I think I was about 10 years old when I saw the word epicurean. I had no idea what it meant, but I liked how it sounded. I underlined it and promised myself to consult the dictionary and find its meaning. Like any 10-year-old, I forgot to do that, as other more urgent things, like playing with friends, took precedence.

After about a year I looked at the book again and flipping through it saw my words underlined and Epicurean jumped right at me. This time the dictionary was helpful. He defined the word epicurean as “someone fond of luxury and sensual pleasure, especially eating and drinking.” Follower of Epicurus or his philosophy.

Wow, now I really liked the word. I liked its sound and I liked its meaning. I decided to become an epicurean. Still had no idea who Epicurus was and what his philosophy was? But I liked the fact that he liked to drink, eat, and have fun. This became my mantra. “Eat, drink and be happy.” Whenever my mother called me to do my homework, I would say: “Mom, don’t you know that the great Greek philosopher Epicurus has found that the elixir of happiness is food, drink and fun?” My argument never stood up and I still had to do my homework …

How grateful I am to my mother, who did not allow me to indulge in my epicurean pleasures and forced me to go do my homework. If it hadn’t been for her, I wouldn’t be here sharing my true Epicurean insights with you.

Epicurus (341-270 BC) was born to a poor Athenian settler on Samos; He was neither rich nor aristocratic and apparently suffered from poor health for much of his life. He ate and drank in moderation and spent most of his time philosophizing from his hammock. The humble, calm and reticent Epicurus would be dismayed by the connotation that his name suggests.

Epicurus was not a man of spiritual beliefs. He led a contemplative life and was extremely rational. He believed in the idea that the soul itself was nothing more than the movement of the atoms in the material body and that some atoms could turn freely in a vacuum. This theory of his allowed him to maintain the concept of human free will.

The religious leaders of the time did not like the idea of ​​human free will and thought that their philosophy was tinged with atheism and therefore preached hedonism and pleasure. The lack of religiosity and his defiance of the gods who, in his opinion, were more interested in the pursuit of their own pleasure, made his teachings quite contradictory.

According to Epicurus, true happiness lies in the elimination of pain, both mental and physical. Of the two, Epicurus taught that mental pain was worse than physical pain, as more severe physical pain can be controlled or results in death. Mental anguish, on the other hand, in the form of anxiety and fear, if left unchecked, would result in distraction, depression, and other psychological ills.

He never promoted or tolerated a promiscuous or decadent lifestyle, on the contrary, he was aware that many of the bodily pleasures brought pain or had painful consequences. (Think hangover, broken hearts, upset stomach!)

What really is Epicurus’ philosophy of happiness?

As Alain-De Botton (a modern philosopher) mentions, they are friends, freedom and an analyzed life. Although Epicurus promoted the pursuit of pleasure, according to him, pleasure was moderation, introspection and the avoidance of pain.

In his introduction to The Epicurus Reader, DS Hutchinson summarized the continuing meaning of Epicureanism:

“Epicurus developed a system of philosophy and a way of life that deserve our respect and understanding, perhaps even our loyalty. This way of life claimed many thousands of committed followers, throughout the ancient Mediterranean world, in cooperative communities that lasted hundreds of years. But from the beginning of his teaching mission, his message was rejected and distorted, first by academic philosophers and political authorities, and then by Christians. Epicureans apparently almost never changed their allegiance to other philosophical systems, while other schools lost students. regularly. to the Epicureans. Why? Perhaps because the Epicureans found their system to make excellent sense. But the explanation offered by Arcesilaus, Epicurus’s rival, is typically derogatory: ‘You can turn a man into a eunuch, but you cannot turn a man into a eunuch. ” eunuch into a man. Even in modern times, critics of Epicureanism continues to misrepresent it as a lazy, superficial, pleasure-loving, immoral, or impious parody of royal philosophy. A pretentious enthusiasm for rare and expensive food and drink. Please have the courage to ignore two thousand years of negative prejudice, and evaluate this philosophy on its own considerable merits. “

So if you really want to be happy, go out with some friends, enjoy a simple meal with moderate amounts of wine, and talk about the various ways to make this world a better place.

So has my epicurean dream of complacency shattered?

Not at all! In fact, now that I understand the true meaning of being an Epicurean, I am even more proud to be one.

Of course, go and seek pleasure, but before that, at least try to understand what true pleasure is.

Love / luck / happiness