps such a choice of words was intended as a kind of 'competitive offer' to the blossoming Christianity." (The Cambridge Companion to Epicureanism 53) Or are things just matter in motion? The creation narratives reveal that God intended the world he had created to be one of pleasure. Before we can determine which philosophy is better, we should first ask, what is it that makes a philosophy good or bad? Epicureanism is an ancient Greek philosophical system taught by Epicurus. Making fun at Christianity was deemed blasphemous and resulted in severe punishment. Another problem with Epicureanism is that its post-mortem non-survival view is challengeable. The fear of divine punishment has permeated human behaviour for thousands of years. It is true that Christianity offers everlasting compensation for the hardships and horrors of our mortal lives. If we were already tranquil, he says, we would have no need of natural science. We may begin to grasp this relationship of ethics to physics by examining Epicuruss famous four-part cure. For example, the Old Testament makes it clear that the righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern (Proverb 29:7). My parents also had a very authoritarian parenting style, demanding my absolute obedience and not allowing me to question them. Epicureans are disciplined because they judiciously choose their pleasures to avoid causing themselves and others pain. Im not at all surprised that American Evangelical Christians are more likely to be climate change deniers than the general population- the latter is at least somewhat related to the former in my view. Due to its small size, Judaism has never established a continental sphere of influence, the way . Each human finds toothache painful and so will try to avoid it through good oral hygiene and regular dental checkups if those things are available, and will advise others to do the same so they can avoid this pain. it is sober reasoning . But even after confession, Christians strive to improve to what are unrealistic standards, that ought never to be said if people are to live truly fulfilling lives. Consciousness stubbornly refuses to be confined to a materialistic conceptualization. A Guide to a Reasonable Christian Faith. In a broad sense, it is a system of ethics embracing every conception or form of life that can be traced to the principles of his philosophy. . An epicurean on the other hand focuses on having a good time through friendship, food, wine and other material pleasures of life. They had meaningful work such as the supervision of Gods creation, the pleasure of reproduction, a plentiful supply of healthy food and leisure due to the institution of the Sabbath (1:28-30). They also teach us about acceptance, trying to do the best that we can, and living a life that were proud of. To them, the world is perceived as hostile, and their beliefs (which are, from their point of view,) the only riight beliefs. Your opening statement created strong judgments towards his view. Live in the present moment and dont worry about the future. 2 And given the continuing vitality of utilitarianism since that time, Epicurus can still be regarded as the theory's hoariest forerunner. Blood sacrifice was the norm in those days, as was crucifixion, the most cruel of deaths. First, Christianity is founded on Jesus of Nazareths dolorous death. Epicurus (341-271 B.C.) Maybe they were ill-tempered, or even violent. Epicureanism was originally a challenge to Platonism. Like it or not, were all going to die sooner or later. Christianity, on the other hand, presents humans as intrinsically valuable because humans are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26), a maximal being who possesses maximum value. through the prism of love,rather than fear, there is love joy and peace as promised. (Part 1), Epicureanism after Epicurus The influence of Epicurus on Western thought, Epicurus and Politics: why I think he was wrong, Things You Should Never Post Online but Probably Do, Ways to Check If Youre Visiting a Safe Website, What Teens Shouldnt Put in Their Social Media Profiles, International Soc. The brain will die, but the mind will not necessarily die also. Epicureanism, in a strict sense, the philosophy taught by Epicurus (341-270 bce ). Many people have lost sight of the fact that they are living a life of their own, free from outside influences and expectations. Life was intended to be satisfying for Adam and Eve. Youre trying to open your mind to other ways of thought as perhaps the Evangelical church nailed it into you too hard. If Christianity is indifferent to present suffering, why have so many Christians over the centuries labored hard to alleviate it?