I like the epicurean view of happiness. I actually made an entry summarizing and reacting to this episode on my blog, Intellectual Pursuit in wordpress.
I like the epicurean view of happiness. I actually made an entry summarizing and reacting to this episode on my blog, Intellectual Pursuit in wordpress.
timothy leary was a student of epicurus, and his philosophy of turn on tune it drop out is similar to these ideas, and usually its portrayed as happening with people, we've been overcome by commercialim once more but th spiritual awakening is happening again psychedelics and other religous experiences are bringing people together in what rally matters, people are living in other wys,breaking away defining themselves, with others realizing the truth,
some people have friends who are fairies, and some feel that Spirit is their only true friend, but we all have friends whether they are people, spirits, or ideas, the commune part sounds a lot like hippies, in fact it sounds like the beatniks, and the hippies, and the analyze part sounds like its about the trip the meditation the spiritual side of it all, when it all comes together, and we find all the right elements that does sound like happiness
pleasure doesn't always mean excess and extravangance, there are many simple pleasures, and plenty of people who don't like shopping at all, i dont like money and the vibe around it for me thts not pleasurable, i enjoy moments of peace seeing the beauty in nature, the vibration of malls isn't that high but things beyond money,
happiness can't be bought, its more about the connection you feel to the world around you shopping shows you feel unsatiated, but through meditation we can be satiated and gratefulnes and ecstatice worship of the divine without restraint
HI Everyone! I was wondering if you could help me with some research I've been doing? What I want to know is what kind of students Epicurus attracted? and if so, did they become unproductive people? Like did politicians quit politics and scientists quit science, and teachers quit teaching?
Well, this makes me a lot better. I actually was feeling unhappy because I didn't desire as much material stuff as those surrounding me (I don't fit in, in a away). =)
This society urges us to , but I follow rather the simple truth of LIFE, a truth you can't beat. You can eat and enjoy only ONE meal, thenyou are satisfied.
You need to look at only ONE watch and you know what TIME it is.
It's a strange philosophy. The philosophies I took up last year were universal and material, now it's either a divinity, subjective idealism, semi-spiritual, whatever, it's not philosophy, it's philosophy, they're very different to my old philosophies. I was objective in the first half of my life, wanted to be a materialist, or even an objectivist, but settled in strange philosophies in my opinion these ones are more accurate. They're more beautiful simply because they're deep, silent & emptyish
I read on the internet that Epicurus was celibate, I can ignore that: I suspend judgment on this. Maser playing is proudest of some, if you know what I mean. The very greatest is eating. If I can talk to you Epicurus: 1. By your logic you're not dead, 2. you're humble you're not proud, 3, this is difficult unless you can be either a) extremely modest or b) 99% humble, 3.5. It gets easy to be modest by a). being extremely modest, and b). studying its definition thoroughly in a dictionary. Cheers!
I have a vaguely agreeing opinion to halfawake454, the key to happiness is true enough that it suggests freedom. But as "not easy" as it gets with Epicurus, poverty isn't that simple either, I need monetary wealth and not overspending it, I'm extremely poor and doing better than anyone who doesn't live in a flat. The wealth I find undoubtedly necessary, I might need it to move to the country. I'm happy living alone. It's not like the hedonist life will, do, epicureanism fits my comfort zone. :D
good point, also we work for paper money and not for real money like gold or silver. how can we be happy if we are like slaves? working for worthless fiat money?
The biggest key to happiness in my opinion is his point about having freedom. At my job I get only a few vacation days out of the year, not nearly enough to unwind or actually do anything substantial. I just fail to see the point of working my ass off every year without any reasonable amount of time to enjoy life. A lot of people live to work, terrible idea imo. It should be work to live. Everyone should get to benefit from at least 1 month off for every 12 months of work, I personally believe.
I like peeling the onion. Food pleasures, hmmm, yes, now I get it: olives, cheese, fine wine, vegetables, yes, that's gold! Simplicity, I'm taking it, this is gold! When and if I lose my money, I'll live in a simple house in the country with these luxuries. Suitable for all working classes, this man's a genius. Epicurus, I take honour in this lifestyle.
I'm trying to find a quote possibly by Epicurus. It's something like: "You cannot convince a man of that which he believes he already knows." Again, something like that. I'm pretty sure it's by a famous philosopher, who's name started with an E and I believe he was Greek. Thank you!!!
I would have liked to have more direct quotes by Epicurus on here. I LOVE to memorize important quotes by brilliant people that lived throughout history.
@ytdsgdjgfueyxn537 so where do you sleep ? A house or a home is a place where you greet the next day. imo :) You can sleep outside, but that wouldn't be preferred, imo :D
@razeromg Actually, I'm quite poor. But I'm honest. I do no steal. I do not cheat. I am kind to children and animals. I do not use my intelligence to hurt others. By the time I get rich, I will be too old to enjoy it. So I will give whatever wealth I have to the poor children of this world -- rather than squandering all my money to keep me alive another month. But as for sleeping outside, it is glorious --- at least in summer!
PS: Sleeping outside is glorious! -- at least in summer.
The closest someone can get to complete happiness comes from the knowledgeable feeling experienced when living beyond perspective. If you can manage to rise out of your own "cave" and see life more clearly, you can live without happiness and unhappiness providing a constant state of being.
Happiness is so ephemeral that there is no such word to define long-term happiness. For me, nothing comes close to that than a real, non-plastic contentment to everything you are born with and by analyzing the things that made you luckier than others. It's not so bad to hope for more but of course a massive amount of perseverance is to be exerted. But by attaining that, can someone achieve perfect happiness or only realize that a whole lifetime devoted to pretentious desires was wasted?
Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?
Seems pretty airtight to me, unless you have faith,inwhich case logic doesnt apply
@KayoteThunder I think it's more of just reading ancient philosophies. While reading Marcus Aurelius' Meditations, I would actually forget that what was written came from 2000 years ago. It's amazing to see how similar we are across the millenia
i think happines is content=t,,, the only reason why ur sad is bec you dont like the things that came to you or the fact that you want something that you dont have or will never will be..if you are contet in your life there is no sadness but happines
Is that what modern philosophical debates have been reduced to? "Plato SUCKS...EPICURUS FTW" Interesting choice of words and even more interesting how you got 14 thumbs up. I'm not disagreeing with you...just thinking out loud.
@andyrooney12 Well, just by dissecting those words, you should know that times change. There are no better or worse ways of making comparisons, but comparisons are just that: comparisons. Let's not, for the moment though, delve into what it means having 'personal preferences', because no one is the same, and everyone has their own ways of reacting or transcending anything that gets to them. Yourself included, and your comment lets that quite clear. Live and Let Die is such a phrase right now...
@IvanTheHeathen Haha yep...and that is why so many people with so much stuff kill themselves...It's a never-ending cycle. Society teaches us to keep wanting more and more stuff, being more and more materialistic. That's what has driven America/Britain to become the richest and most "powerful" countries in the world; while, at the same time, being some of the unhappiest.
@IvanTheHeathen ...Or so that we can have a roof over our heads? ...Or food in our mouths? Nay, I say most of us work jobs we hate out of necessity, for there is a lack of good jobs.
As adults we are required to know the difference between what we want and what we need but most adults are not able to distinguish between the two in their daily lives.
"As you say of yourself, I TOO AM AN EPICUREAN. I consider the genuine doctrines of Epicurus as containing everything rational in moral philosophy which Greece and Rome have left us. Epictetus, indeed, has given us what was good of the Stoics" Thomas Jefferson
"Christianity is the most perverted system that ever shone on man." Thomas Jefferson
Numerous parallels exist between the Greek philosophy of the Cynics and, several centuries later, the Buddhist philosophy of the Madhyamika and Zen. The Cynics denied the relevancy of human conventions and opinions (described as typhos, literally "smoke" or "mist", a metaphor for "illusion" or "error"), including verbal expressions, in favor of the raw experience of reality. They stressed the independence from externals to achieve happiness
I think you've mistaken the Cynics for the Stoics. The Cynics were critical of society like Epicurus but not relativists. The three pillars of their ethics were strength of body, freedom of speech, and self-sufficiency. Cheers!
Greco-Buddhism, sometimes spelt Graeco-Buddhism, refers to the cultural syncretism between Hellenistic culture and Buddhism, which developed between the 4th century BCE and the 5th century CE
epicurus and epitetus, were the best of the greek philosophers and better than any other philosophers excepting the Buddha who was THE greatest philosopher of all.
iamnotgey: Yes, who the greatest is, is obviously subjective...what else would it be? Nevertheless, I would be hard pressed to find someone who has been more insightful than Epicurus. Btw, this video is really just an intro to his philosophy.
Epicurus - it's hard to argue with him. He even posited evolution and natural selection (he had to, since his gods didn't do anything except sing polly wolly doodle all the day).
Happiness is purchased not viewed. A funny statement of mine.
In all Seriousness though, Happiness is created in the mind. at least to me it is. Such as when I think of books, dated books from as early as the 1400's in museums, that makes me happy, in which a thought has to derive, creating the image of the books that make me happy.
'Epicurean' was not a misunderstanding; for it was the denial of good food all week that made the one luxurious meal of the week so special ... he manipulated the variables for that contrast.
Very clearly, his greatest pleasure was in fact freedom from pain.
Also "happiness" ... was an ancient Greek using an ancient Norse word?
Epicurus cured my existential depression. I am not very emotional some think i may have a touch ofasperger's syndrome I don't get super happy or sad I just stay in a good mood all the time. I have kinda made my own philosophy of life with Epicurus,Nietzsche,Ayn Rand,Carl Sagan and Micheal Shermer to name some who influenced my thinking and person life philosophy
i dont believe your theory on how "happiness is a state of mind" because you can be happy deep down but on the outside you aresad or mad or something. Epicurus means that you need to seek out happiness instead of waiting and waiting for it to come to you...
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Epi. on freedom or being free. He leaves Athem to find freedom. Jesus said the truth shall set you free. Jesus is the true genius, the true teacher/philosopher. Epi. flaw is in the fact the he thought that by doing certain things, going to certain places, eating in a certain way, he could find happiness. One day Epi. will be raised from the dead, and he will realize how wrong he was, poor soul.
Mr Onetocome, Jesus was not a philosopher, I'm afraid he never said so, if he ever existed. Philosophy is a greek word, a greek ''disease'' if you prefer, as did your ''religious fathers''. I'm not an Epicurean. And I cynically greet you: Happy afterlife.
Jesus is not Constantine. Jesus is Horus. Constantine was the Roman emperor that converted his army to Christians thus allowing Christianity to thrive.
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The narrator says that we all shop too much and Ep. says it's because we don't know what we really need. People shop for pleasure, it gives them pleasure. But it was Jesus the one, not Epicurus that said, do not judge, or take the beam out of your eye first. Epi. felt in his own trap, he was judging other people's way of having pleasure.
Epicurus tells his friend to send him a pot of cheese so that he could have a feast. There are many people like Epi. I have personally met them, I have also have had the Epi.. state of mind, most people have. It's call appreciating what you have. But Ep. takes it to a different level, he totally abondons or can't attain riches so he gets hanged up on this train of thought and goes for the mountains. Again he was critisizing riches, which is a contradiction, because riches are very pleasurable.
The narrator also assumes that we, meaning all think that happiness means having lots of money. Well sorry to disappoint him, but many people don't feel that money bring happiness. Just ask a happy farmer.
Epicurus didn't think that we should feel guilty about having a pleasureble and enjoyable life. That is not news, is even in the OT. Again Epicurus was assuming, why was he assuming, because he was feeling guilty himself, maybe he thought that people felt like him, maybe he felt people were looking for happiness, but it was him the one looking for it. I'm not saying other where not, but he defenitly was.
Second flaw in his theory, he says that the problem we couldn't find happiness is that we where looking in the wrong place. He assumed that because he was looking for happiness, that everyone else had his problem or had a problem finding happiness. This alone makes his theory illogical and not true. He was not happy with his normal life, so he assumed everyone else had the same problem.
I am going to analize Epicurus frame by frame. Epicurus believed that we could all find a way to be happy. Well this is not an answer to happiness. It's like saying we can all be rich. The first flaw in Epicurus "logic" is that happiness is not something you find, happiness is a state of mind. Another problem is that humans can't always be happy, it's impossible, there are moments of happiness and there are moments of anger, rage, sadness. So happiness is not something you find and get to keep.
onetocome, this post is a response to your collective comments.
You need to read, say, The Epicurus Reader and De Rerum Natura. Why? Because you totally misunderstand Epicurus. How can you offer a critique of the man's view when you don't even know his views (and I know you don't based on your posts). :)
Epicurus leaves Athem to find freedom, big mistake. It's clear that Epicurus was a fool. He defenetly had a leftist liberal mentallity, even though most liberals love money, they just deny it. Jesus sets people free right where they are, you don't have to pack and run to the mountains. Epicurus was defenitely a cultist, the funny thing is that is doesn't say what they did in those mountains. This guy Epicurus was a crazy fox. Deceitful is the heart above all things, who can know it. LoL
I want you to explain to me how not believing in God makes you smart. Think before you write. Jesus didn't go around preaching happiness, why, because happiness is a superficial feeling, now, that's smart. You better think well and hard before you respond to me. Ok buddy.
It doesn't, but falling for the arguments used to support the idea of a God tends to argue against intelligence. When you support a mess of contradictions like Christianity or any other religion, you tend to get stupider, for contradictions demand stupidiity.
I follow the word of God, not Christianity, let alone religion. There is contradiction in Christianity, not in the word of God. Remember that there is also contradiction is science.
I see so what is your evidence that what you believe is the word of god? As for contradictions in science, these are continually investigated and resolved, unlike the contradictions in religion, which are simply made more complex and contradictory.
I believe the bible to be the word of God. And where is the evidence for what you believe. You believe in the sun, and the effects of the sun is your evidence. Well the effects of the word of God is my evidence. There is no evidence that evil exists, yet we see the effects of evil in the world. Can you examine a thought under a microscope, so there is no evidence for thoughts. Can you examine the mind, no, only its effects.
There is plenty of evidence for evil as a meaningful category because we can predict behaviour of people, governments, and institutions more accurately by classifying them as evil or not. What is the evidence of the "effects of the word of god"? What effects are these and how do you know they're not the effects of something else?
There is evidence for evil because people do evil and tha's it. And acts and thoughts of evil stem from a person hearts. The evidence for the word of God is that is changes people's hearts and lives. The effects are real love for thier neighbor, not the hypocrital love that the world offers, when a person becomes a xtian they are transformed from the "typical, normal" person, to a new creature, the transformation changes their core belief, in other words, their hearts.
That's not evidence for certain words being the word of god, it's just evidence that people take them seriously. By your standards Epicurus' words are the word of god.
Assertion isn't evidence. How was Epicurus' message nonsense? What contradiction (either internal or of empirical reality) was there? How do you know that the word of god is objectively meaningful as opposed to being something you happen to like?
This transformation only happens from knowledge of the word of God. You can't form a xtian any other way, just go and try to convert a person without using the word of God, you will failed miserably. The most powerful weapon a person possesses is their belief, and Jesus knew and preached this more than anything, but atheists seem to miss this single most important concept over and over and over and over and over again. And I understand why, it's because you are blind. crazy and without idea.
But you don't know you have the word of god, you just know that certain words had certain effects. Other words by communists, nazis, muslims, Charles Manson etc. have very similar effects, they aren't all the word of god.
The word of God is not a word, it's a message or the spirit of God. When the bible speaks of the word of God, it means the message of God, the law, it's not talking about individual words. Words without a message or intention are meaningless, you should know that. Now what where you saying about Manson, are you kidding me. You've got a lot to learn.
Irrevelent, other messages by communists Nazis, muslims, Charles Manson etc. had the same effects as the "message of god". I wasn't kidding about Charles Manson you fool, he transformed people all the time. How is this empirically different from the "word of god"?
Epicurus drags his frinds to nowhere to be happy, well that just he's stupid idea of how to be happy, it's not mine. He was just another dreamer trying to find paradise. Well escaping reality is not a very good idea. He should have stayed in town, gotten married and be happy with what ever came his way, that is a more natural way of being happy. Just because you buy or don't buy stuff has nothing to do with happyness. Epicurus was a fool, and he sounds like a liberal socialist if you ask me.
Really, how was he smart. Running away from reality is not smart. Another great missconception is the idea that happiness has to be found somewhere. All you have to do to be happy is appreciate what you have and enjoy it. Anyone who spends he's life trying to figure out how to be happy is wasting his/her time instead of just enjoying life. Now, tell me, how was he smart.
How did he run away from reality? The idea that the secret to being happy is to "appreciate what you have" seems to mean that it's a slave's fault he's not happy. The idea that the keys to happiness are freedom, friendship and the ability to reflect on your life was revolutionary and has yet to be bettered.
He couldn't find happiness where he was, so he scaped with his friends, that sounds cultist to me. If you are a happy slave, your master will stop seeing you as a slave, he will be overcome and perplexed by such happiness and pride that a change will occur in him, but you can't bear that yet. Happiness is not an idea nor a formula, it's a reaction/feeling which is controlled by perception and it can never be bettered. People will not be happier in the future, that is nonsense.
He moved into a big house with his friends, how is that "escaping"? He didn't run away from anything. You seem to be saying that if you try to actually change your life that's proof that you can't handle reality. This doesn't make sense. If you truly believed that what you do doesn't make you happy then don't respond to this post, since it won't make you happier to do so.
The guy was searching for happiness, obviously he couldn't find it in his normal life. He was insinuating that in order to be happy one has to be constantly with friends in a big house. The guy couldn't even have lunch by himself, the guy was delusional, in simple words, a dreamer trying to find happiness. He didnt' want to work either, he didn't want to be in the city with the rest of the people, he had a problem with reality, there are a lot of nuts like that, and he fits the mold. Case close.
So because he couldn't be happy being what you call "normal" he has a problem with reality? He wanted to be happy and he thought he'd found the best way. ASAIK it worked for him so how is that being delusional? Because he does't think trying to figure out what an invisible sky pixie wants him to do doesn't make him delusional. As for him not wanting to work, where's your evidence? You claim "case closed" but you haven't supported your argument.
You are right, I don't know much about the guy, but I stand by what I said. I like how you atheist define God like an invisible sky pixie, why don't you define him as what God really is,the most powerful force or concept, I mean billions of intellectual ponder the question whethere there is or there isn't a God. But you have the right to think how ever you want, anyway.
Why do you stand by what you said? You've given no evidence that anything you believe about him is true, it's merely your projection of your own beliefs. And what is god but an invisible sky pixie, if a really big one? So lots of people contemplate him, so what? That no more makes him real than the thousands who contemplate the benefits of Marxist utopia make it real.
Thank you, if you really meant that of course you'd back up what you believe with evidence. So far all you've done is traduce a great philosopher with things irrelevent to the truth and make claims that you know god's word, that you also don't back up.
Let's take the atheist view. If this guy would have been in my circle of friends when I was young and hanging out, we would have label him a sissy, somebody with a problem. This guy needed to get laid, he had real issues with life. But you dont' seem to be digging deeper than oh, this guy was just looking for happiness. I don't know how old Epi. was, but when I was young, I didn't have a problem in the world, I was living it up.
Wow, you're really projecting here. Why do you say he can't get laid (a lame objection to a philosopher/philosophy if I ever heard one, is Charles Manson a better philosopher because he could get laid?)? Labelling someone as a "sissy" because they move away from Athens seems strange. Epicurus was living it up, in his own way. You're the one running away from reality.
I yet you're off the planet. You're claiming that becuase he didn't accept Athens he had a problem with reality. He didn't. He had a problem with how Athens really was at the time, so he left Athens, he remained in reality however. Town is not reality so leaving town is not leaving reality.
His family, his friends, his neighborhs where not good enough for him, this guy had issues. He was trying to create paradise, and paradise is inside, not outside. This man was incluence by his environment and his environment told him what to do. This proves he had no inner wisdom, he was just reacting to conditions.
His friends certainly were good enough for him, that's kinda the point. As for his neighbors being good enough for him, so what? Just because someone lives next to you doesn't mean you should like them. Ditto someone being related to you. He changed his situation to make things better for him. It seemed to work. You are trying to imply that any attempt to change reality means that someone is unwise. I take it then you don't go to the doctor when sick? Or change jobs if your's sucks?
Epicurus was a selfish person looking for his happiness. "Just because someone lives next to you doesn't mean you should like them." REally, no, you should love them and this is where Epicurus missed the point. You are damm right, if you try to change reality you are unwise.
So then why are you posting if trying to change reality is unwise? Posting is trying to change the reality that my arguments are unanswered by you.
Why should I have to love someone just because they live nearby? What if they're a bad person and don't make me happy? Do I still have to spend time with them even though I would be happier if I avoided them entirely?
Even assuming was selfish (and I see no evidence of it) what's wrong with that? Why should he desire good for himself?
Posting is posting, you don't make sense. YOu must love all. So you only love good people, that is so funny, but true. Life is not about you or Epicurus being happy, that is so selfish. You fit the typical profile of an egotistical selfish person that is only looking for their happiness. Have you ever tryed to make someone else happy. I bet that never occur to Epicurus, wow.
Posting is, like all actions an attempt to change reality. You claimed that such attempts are misguided, so why continue to post? Of course like all haters of thought you resort to the "you're selfish" line. What's wrong with that? Even assuming that he and I cared nothing for others (you have no evidence of that) why is us caring what happens to us wrong? If it's wrong for me to care about my welfare, why would it be right for you to? Who are you to decide what my life is about?
Epicurus frequently said one must give all and even die for our friends. Also, he said that "friendship dances round the world announcing to everyone: wake up to blessedness!"
So I need to know how old was he when he wrote this stuff, was he married, was he gay, a most likely scenario. Tell me about this guy, maybe I'll read a little bit about him, but I know from experience, that I am right on the money, my gutt/wisdom never missess. I do have to admit that we all encounter similar behavior patterns while growing up and most of us get over them, but Epi. actually did it, he was looking for somethig that is not real, he was looking in the wrong place.
Why do you need to know this? Either his logic is good or it isn't, I don't see why his being gay or not invalidates it. You claim you "know from experience" your "wisdom never misses", yet every guess you've made has been unsupported by evidence. Is it possible you are usually wrong but simply never admit it, and so think you're batting 1.000? Epicurus looked for somethingquite easy to find and he found it. It seemed to work for him, so why lie and say he was looking in the wrong place?
Because it's important, and what logic are you talking about. A true man finds happiness anywhere, because he creates it. Epicurus was being sway by the breeze, he had no deep roots.
No it's not important if he was gay or married or whatever if his logic is both internally consistent and empirically correct. You just made claims about Epicurus that have no basis in fact and refuse to either admit you have no evidence or produce said evidence. Epicurus said things. Were they logical or not?
It has everything to do with logic and if you knew any philosophy you'd know that. You are dodging the question because you know what Epicurus said made sense and you don't like that because you prefer to believe in nonsense. That's why you're talking about everything but the actual philosophy.
YOu are cluessless, you don't get it, it's philosophy, and just like you said before that's what supposedly made him happy, that was his philosphy, not others. So stop throwing logic into the equation.
Philosophy is the application of logic you clueless simp. Without logic all you have is incoherent rants about your personal neurotic desires/fears. His logic was consistent with itself and empirical reality AFAIK. If it wasn't please discuss it's failing philosophically, don't just assert like a little pop-up monkey.
That's exactly what he had, "neurotic desires/fears. The logic is subjective, is not for all, if all people would agree with him, it would logical, but not all people agreed with him. It's only an interpretation of life, you wish I was simple. YOu are no match for me.
So you think that the fact that not everyone agrees with him means the logic is subjective? In that case I guess you have a problem with pretty much all of science. You claim "it's only an interpretation of life" but you haven't shown that it isn't a VALID interpretation of life. If it is then it's not "only an interpretation of life", it's something far more. Nor have you shown that it's subjective. I am a match for someone who can only assert and contradicts his own claims by doing so.
How the hell am I going to show or prove in not a valid interpretation, it's philosophy. Of course it's subjective, what the hell else can it be. Epicurus was a "philosopher" and that's it, there is zero logic is what he says. It's not the answer to happiness, it was the answer to his fake happiness. I do have a problem with science, you moron, people are constantly making mistakes and changin their minds, you idiot.
Well if it were really not valid you could show internal contradictions in the logic or that empirical reality differs from the predictions of his theory. You can't do this so you just claim it's subjective, despite the objective evidence of it's truth. Your problem with science is that it's not absolutely right about everything all the time. Instead you go for something that is demonstrably wrong much of the time and the rest of the time there's no what to tell. And you call me a moron.
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I like the epicurean view of happiness. I actually made an entry summarizing and reacting to this episode on my blog, Intellectual Pursuit in wordpress.
Omnivian 3 days ago in playlist Intellectual Pursuit
I like the epicurean view of happiness. I actually made an entry summarizing and reacting to this episode on my blog, Intellectual Pursuit in wordpress.
Omnivian 3 days ago in playlist Intellectual Pursuit
Most of all One most have LOVE! thats what epicurus leaves out LOVE every kind of love
rainbowaon 3 weeks ago
timothy leary was a student of epicurus, and his philosophy of turn on tune it drop out is similar to these ideas, and usually its portrayed as happening with people, we've been overcome by commercialim once more but th spiritual awakening is happening again psychedelics and other religous experiences are bringing people together in what rally matters, people are living in other wys,breaking away defining themselves, with others realizing the truth,
rainbowaon 3 weeks ago
some people have friends who are fairies, and some feel that Spirit is their only true friend, but we all have friends whether they are people, spirits, or ideas, the commune part sounds a lot like hippies, in fact it sounds like the beatniks, and the hippies, and the analyze part sounds like its about the trip the meditation the spiritual side of it all, when it all comes together, and we find all the right elements that does sound like happiness
rainbowaon 3 weeks ago
pleasure doesn't always mean excess and extravangance, there are many simple pleasures, and plenty of people who don't like shopping at all, i dont like money and the vibe around it for me thts not pleasurable, i enjoy moments of peace seeing the beauty in nature, the vibration of malls isn't that high but things beyond money,
rainbowaon 3 weeks ago
happiness can't be bought, its more about the connection you feel to the world around you shopping shows you feel unsatiated, but through meditation we can be satiated and gratefulnes and ecstatice worship of the divine without restraint
rainbowaon 3 weeks ago
HI Everyone! I was wondering if you could help me with some research I've been doing? What I want to know is what kind of students Epicurus attracted? and if so, did they become unproductive people? Like did politicians quit politics and scientists quit science, and teachers quit teaching?
greeneffintractor 4 weeks ago
Well, this makes me a lot better. I actually was feeling unhappy because I didn't desire as much material stuff as those surrounding me (I don't fit in, in a away). =)
Cantor1845 1 month ago in playlist Epicurus on Happiness
How unchallenging...and bland. Then again I wish more people would subscribe to this...it would cut down on my competitors.
RMR12100 1 month ago
This society urges us to , but I follow rather the simple truth of LIFE, a truth you can't beat. You can eat and enjoy only ONE meal, thenyou are satisfied.
You need to look at only ONE watch and you know what TIME it is.
No need ever for whatever more of the same.NO!
kjallesoft 2 months ago
It's a strange philosophy. The philosophies I took up last year were universal and material, now it's either a divinity, subjective idealism, semi-spiritual, whatever, it's not philosophy, it's philosophy, they're very different to my old philosophies. I was objective in the first half of my life, wanted to be a materialist, or even an objectivist, but settled in strange philosophies in my opinion these ones are more accurate. They're more beautiful simply because they're deep, silent & emptyish
Hoobifta 2 months ago in playlist Epicureanism
I read on the internet that Epicurus was celibate, I can ignore that: I suspend judgment on this. Maser playing is proudest of some, if you know what I mean. The very greatest is eating. If I can talk to you Epicurus: 1. By your logic you're not dead, 2. you're humble you're not proud, 3, this is difficult unless you can be either a) extremely modest or b) 99% humble, 3.5. It gets easy to be modest by a). being extremely modest, and b). studying its definition thoroughly in a dictionary. Cheers!
Hoobifta 2 months ago in playlist Epicureanism
I have a vaguely agreeing opinion to halfawake454, the key to happiness is true enough that it suggests freedom. But as "not easy" as it gets with Epicurus, poverty isn't that simple either, I need monetary wealth and not overspending it, I'm extremely poor and doing better than anyone who doesn't live in a flat. The wealth I find undoubtedly necessary, I might need it to move to the country. I'm happy living alone. It's not like the hedonist life will, do, epicureanism fits my comfort zone. :D
Hoobifta 2 months ago in playlist Epicureanism
good point, also we work for paper money and not for real money like gold or silver. how can we be happy if we are like slaves? working for worthless fiat money?
Rico8458 2 months ago
The biggest key to happiness in my opinion is his point about having freedom. At my job I get only a few vacation days out of the year, not nearly enough to unwind or actually do anything substantial. I just fail to see the point of working my ass off every year without any reasonable amount of time to enjoy life. A lot of people live to work, terrible idea imo. It should be work to live. Everyone should get to benefit from at least 1 month off for every 12 months of work, I personally believe.
halfawake454 2 months ago
I like peeling the onion. Food pleasures, hmmm, yes, now I get it: olives, cheese, fine wine, vegetables, yes, that's gold! Simplicity, I'm taking it, this is gold! When and if I lose my money, I'll live in a simple house in the country with these luxuries. Suitable for all working classes, this man's a genius. Epicurus, I take honour in this lifestyle.
Hoobifta 3 months ago
"A great fortune is a great slavery." Seneca
SovereignBeing 4 months ago
Epicyrus name says it all: he is simply Epic
GodOfUnbelief 4 months ago
HE LIKES SEX
cheatdath 5 months ago 4
Happiness is living for something greater than yourself.
racerxj220 5 months ago
The great happiness is to know that somebody understands us. but it never happens. lol
CHINNUJACK 6 months ago
replace all that shopping with some moderate, occasional expenditures and marijuana on the reg and Im content as can be
augsauce 7 months ago
Epicurus is epic. LOL
HappyThreeCheers 7 months ago
"all of his books have been lost across the centuries, leaving his philosophy of happiness to be reconstructed from just a few fragments"....hahaha
longfootbuddy 9 months ago
So Epicurus' philosophy was basically doing as little with your life as possible. Wow.
FuttBucker667 9 months ago
I'm trying to find a quote possibly by Epicurus. It's something like: "You cannot convince a man of that which he believes he already knows." Again, something like that. I'm pretty sure it's by a famous philosopher, who's name started with an E and I believe he was Greek. Thank you!!!
jstb0b 10 months ago
Plato was a bore
oshory 10 months ago
@oshory Yet you will die and be forgotten but Plato, a bore, will live on forever. Hmm, point!!!!! PLATO!!!!
votumseparatum1 10 months ago
@votumseparatum1 Actually I plan on living forever either through biomedical gerontology or transcending biology all together...
oshory 10 months ago
I would have liked to have more direct quotes by Epicurus on here. I LOVE to memorize important quotes by brilliant people that lived throughout history.
andyrooney12 10 months ago
what MORON chose this music for a documentary on EPICURUS.. sounds liek a 90's afterschool applie pie making programme for 2 year olds.
TheQuakeroat 1 year ago
A house is just a place to keep your stuff -- while you go out and get... more stuff!
If you didn't have so much stuff, you wouldn't need a house. You could just walk around all the time.......
ytdsgdjgfueyxn537 1 year ago
@ytdsgdjgfueyxn537 so where do you sleep ? A house or a home is a place where you greet the next day. imo :) You can sleep outside, but that wouldn't be preferred, imo :D
razeromg 11 months ago
@razeromg Actually, I'm quite poor. But I'm honest. I do no steal. I do not cheat. I am kind to children and animals. I do not use my intelligence to hurt others. By the time I get rich, I will be too old to enjoy it. So I will give whatever wealth I have to the poor children of this world -- rather than squandering all my money to keep me alive another month. But as for sleeping outside, it is glorious --- at least in summer!
PS: Sleeping outside is glorious! -- at least in summer.
ytdsgdjgfueyxn537 11 months ago
The closest someone can get to complete happiness comes from the knowledgeable feeling experienced when living beyond perspective. If you can manage to rise out of your own "cave" and see life more clearly, you can live without happiness and unhappiness providing a constant state of being.
debeezneez 1 year ago
4 people are never going to be happy.
elevatorcookies 1 year ago
Happiness is so ephemeral that there is no such word to define long-term happiness. For me, nothing comes close to that than a real, non-plastic contentment to everything you are born with and by analyzing the things that made you luckier than others. It's not so bad to hope for more but of course a massive amount of perseverance is to be exerted. But by attaining that, can someone achieve perfect happiness or only realize that a whole lifetime devoted to pretentious desires was wasted?
blssdfall27 1 year ago
Favorite quote: "Why should I fear death? If I am, death is not. If death is, I am not. Why should I fear that which cannot exist when I do?"
-- Epicurus
gomashedpotatoes 1 year ago
Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?
Seems pretty airtight to me, unless you have faith,inwhich case logic doesnt apply
theoddsender 1 year ago
Some of his philosophies reminds me of socialism
havee3333333 1 year ago
Epicurus's quote on God is my favorite quote.
havee3333333 1 year ago
@havee3333333 Same.
VisigothViking 1 year ago
scribd (dot) com / nb812
DreamsofMajesty 1 year ago
8:17 playing the ground is mad of lava makes me happy.
Very simple very fun.
XXGDUBSXX 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
youtube video:
Greek Buddhism Pt. 1 thru 4
qaplatlhinganmaH 1 year ago
These documentaries are so mind-nourishing!
culturedguy300 1 year ago 2
The more I study Epicurus the more I realize how similiar we are.
KayoteThunder 1 year ago
@KayoteThunder I think it's more of just reading ancient philosophies. While reading Marcus Aurelius' Meditations, I would actually forget that what was written came from 2000 years ago. It's amazing to see how similar we are across the millenia
manmythlegend12 1 year ago
scribd (dot) com/nb812
DreamsofMajesty 1 year ago
i think happines is content=t,,, the only reason why ur sad is bec you dont like the things that came to you or the fact that you want something that you dont have or will never will be..if you are contet in your life there is no sadness but happines
greenpalaka 1 year ago
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You cannot assume that anyone who wants to be happy goes to the shopping mall? I haven't gone to a mall for almost two years!
megapenguinmafia 1 year ago
Comment removed
megapenguinmafia 1 year ago
White Power
VelaToNorma7 1 year ago
this guy was onto something...
xridethelightningx 1 year ago
Plato SUCKS
EPICURUS FTW
SportingCPJV 2 years ago 21
@SportingCPJV
Is that what modern philosophical debates have been reduced to? "Plato SUCKS...EPICURUS FTW" Interesting choice of words and even more interesting how you got 14 thumbs up. I'm not disagreeing with you...just thinking out loud.
andyrooney12 10 months ago 4
@andyrooney12 Well, just by dissecting those words, you should know that times change. There are no better or worse ways of making comparisons, but comparisons are just that: comparisons. Let's not, for the moment though, delve into what it means having 'personal preferences', because no one is the same, and everyone has their own ways of reacting or transcending anything that gets to them. Yourself included, and your comment lets that quite clear. Live and Let Die is such a phrase right now...
flamevtx 8 months ago
@SportingCPJV seriously?
fruitypebblesxable 8 months ago
Tyler Durden was a modern day Epicurus.
Why do we work jobs we hate? So that we can buy shit we don't need.
How sad.
IvanTheHeathen 2 years ago 65
@IvanTheHeathen ok then quit your job and become a bum
paulallenification 1 year ago
@paulallenification or work part time or a fun but less paying job and live within your means
spikespeigel 1 year ago
@spikespeigel go fuck yourself
paulallenification 1 year ago
@paulallenification wow man, whats with the hostility?
spikespeigel 1 year ago
@spikespeigel just saw your uploads, nice back yard! what do you do
paulallenification 1 year ago
@IvanTheHeathen Haha yep...and that is why so many people with so much stuff kill themselves...It's a never-ending cycle. Society teaches us to keep wanting more and more stuff, being more and more materialistic. That's what has driven America/Britain to become the richest and most "powerful" countries in the world; while, at the same time, being some of the unhappiest.
manmythlegend12 1 year ago
@IvanTheHeathen ...Or so that we can have a roof over our heads? ...Or food in our mouths? Nay, I say most of us work jobs we hate out of necessity, for there is a lack of good jobs.
TurboRonin83 1 year ago
@IvanTheHeathen
As adults we are required to know the difference between what we want and what we need but most adults are not able to distinguish between the two in their daily lives.
andyrooney12 10 months ago
@IvanTheHeathen Spoiler alert: Tyler isn't real.
TOBORtheMighty 3 months ago in playlist Philosophy: A Guide To Happiness
Thomas Jefferson's letter to William Short
"As you say of yourself, I TOO AM AN EPICUREAN. I consider the genuine doctrines of Epicurus as containing everything rational in moral philosophy which Greece and Rome have left us. Epictetus, indeed, has given us what was good of the Stoics" Thomas Jefferson
"Christianity is the most perverted system that ever shone on man." Thomas Jefferson
qaplatlhinganmaH 2 years ago
Numerous parallels exist between the Greek philosophy of the Cynics and, several centuries later, the Buddhist philosophy of the Madhyamika and Zen. The Cynics denied the relevancy of human conventions and opinions (described as typhos, literally "smoke" or "mist", a metaphor for "illusion" or "error"), including verbal expressions, in favor of the raw experience of reality. They stressed the independence from externals to achieve happiness
qaplatlhinganmaH 2 years ago
I think you've mistaken the Cynics for the Stoics. The Cynics were critical of society like Epicurus but not relativists. The three pillars of their ethics were strength of body, freedom of speech, and self-sufficiency. Cheers!
rs40licks1 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Greco-Buddhism, sometimes spelt Graeco-Buddhism, refers to the cultural syncretism between Hellenistic culture and Buddhism, which developed between the 4th century BCE and the 5th century CE
qaplatlhinganmaH 2 years ago
epicurus and epitetus, were the best of the greek philosophers and better than any other philosophers excepting the Buddha who was THE greatest philosopher of all.
atfatw 2 years ago
who is the "greatest" is a subjective interpretation.
iamnotgey 2 years ago 5
iamnotgey: Yes, who the greatest is, is obviously subjective...what else would it be? Nevertheless, I would be hard pressed to find someone who has been more insightful than Epicurus. Btw, this video is really just an intro to his philosophy.
AdPrimum 1 year ago
omg! Buddha was not a philosopher...
anubisar2007 2 years ago
epicurus does not have right or wrong as no human can have right or wrong. but he have a point in his words.. that make people to ask questions
Inazui 2 years ago 3
You are getting a thumbs up, sir! Did you know your handle is the first result for your handle on google?
Damn urban dictionary. #1.
wangzilla 2 years ago
It is not so much our friends' help that helps us, as the confidence of their help. -Epicurus
SK3Nives 2 years ago
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Even tough you have lots of money but you do not have God in your side. You're nothing but a piece of trash..... Even Bill Gates said that.....
PS: I Don't Care if you make my comment in thumbs down........
paramoretatu567 2 years ago
Greece, where geniuses are born.
EndlessChris 2 years ago 2
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I LOVE YOU EPICURUS
JESUS CHRIST fuck off
Magarmach09 2 years ago 16
@Magarmach09 Muhammad FUCK OFF
Paulwhoisvegan 1 year ago 2
Hippy commune buble and bust
realmadridvideos 2 years ago
Epicurus - it's hard to argue with him. He even posited evolution and natural selection (he had to, since his gods didn't do anything except sing polly wolly doodle all the day).
mnhsty 2 years ago
Happiness is purchased not viewed. A funny statement of mine.
In all Seriousness though, Happiness is created in the mind. at least to me it is. Such as when I think of books, dated books from as early as the 1400's in museums, that makes me happy, in which a thought has to derive, creating the image of the books that make me happy.
BookCollector100 2 years ago
'Epicurean' was not a misunderstanding; for it was the denial of good food all week that made the one luxurious meal of the week so special ... he manipulated the variables for that contrast.
Very clearly, his greatest pleasure was in fact freedom from pain.
Also "happiness" ... was an ancient Greek using an ancient Norse word?
slh950 2 years ago
Epicurus cured my existential depression. I am not very emotional some think i may have a touch ofasperger's syndrome I don't get super happy or sad I just stay in a good mood all the time. I have kinda made my own philosophy of life with Epicurus,Nietzsche,Ayn Rand,Carl Sagan and Micheal Shermer to name some who influenced my thinking and person life philosophy
jehovahgodofgaps 2 years ago
think he was a very sensible man and there's a lot of merit in his philosophy-not saying i could go his route but i admire him for the doing it...
mickalene 2 years ago
preliterate scribes
lassiecox 2 years ago
alain de botton is amazing
michelangeli23 2 years ago 2
Brilliant!!!
NASIMNASIM 2 years ago
Don't argue everyone.. Be happy... Be Epicurean..
bawdmawn 2 years ago 4
EPICurus + DarWIN
EPIC + WIN
= EPICWIN
Atheists - Infinite
Religion - 0
MusicHypno 2 years ago 5
yah..
i dont believe your theory on how "happiness is a state of mind" because you can be happy deep down but on the outside you aresad or mad or something. Epicurus means that you need to seek out happiness instead of waiting and waiting for it to come to you...
perfectpear5 2 years ago
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Epi. on freedom or being free. He leaves Athem to find freedom. Jesus said the truth shall set you free. Jesus is the true genius, the true teacher/philosopher. Epi. flaw is in the fact the he thought that by doing certain things, going to certain places, eating in a certain way, he could find happiness. One day Epi. will be raised from the dead, and he will realize how wrong he was, poor soul.
onetocome 3 years ago
Mr Onetocome, Jesus was not a philosopher, I'm afraid he never said so, if he ever existed. Philosophy is a greek word, a greek ''disease'' if you prefer, as did your ''religious fathers''. I'm not an Epicurean. And I cynically greet you: Happy afterlife.
denisplaku 2 years ago
True, he was not.
onetocome 2 years ago
jesus might have existed and his teachings were good against the poor ect...
Unfortunately he didnt perform any miracles nor did he have a virgin birth...
His teachings were destroyed and his wife was hidden from earth (research on jesus's wife)
Christans dont like accepting this but christianity is not jesus its Emporor Constantine of Rome
xmuneebx 2 years ago
Of course.
denisplaku 2 years ago
Jesus is not Constantine. Jesus is Horus. Constantine was the Roman emperor that converted his army to Christians thus allowing Christianity to thrive.
slwLwisen00 2 years ago
AGREED!!
paramoretatu567 2 years ago
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The narrator says that we all shop too much and Ep. says it's because we don't know what we really need. People shop for pleasure, it gives them pleasure. But it was Jesus the one, not Epicurus that said, do not judge, or take the beam out of your eye first. Epi. felt in his own trap, he was judging other people's way of having pleasure.
onetocome 3 years ago
"he was judging other people's way of having pleasure"
so is religion....so what?
Dreamerx47 2 years ago
Epicurus tells his friend to send him a pot of cheese so that he could have a feast. There are many people like Epi. I have personally met them, I have also have had the Epi.. state of mind, most people have. It's call appreciating what you have. But Ep. takes it to a different level, he totally abondons or can't attain riches so he gets hanged up on this train of thought and goes for the mountains. Again he was critisizing riches, which is a contradiction, because riches are very pleasurable.
onetocome 3 years ago
The narrator also assumes that we, meaning all think that happiness means having lots of money. Well sorry to disappoint him, but many people don't feel that money bring happiness. Just ask a happy farmer.
onetocome 3 years ago
@onetocome Some farmers are millionares. They make lots of money so your example is not a good one.
ricomajestic 4 months ago
Epicurus didn't think that we should feel guilty about having a pleasureble and enjoyable life. That is not news, is even in the OT. Again Epicurus was assuming, why was he assuming, because he was feeling guilty himself, maybe he thought that people felt like him, maybe he felt people were looking for happiness, but it was him the one looking for it. I'm not saying other where not, but he defenitly was.
onetocome 3 years ago
Second flaw in his theory, he says that the problem we couldn't find happiness is that we where looking in the wrong place. He assumed that because he was looking for happiness, that everyone else had his problem or had a problem finding happiness. This alone makes his theory illogical and not true. He was not happy with his normal life, so he assumed everyone else had the same problem.
onetocome 3 years ago
I am going to analize Epicurus frame by frame. Epicurus believed that we could all find a way to be happy. Well this is not an answer to happiness. It's like saying we can all be rich. The first flaw in Epicurus "logic" is that happiness is not something you find, happiness is a state of mind. Another problem is that humans can't always be happy, it's impossible, there are moments of happiness and there are moments of anger, rage, sadness. So happiness is not something you find and get to keep.
onetocome 3 years ago
onetocome, this post is a response to your collective comments.
You need to read, say, The Epicurus Reader and De Rerum Natura. Why? Because you totally misunderstand Epicurus. How can you offer a critique of the man's view when you don't even know his views (and I know you don't based on your posts). :)
BryanAJParry 2 years ago
OTC, even before I saw that you talk about God, I could somehow tell you were a Christian...
Anyway, I think I'm beginning to like this Epicurus. He seems to have this whole happiness thing figured out, at least much more than I do.
PerianArdocyl 3 years ago
Epicurus leaves Athem to find freedom, big mistake. It's clear that Epicurus was a fool. He defenetly had a leftist liberal mentallity, even though most liberals love money, they just deny it. Jesus sets people free right where they are, you don't have to pack and run to the mountains. Epicurus was defenitely a cultist, the funny thing is that is doesn't say what they did in those mountains. This guy Epicurus was a crazy fox. Deceitful is the heart above all things, who can know it. LoL
onetocome 3 years ago
Because staying in Athens would have meant he was free? Well that didn't work for Socrates or Aristotle.
newperve 3 years ago
Epicurus obviously got most of his ideas from the OT.
onetocome 3 years ago
I want you to explain to me how not believing in God makes you smart. Think before you write. Jesus didn't go around preaching happiness, why, because happiness is a superficial feeling, now, that's smart. You better think well and hard before you respond to me. Ok buddy.
onetocome 3 years ago
It doesn't, but falling for the arguments used to support the idea of a God tends to argue against intelligence. When you support a mess of contradictions like Christianity or any other religion, you tend to get stupider, for contradictions demand stupidiity.
newperve 3 years ago
I follow the word of God, not Christianity, let alone religion. There is contradiction in Christianity, not in the word of God. Remember that there is also contradiction is science.
onetocome 3 years ago
I see so what is your evidence that what you believe is the word of god? As for contradictions in science, these are continually investigated and resolved, unlike the contradictions in religion, which are simply made more complex and contradictory.
newperve 3 years ago
I believe the bible to be the word of God. And where is the evidence for what you believe. You believe in the sun, and the effects of the sun is your evidence. Well the effects of the word of God is my evidence. There is no evidence that evil exists, yet we see the effects of evil in the world. Can you examine a thought under a microscope, so there is no evidence for thoughts. Can you examine the mind, no, only its effects.
onetocome 3 years ago
There is plenty of evidence for evil as a meaningful category because we can predict behaviour of people, governments, and institutions more accurately by classifying them as evil or not. What is the evidence of the "effects of the word of god"? What effects are these and how do you know they're not the effects of something else?
newperve 3 years ago
YOu are a fool.
onetocome 3 years ago
This may be so, but that doesn't mean I'm wrong. What evidence do you have for the "effects of the word of god"?
newperve 3 years ago
There is evidence for evil because people do evil and tha's it. And acts and thoughts of evil stem from a person hearts. The evidence for the word of God is that is changes people's hearts and lives. The effects are real love for thier neighbor, not the hypocrital love that the world offers, when a person becomes a xtian they are transformed from the "typical, normal" person, to a new creature, the transformation changes their core belief, in other words, their hearts.
onetocome 3 years ago
That's not evidence for certain words being the word of god, it's just evidence that people take them seriously. By your standards Epicurus' words are the word of god.
newperve 3 years ago
So to answer your statement, Epicurus message was nonsense. Epicurus wasn't even aware of the word of God, just like you.
onetocome 3 years ago
Assertion isn't evidence. How was Epicurus' message nonsense? What contradiction (either internal or of empirical reality) was there? How do you know that the word of god is objectively meaningful as opposed to being something you happen to like?
newperve 3 years ago
I already explained why.
onetocome 3 years ago
No you haven't, you've just claimed that there were flaws and tried to disparage his character.
newperve 3 years ago
This transformation only happens from knowledge of the word of God. You can't form a xtian any other way, just go and try to convert a person without using the word of God, you will failed miserably. The most powerful weapon a person possesses is their belief, and Jesus knew and preached this more than anything, but atheists seem to miss this single most important concept over and over and over and over and over again. And I understand why, it's because you are blind. crazy and without idea.
onetocome 3 years ago
But you don't know you have the word of god, you just know that certain words had certain effects. Other words by communists, nazis, muslims, Charles Manson etc. have very similar effects, they aren't all the word of god.
newperve 3 years ago
The word of God is not a word, it's a message or the spirit of God. When the bible speaks of the word of God, it means the message of God, the law, it's not talking about individual words. Words without a message or intention are meaningless, you should know that. Now what where you saying about Manson, are you kidding me. You've got a lot to learn.
onetocome 3 years ago
Irrevelent, other messages by communists Nazis, muslims, Charles Manson etc. had the same effects as the "message of god". I wasn't kidding about Charles Manson you fool, he transformed people all the time. How is this empirically different from the "word of god"?
newperve 3 years ago
Epicurus drags his frinds to nowhere to be happy, well that just he's stupid idea of how to be happy, it's not mine. He was just another dreamer trying to find paradise. Well escaping reality is not a very good idea. He should have stayed in town, gotten married and be happy with what ever came his way, that is a more natural way of being happy. Just because you buy or don't buy stuff has nothing to do with happyness. Epicurus was a fool, and he sounds like a liberal socialist if you ask me.
onetocome 3 years ago
Epicurus was a very smart man for his time, you really have no clue what you're talking about.
refuckulate420 3 years ago
Really, how was he smart. Running away from reality is not smart. Another great missconception is the idea that happiness has to be found somewhere. All you have to do to be happy is appreciate what you have and enjoy it. Anyone who spends he's life trying to figure out how to be happy is wasting his/her time instead of just enjoying life. Now, tell me, how was he smart.
onetocome 3 years ago
Not everyone achieves happiness that same way numb nuts. For one this man didnt believe god and that alone makes him a very smart man.
refuckulate420 3 years ago
How did he run away from reality? The idea that the secret to being happy is to "appreciate what you have" seems to mean that it's a slave's fault he's not happy. The idea that the keys to happiness are freedom, friendship and the ability to reflect on your life was revolutionary and has yet to be bettered.
newperve 3 years ago
He couldn't find happiness where he was, so he scaped with his friends, that sounds cultist to me. If you are a happy slave, your master will stop seeing you as a slave, he will be overcome and perplexed by such happiness and pride that a change will occur in him, but you can't bear that yet. Happiness is not an idea nor a formula, it's a reaction/feeling which is controlled by perception and it can never be bettered. People will not be happier in the future, that is nonsense.
onetocome 3 years ago
He moved into a big house with his friends, how is that "escaping"? He didn't run away from anything. You seem to be saying that if you try to actually change your life that's proof that you can't handle reality. This doesn't make sense. If you truly believed that what you do doesn't make you happy then don't respond to this post, since it won't make you happier to do so.
newperve 3 years ago
The guy was searching for happiness, obviously he couldn't find it in his normal life. He was insinuating that in order to be happy one has to be constantly with friends in a big house. The guy couldn't even have lunch by himself, the guy was delusional, in simple words, a dreamer trying to find happiness. He didnt' want to work either, he didn't want to be in the city with the rest of the people, he had a problem with reality, there are a lot of nuts like that, and he fits the mold. Case close.
onetocome 3 years ago
So because he couldn't be happy being what you call "normal" he has a problem with reality? He wanted to be happy and he thought he'd found the best way. ASAIK it worked for him so how is that being delusional? Because he does't think trying to figure out what an invisible sky pixie wants him to do doesn't make him delusional. As for him not wanting to work, where's your evidence? You claim "case closed" but you haven't supported your argument.
newperve 3 years ago
You are right, I don't know much about the guy, but I stand by what I said. I like how you atheist define God like an invisible sky pixie, why don't you define him as what God really is,the most powerful force or concept, I mean billions of intellectual ponder the question whethere there is or there isn't a God. But you have the right to think how ever you want, anyway.
onetocome 3 years ago
Why do you stand by what you said? You've given no evidence that anything you believe about him is true, it's merely your projection of your own beliefs. And what is god but an invisible sky pixie, if a really big one? So lots of people contemplate him, so what? That no more makes him real than the thousands who contemplate the benefits of Marxist utopia make it real.
newperve 3 years ago
YOu go find your truth, good luck.
onetocome 3 years ago
Thank you, if you really meant that of course you'd back up what you believe with evidence. So far all you've done is traduce a great philosopher with things irrelevent to the truth and make claims that you know god's word, that you also don't back up.
newperve 3 years ago
Let's take the atheist view. If this guy would have been in my circle of friends when I was young and hanging out, we would have label him a sissy, somebody with a problem. This guy needed to get laid, he had real issues with life. But you dont' seem to be digging deeper than oh, this guy was just looking for happiness. I don't know how old Epi. was, but when I was young, I didn't have a problem in the world, I was living it up.
onetocome 3 years ago
Wow, you're really projecting here. Why do you say he can't get laid (a lame objection to a philosopher/philosophy if I ever heard one, is Charles Manson a better philosopher because he could get laid?)? Labelling someone as a "sissy" because they move away from Athens seems strange. Epicurus was living it up, in his own way. You're the one running away from reality.
newperve 3 years ago
Sorry pal, I stayed in town.
onetocome 3 years ago
I yet you're off the planet. You're claiming that becuase he didn't accept Athens he had a problem with reality. He didn't. He had a problem with how Athens really was at the time, so he left Athens, he remained in reality however. Town is not reality so leaving town is not leaving reality.
newperve 3 years ago
His family, his friends, his neighborhs where not good enough for him, this guy had issues. He was trying to create paradise, and paradise is inside, not outside. This man was incluence by his environment and his environment told him what to do. This proves he had no inner wisdom, he was just reacting to conditions.
onetocome 3 years ago
His friends certainly were good enough for him, that's kinda the point. As for his neighbors being good enough for him, so what? Just because someone lives next to you doesn't mean you should like them. Ditto someone being related to you. He changed his situation to make things better for him. It seemed to work. You are trying to imply that any attempt to change reality means that someone is unwise. I take it then you don't go to the doctor when sick? Or change jobs if your's sucks?
newperve 3 years ago 2
Epicurus was a selfish person looking for his happiness. "Just because someone lives next to you doesn't mean you should like them." REally, no, you should love them and this is where Epicurus missed the point. You are damm right, if you try to change reality you are unwise.
onetocome 3 years ago
So then why are you posting if trying to change reality is unwise? Posting is trying to change the reality that my arguments are unanswered by you.
Why should I have to love someone just because they live nearby? What if they're a bad person and don't make me happy? Do I still have to spend time with them even though I would be happier if I avoided them entirely?
Even assuming was selfish (and I see no evidence of it) what's wrong with that? Why should he desire good for himself?
newperve 3 years ago 2
Posting is posting, you don't make sense. YOu must love all. So you only love good people, that is so funny, but true. Life is not about you or Epicurus being happy, that is so selfish. You fit the typical profile of an egotistical selfish person that is only looking for their happiness. Have you ever tryed to make someone else happy. I bet that never occur to Epicurus, wow.
onetocome 3 years ago
Posting is, like all actions an attempt to change reality. You claimed that such attempts are misguided, so why continue to post? Of course like all haters of thought you resort to the "you're selfish" line. What's wrong with that? Even assuming that he and I cared nothing for others (you have no evidence of that) why is us caring what happens to us wrong? If it's wrong for me to care about my welfare, why would it be right for you to? Who are you to decide what my life is about?
newperve 3 years ago
Epicurus frequently said one must give all and even die for our friends. Also, he said that "friendship dances round the world announcing to everyone: wake up to blessedness!"
BryanAJParry 2 years ago
So I need to know how old was he when he wrote this stuff, was he married, was he gay, a most likely scenario. Tell me about this guy, maybe I'll read a little bit about him, but I know from experience, that I am right on the money, my gutt/wisdom never missess. I do have to admit that we all encounter similar behavior patterns while growing up and most of us get over them, but Epi. actually did it, he was looking for somethig that is not real, he was looking in the wrong place.
onetocome 3 years ago
Why do you need to know this? Either his logic is good or it isn't, I don't see why his being gay or not invalidates it. You claim you "know from experience" your "wisdom never misses", yet every guess you've made has been unsupported by evidence. Is it possible you are usually wrong but simply never admit it, and so think you're batting 1.000? Epicurus looked for somethingquite easy to find and he found it. It seemed to work for him, so why lie and say he was looking in the wrong place?
newperve 3 years ago
Because it's important, and what logic are you talking about. A true man finds happiness anywhere, because he creates it. Epicurus was being sway by the breeze, he had no deep roots.
onetocome 3 years ago
No it's not important if he was gay or married or whatever if his logic is both internally consistent and empirically correct. You just made claims about Epicurus that have no basis in fact and refuse to either admit you have no evidence or produce said evidence. Epicurus said things. Were they logical or not?
newperve 3 years ago
What Epicurus said has nothing to do with logic, it's philosophy for Christ sake.
onetocome 3 years ago
It has everything to do with logic and if you knew any philosophy you'd know that. You are dodging the question because you know what Epicurus said made sense and you don't like that because you prefer to believe in nonsense. That's why you're talking about everything but the actual philosophy.
newperve 3 years ago 2
YOu are cluessless, you don't get it, it's philosophy, and just like you said before that's what supposedly made him happy, that was his philosphy, not others. So stop throwing logic into the equation.
onetocome 3 years ago
Philosophy is the application of logic you clueless simp. Without logic all you have is incoherent rants about your personal neurotic desires/fears. His logic was consistent with itself and empirical reality AFAIK. If it wasn't please discuss it's failing philosophically, don't just assert like a little pop-up monkey.
newperve 3 years ago
That's exactly what he had, "neurotic desires/fears. The logic is subjective, is not for all, if all people would agree with him, it would logical, but not all people agreed with him. It's only an interpretation of life, you wish I was simple. YOu are no match for me.
onetocome 3 years ago
So you think that the fact that not everyone agrees with him means the logic is subjective? In that case I guess you have a problem with pretty much all of science. You claim "it's only an interpretation of life" but you haven't shown that it isn't a VALID interpretation of life. If it is then it's not "only an interpretation of life", it's something far more. Nor have you shown that it's subjective. I am a match for someone who can only assert and contradicts his own claims by doing so.
newperve 3 years ago
How the hell am I going to show or prove in not a valid interpretation, it's philosophy. Of course it's subjective, what the hell else can it be. Epicurus was a "philosopher" and that's it, there is zero logic is what he says. It's not the answer to happiness, it was the answer to his fake happiness. I do have a problem with science, you moron, people are constantly making mistakes and changin their minds, you idiot.
onetocome 3 years ago
Well if it were really not valid you could show internal contradictions in the logic or that empirical reality differs from the predictions of his theory. You can't do this so you just claim it's subjective, despite the objective evidence of it's truth. Your problem with science is that it's not absolutely right about everything all the time. Instead you go for something that is demonstrably wrong much of the time and the rest of the time there's no what to tell. And you call me a moron.
newperve 3 years ago
Serious friendship, freedom, and self analysis sounds like it is a reasoned approach to happiness.
writetothepoint1960 3 years ago
I agree.
PhilosophicalMedia 3 years ago
how many navy shirts does de botton have? :)
shinewearsoff 3 years ago
Epicurus was just another naive philosopher. God is the only source of true happines and freedom.
onetocome 3 years ago