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PHIL 102Christina Hendricks

Fall 2013

PHIL 102Christina Hendricks

Fall 2013

EPICURUSEPICURUS341-271 BCE 341-271 BCE

Socrates: 469-399 BCESocrates: 469-399 BCEPlato: 427-348 BCEPlato: 427-348 BCE

Macedonia & Greece, 336 BCE Macedonia & Greece, 336 BCE

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Map_Macedonia_336_BC-en.svg licensed licensed CC-BY-SACC-BY-SA

Athens conquered by Philip of Macedon, 338 BCE

Athens conquered by Philip of Macedon, 338 BCE

Macedonian empire under Alexander the Great, 334-323

BCE

Macedonian empire under Alexander the Great, 334-323

BCE

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MacedonEmpire.jpg Licensed Licensed CC-BY-SACC-BY-SA

Epicurus: epistemology Epicurus: epistemology

•Empiricist

•the ultimate source of all knowledge is information from the senses (see, e.g., http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/rationalism-empiricism/#1.2)

•sensation occurs through “films” of atoms coming off material bodies and entering our bodies

•Empiricist

•the ultimate source of all knowledge is information from the senses (see, e.g., http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/rationalism-empiricism/#1.2)

•sensation occurs through “films” of atoms coming off material bodies and entering our bodies

Epicurus: physicsEpicurus: physics•Reality is made up only of matter and void--

nothing immaterial (see http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/epicurus/#3)

•universe is eternal--nothing can emerge from nothing (see http://www.iep.utm.edu/epicur/#H3

•Some material must be eternal, but it’s not large bodies; must be smaller parts

•There are “atoms” as smallest parts of matter, indivisible (or else could dissolve into nothing)

•Atoms exist eternally

•Reality is made up only of matter and void--nothing immaterial (see http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/epicurus/#3)

•universe is eternal--nothing can emerge from nothing (see http://www.iep.utm.edu/epicur/#H3

•Some material must be eternal, but it’s not large bodies; must be smaller parts

•There are “atoms” as smallest parts of matter, indivisible (or else could dissolve into nothing)

•Atoms exist eternally

Epicurus on the gods & death

Epicurus on the gods & death

•The gods do not control the universe; it works on its own through principles of physics

•There is no such thing as an immaterial, immortal soul

•We should not fear death (“Letter to Menoeceus” para. 125; Principal Doctrines (2))

•The gods do not control the universe; it works on its own through principles of physics

•There is no such thing as an immaterial, immortal soul

•We should not fear death (“Letter to Menoeceus” para. 125; Principal Doctrines (2))

All of this info about physics, gods, death is to help people live the

best life

All of this info about physics, gods, death is to help people live the

best life•Best life has the “greatest good”: pleasure

(for oneself)

•ultimate end/goal of all action--everything we do is for the sake of reaching this

•sought as intrinsic good--good in itself, not just as instrumental good (as means to something else good)

•serves as the “standard for judging the goodness of everything” (“Ltr to M,” para 129)

•Best life has the “greatest good”: pleasure (for oneself)

•ultimate end/goal of all action--everything we do is for the sake of reaching this

•sought as intrinsic good--good in itself, not just as instrumental good (as means to something else good)

•serves as the “standard for judging the goodness of everything” (“Ltr to M,” para 129)

Most pleasurable state: ataraxia

Most pleasurable state: ataraxia

•Ataraxia: Lack of physical or mental pain, not having unfulfilled desires, sense of peace and tranquility (see, e.g., “Letter to M,” para. 128, 132)

•This is a “static” pleasure, as opposed to a “kinetic” one

•“kinetic” pleasures: pleasure gotten while in the act of fulfilling desires

•kinetic pleasures require that one also has pain (desire being fulfilled), and it may take significant work & trouble to keep getting them

•Ataraxia: Lack of physical or mental pain, not having unfulfilled desires, sense of peace and tranquility (see, e.g., “Letter to M,” para. 128, 132)

•This is a “static” pleasure, as opposed to a “kinetic” one

•“kinetic” pleasures: pleasure gotten while in the act of fulfilling desires

•kinetic pleasures require that one also has pain (desire being fulfilled), and it may take significant work & trouble to keep getting them

How to have the best lifeHow to have the best life

Natural desires

Cultivate and fulfill mainly certain types of Cultivate and fulfill mainly certain types of desiresdesires

Vain desires come from

“baseless opinion” (Pr Doct #29)

Unnecessary Always

unnecessary; insatiable;

troublesome to fulfill

(LM, para 131, Pr Doc #15) (e.g., power, wealth, fame, immortality)

Necessary

Need not bring pain if not fulfilled, b/c can get

rid of desire fairly easily; can be

troublesome to fulfill (Pr Doc #26) (e.g., luxurious

food & clothing, (sometimes) sex)

Bring pain if not fulfilled; necessary for

happiness, health or life itself; naturally limited & easy to fulfill (LM para 128, Pr Doc #15, 21) (e.g.,

food, shelter, rest, friendship)

How to have the best lifeHow to have the best life

•Aim to fulfill (mostly) natural and necessary desires

•Enjoy plain meals & simple lifestyle (Letter to M, para. 131)

•Fulfill natural and unnecessary desires when it is easy to do so, but don’t cultivate such desires in self (Letter to M, para. 131)

•Don’t fulfill vain desires at all

•Aim to fulfill (mostly) natural and necessary desires

•Enjoy plain meals & simple lifestyle (Letter to M, para. 131)

•Fulfill natural and unnecessary desires when it is easy to do so, but don’t cultivate such desires in self (Letter to M, para. 131)

•Don’t fulfill vain desires at all

How to have the best lifeHow to have the best life•Be sure to cultivate and preserve friendships

(Princ Doctrines #27-28, 39-40)

•Why would having friends be so important to happiness?

•Note that the value of friendship, like anything else, is for one’s own pleasure

•But it’s possible to get pleasure from really caring about others for themselves, not just b/c having friends is good for you (& genuine care for others is probably necessary for preserving friendship)

•Be sure to cultivate and preserve friendships (Princ Doctrines #27-28, 39-40)

•Why would having friends be so important to happiness?

•Note that the value of friendship, like anything else, is for one’s own pleasure

•But it’s possible to get pleasure from really caring about others for themselves, not just b/c having friends is good for you (& genuine care for others is probably necessary for preserving friendship)

How to have the best lifeHow to have the best life

•Live “prudently, honorably, and justly”; “the virtues are inseparable from a happy life” (Letter to M, para 132; also Princ Doctrines #5)

•Justice: living according to agreements in a society (e.g., laws) that actually lead to mutual benefit (Princ Doctr #31-33, 36-38)

•Why can’t one be unjust and happy? (Princ Doctr #34-35)

•Live “prudently, honorably, and justly”; “the virtues are inseparable from a happy life” (Letter to M, para 132; also Princ Doctrines #5)

•Justice: living according to agreements in a society (e.g., laws) that actually lead to mutual benefit (Princ Doctr #31-33, 36-38)

•Why can’t one be unjust and happy? (Princ Doctr #34-35)

How can philosophy help us live the best life?

How can philosophy help us live the best life?

•Not just providing arguments for how to reduce pain/increase pleasure, but also encouraging people to guide their lives by these

•The “principal doctrines” appear to be short sayings that people might be able to remember--keep these things in mind as much as possible so can live by them

•Groups of friends could support/encourage each other to put these ideas into action in their lives

•Not just providing arguments for how to reduce pain/increase pleasure, but also encouraging people to guide their lives by these

•The “principal doctrines” appear to be short sayings that people might be able to remember--keep these things in mind as much as possible so can live by them

•Groups of friends could support/encourage each other to put these ideas into action in their lives