A Philosophy of Happiness
Thoughts from Epicurus
There is an old but great BBC documentary with writer and philosopher Alain de Botton where he covers the three ingredients of happiness by Epicurus, the famous Greek philosopher who lived between 340–270 BC. I’d like to share some of his insights here by paraphrasing de Botton’s commentary.
Why is Epicurus So Special?
Very few written records of Epicurus’s writings remain, and none of his 300-some books have survived to this day. But his teachings developed into a kind of creed, a bit like a religion, called Epicureanism, and remained popular in the ancient world for some 400 years after his death. Thanks to this, we know quite a lot about his teachings.
Teachings
Epicurus taught a philosophy that was heavily influenced by Democritus, who is credited with the concept of the atom. For him, the purpose of philosophy was to attain a happy, tranquil life, characterized by ataraxia — peace and freedom from fear — and aponia — the absence of pain — and by living a self-sufficient life surrounded by friends. His philosophy taught that:
- Good and evil is measured by pleasure and pain
- Death is the end of both body and soul and should not be feared
- The gods neither reward nor punish humans
- The universe is infinite and eternal
- Events in the world are ultimately based on the motions and interactions of atoms moving in empty space
Epicurus is also a key figure in the development of science and scientific methodology because of his insistence that nothing be believed, except that which was tested through direct observation and logical deduction.
Epicurus’s Three Ingredients to Happiness
At the core of Epicurus’s prescription for happiness was his observation that humans are really good at seeking pleasure, but surprisingly bad at knowing how to be happy. So, he took on the task of coming up with his own philosophy of happiness that others could follow.
1. Friends
Epicurus bought a house in Athens and called it “The Garden.” He asked all his friends to move in with him and they would have conversations and eat meals together in the common room. In order to really benefit from friends, Epicurus recommended that your friends become your permanent companions. He also recommended never to eat alone.
“Consider carefully who you eat or drink with rather than what you eat or drink. The feeding without a friend is the life of a lion or a wolf.”
2. Self-sufficience
To be financially independent, economically self-sufficient and not answerable to horrible bosses and a salary was another element of happiness for Epicurus.
“We must free ourselves from the prison of everyday life and politics.”
So what did Epicurus do? He and many of his friends from “The Garden” moved out of Athens and created their own commune in the countryside. They didn’t mind looking shabby or not having much money. They farmed and lived a self-sufficient existence.
3. An Analyzed Life
A life in which we take time to reflect on our worries and analyze what is troubling us. Epicurus noted that this relieves anxiety if we give ourselves the time to think things through. In order to do this, we need to step back from the noisy distractions of the world and find time and space for quiet reflection about our lives.
No money necessary
The great thing about these three ingredients is that none of them require money. He contended that as long as you have friends, are self-sufficient and have an analyzed life, you can still be happy. On the flipside, you can have tons of money, but be lacking in any one of these ingredients, and you’ll never be happy, according to Epicurus.
Why Aren’t More People Happy?
These revelations bring about some questions that apply to people across the board — ancient or modern. If the ingredients of happiness are so simple, why aren’t more people happy? Epicurus addressed this and found the culprit.
Advertising.
Advertising can be enormously seductive. It can make us feel that we have all sorts of things missing from our lives. But, Epicurus insisted that we only need three things.
How To Fight Advertising
In ancient times, the wealthy citizen Diogenes of the city of Oenoanda (now in modern Turkey), was a follower of Epicureanism. In his desire for the people of Oenoanda to live better lives, he had Epicurus’s entire philosophy of happiness inscribed on the city walls.
Diogenes’s “Mission Statement,” which he had inscribed on one of the stones, said that if only one or two people were lost in the pursuit of happiness, he would have spoken to them personally. However, since there were so many he decided to commission the inscriptions. They became so popular they were read aloud once a year for all the citizens to be reminded of Epicurus’s teachings.
Taking this to heart, what this means is that even modern society needs constant reminders about the ingredients that can make us truly happy. In the ancient world, they may have been fragances, jewelry and ointments. In the modern world, they could be gadgets, the newest fashion trends and (still) jewelry. Regardless, we in modern society need, just like in ancient society, constant reminders that the ingredients to true happiness don’t necessarily lay where we first look for them.
Happiness may be difficult to attain. Epicurus certainly suggested that. But the obstacles are not primarily financial. I think we all have something to learn from this.
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Karl Hideyo Schroeder is a globally-experienced manager of people and relationships, having worked in banking, finance and start-ups. You can follow him on Twitter @KarlHideyoSchro.
