Epicureanism champions ataraxia, a state of tranquility achieved by removing fear and moderating desires. This philosophy emphasizes contentment with simple pleasures and avoiding unnecessary wants, viewing ataraxia as the ultimate goal for a good life.

Epicurean ethics values friendship but advises limited political involvement to maintain peace of mind. It differs from Stoicism and Aristotelian virtue ethics in its approach to happiness, focusing on pursuing pleasure and avoiding pain rather than living in harmony with nature or cultivating virtues.

The Concept of Ataraxia in Epicurean Ethics

Concept of ataraxia in Epicureanism

• Ataraxia represents a state of tranquility, peace of mind, and freedom from disturbance and anxiety
• Serves as the ultimate goal of Epicurean ethics and the highest form of happiness attainable
• Achieving ataraxia is considered the key to living a good life according to Epicurean philosophy
• Attained through the removal of fear and the moderation of desires
• Involves being content with simple pleasures (companionship, basic needs) and avoiding unnecessary desires (wealth, fame) or fears (death, divine retribution)

Path to ataraxia

• Removing fear is crucial, particularly the fear of death and the fear of the gods
  • Death is not to be feared because when we exist, death is not present, and when death is present, we do not exist
  • The gods are not concerned with human affairs and do not interfere in our lives, so fear of divine retribution is unnecessary
• Moderating desires is essential to achieving ataraxia
  • Epicureans categorize desires into natural and necessary (food, shelter, safety), natural but unnecessary (luxurious food, accommodations), and vain and empty (fame, power)
  • Natural and necessary desires should be fulfilled, while natural but unnecessary desires should be moderated
  • Vain and empty desires should be eliminated altogether
• Focusing on simple pleasures and limiting desires minimizes anxiety and promotes contentment, leading to ataraxia

Epicurean Ethics and Its Relationship to Other Aspects of Life

Ethics and social engagement

• Friendship is highly valued in Epicurean philosophy
  • Considered essential for achieving happiness and security
  • Friendships should be based on mutual benefit and shared values (trust, support)
• Limited involvement in politics and public affairs is generally advocated
  • Engaging in politics can lead to stress, anxiety, and a disturbance of ataraxia
  • Some involvement may be necessary to ensure personal security and the ability to live an undisturbed life
• Social engagement is approached with moderation
  • Epicureans value social connections and communal living (Epicurean communities)
  • Maintaining personal autonomy and avoiding excessive social obligations (burdensome relationships, societal expectations) that could lead to anxiety or stress is important

Epicurean vs other ethical systems

• Epicureanism and Stoicism share some similarities but also have notable differences
  • Both emphasize living in accordance with reason and limiting desires
  • Stoics focus more on living in harmony with nature and accepting fate, while Epicureans prioritize the pursuit of pleasure and avoidance of pain
• Aristotelian virtue ethics differs from Epicureanism in its approach to happiness and the good life
  • Aristotle argues that happiness is achieved through cultivating virtues (courage, justice, temperance)
  • Epicureans believe happiness is attained through pursuing pleasure and avoiding pain
  • Aristotle's conception of the mean involves balancing excess and deficiency in relation to specific virtues, while Epicurean moderation focuses on limiting desires to achieve ataraxia