When Epicurus Spoke of Pleasure, He Really Meant Introspection
Author: Susan Cain
“When we say…that pleasure is the end and aim of life, 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 willful 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.” —Epicurus
*I came across this quote in a terrific essay in Dr. Jennifer Baker’s “For the Love of Wisdom” blog.
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Well said.
Wisdom!
The pleasure of Epicureanism is weak, like eating vegetables, it lacks pleasure so the pleasure is weak. It’s similar to Cynicism, if you think it’s “pleasure” you’re ignorant. Ignorant people compare it with luxuries and live with money, jewels and prostitutes. Believing in confusing things is being ignorant. Therefore if you can’t learn something and you still do what you’re taught you are no doubt intelligent, but it’s still ignorance. Epicureanism is found in TAFEs and Universities, taught as simplified hedonism, well it’s very spooky and people are shocked at people like that, it’s like a spooky movie this Epicureanism, Epicureanism is spooky.