: Fulfill these immediately. They are easy to satisfy and limited by nature. 2. Natural but Unnecessary Desires
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The active pleasure of satisfying a desire, such as eating delicious food or listening to music. While good, these are fleeting.
Key insight: Most suffering comes from chasing vain desires. The person who needs a golden throne is never at rest; the person who can sleep on a straw mat with a clear mind already has perfect happiness.
Examples: Gourmet food, fine wine, luxury goods, and sexual intimacy. 3. Unnatural and Unnecessary (Vain) Desires
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To truly understand Epicurus's framework for happiness, one must grasp two central Greek concepts that form the bedrock of his philosophy: The absence of physical pain.
If you just want the original texts without the modern commentary, you can find them for free. Epicurus’s philosophy survives mainly in three letters and two sets of quotes.
Epicurus believed that friendship is essential to human happiness. He argued that friends provide emotional support, comfort, and companionship, which are all essential for achieving a state of well-being and contentment. Epicurus' own community, known as "The Garden," was a testament to the importance he placed on friendship and social connections.
Here is a step-by-step plan to help you explore these texts effectively.