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Tat Tvam Asi
- Dec 13, 2020
- 6,611
I’ve wanted to start a series of different philosophies for living since I think it would be nice to glean insight from these thinkers. I first want to start with Epicureanism since it seems to be the most viable as a NEET.
Epicureanism was at odds with two other philosophical schools at the time Plato’s Academy and later the Stoics starting with Zeno of Citum, (Epicurus’s school called the Garden).
One idea hanging around in Athens was of Eudemonia which mean good spirit or good life and thought that ultimately wisdom would lead there.
Different schools had different thoughts of what the ultimate goal was, but Epicurus thought it was pleasure.
I won’t bother with the whole history of it and get right down to what it’s about.
Epicurus believed as as the Atomists that everything was made of atoms and materialistic, therefore discarding ideas such as the afterlife, soul, and the belief of gods (or if there is any, they are not concerned with humans).
In this respect, things like fearing death, (of which there is no afterlife) or being consumed by guilt (of which there is no gods) were seeing as barriers to pleasure and happiness.
He saw two types of pleasure, one was static pleasure, like in being full from a meal, and the other being moving like in the process of eating food.
He warned against overindulge in pleasure and to be moderate so that that you could avoid the suffering of doing so.
Epicurus also stressed pleasure of the mind over pleasure of the body, since while the body will always crave more, the mind can be content with livelihood.
In this way ultimate happiness is seen as in no pain in the body and pleasure in the mind. To quote him
“When we say that pleasure is the end and aim, we do not mean the pleasures of the prodigal or the pleasures of sensuality, as we are understood to do by some through ignorance, prejudice or wilful misrepresentation. By pleasure we mean the absence of pain in the body and of trouble in the soul. It is not by an unbroken succession of drinking bouts and of revelry, not by sexual lust, nor the enjoyment of fish and other delicacies of a luxurious table, which produce a pleasant life; it is sober reasoning, searching out the grounds of every choice and avoidance, and banishing those beliefs through which the greatest tumults take possession of the soul.”
[UWSL]Regarding politics and social obligation, he said that both were unnecessary and were a folly and it is best lived in quiet away from societal concerns, as this did not lend itself to pleasure. He thought to involve yourself with things like that were vain and empty desires that could never be filled[/UWSL]
On passionate sex and female relationships he said to stay away from as it would rob you of your contentment, to quote him
“I learn that your bodily inclination leans most keenly towards sexual intercourse. If you neither violate the laws nor disturb well established morals nor sadden someone close to you, nor strain your body, nor spend what is needed for necessities, use your own choice as you wish. It is sure difficult to imagine, however, that none of these would be a part of sex because sex never benefitted anyone.”
He highly stressed friendship stating the friendship is one of the high pleasures in life.
A few key takes from Epicurus for life as a NEET (which his Garden was like a NEET hangout where his students and himself had a place where they discussed philosophy and engaged in friendship, food, and living the good life)
Be a minimalist, this is also similar in Buddhist philosophy, but seeing as getting a nice car or trying to get some beautiful house caused more suffering to work and get those things, and ultimately they won’t make us happy, it would be best to abstain from them.
Another would to abandon perspectives that cause suffering, but think of things that makes one happy.
Abandoning artificial, high maintenance pleasures is also ideal
In the end eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we may perish.
Epicureanism was at odds with two other philosophical schools at the time Plato’s Academy and later the Stoics starting with Zeno of Citum, (Epicurus’s school called the Garden).
One idea hanging around in Athens was of Eudemonia which mean good spirit or good life and thought that ultimately wisdom would lead there.
Different schools had different thoughts of what the ultimate goal was, but Epicurus thought it was pleasure.
I won’t bother with the whole history of it and get right down to what it’s about.
Epicurus believed as as the Atomists that everything was made of atoms and materialistic, therefore discarding ideas such as the afterlife, soul, and the belief of gods (or if there is any, they are not concerned with humans).
In this respect, things like fearing death, (of which there is no afterlife) or being consumed by guilt (of which there is no gods) were seeing as barriers to pleasure and happiness.
He saw two types of pleasure, one was static pleasure, like in being full from a meal, and the other being moving like in the process of eating food.
He warned against overindulge in pleasure and to be moderate so that that you could avoid the suffering of doing so.
Epicurus also stressed pleasure of the mind over pleasure of the body, since while the body will always crave more, the mind can be content with livelihood.
In this way ultimate happiness is seen as in no pain in the body and pleasure in the mind. To quote him
“When we say that pleasure is the end and aim, we do not mean the pleasures of the prodigal or the pleasures of sensuality, as we are understood to do by some through ignorance, prejudice or wilful misrepresentation. By pleasure we mean the absence of pain in the body and of trouble in the soul. It is not by an unbroken succession of drinking bouts and of revelry, not by sexual lust, nor the enjoyment of fish and other delicacies of a luxurious table, which produce a pleasant life; it is sober reasoning, searching out the grounds of every choice and avoidance, and banishing those beliefs through which the greatest tumults take possession of the soul.”
On passionate sex and female relationships he said to stay away from as it would rob you of your contentment, to quote him
“I learn that your bodily inclination leans most keenly towards sexual intercourse. If you neither violate the laws nor disturb well established morals nor sadden someone close to you, nor strain your body, nor spend what is needed for necessities, use your own choice as you wish. It is sure difficult to imagine, however, that none of these would be a part of sex because sex never benefitted anyone.”
He highly stressed friendship stating the friendship is one of the high pleasures in life.
A few key takes from Epicurus for life as a NEET (which his Garden was like a NEET hangout where his students and himself had a place where they discussed philosophy and engaged in friendship, food, and living the good life)
Be a minimalist, this is also similar in Buddhist philosophy, but seeing as getting a nice car or trying to get some beautiful house caused more suffering to work and get those things, and ultimately they won’t make us happy, it would be best to abstain from them.
Another would to abandon perspectives that cause suffering, but think of things that makes one happy.
Abandoning artificial, high maintenance pleasures is also ideal
In the end eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we may perish.
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