Analyze and explain Epicurus’ famous proclamation: “Thanks be to blessed Nature because she has made what is necessary easy to supply, and what is not easy unnecessary…The right understanding of these facts enables us to refer all choice and avoidance to the health of the body and the soul’s freedom from disturbance, since this is the aim of the life of blessedness.” Do you agree or disagree with this assessment of the good life, and why?
In support of your argument, please refer to specific passages from the video (Alain de Botton’s “Epicurus on Happiness—Philosophy: A Guide to Happiness,” available on YouTube via the link below) as well as to the Epicurus reading assignment, and your own life experiences and observations.
Analysis of Epicurus’ Famous Proclamation: “Thanks be to blessed Nature….
The thought of finding what would make one happy has undoubtedly led many people into activities that are either fulfilling or not. Some of these activities have been aimed at the pursuit of such things as money, sex, adventures, and drug use. The philosopher Epicurus came up with an analogy that defines necessity and luxury as a means of demonstrating that finding happiness and fulfillment should be the most natural endeavor and not daunting in any way. According to the philosopher, nature is designed in such a way that necessary things are easy to acquire while the unnecessary ones require a lot of effort that is not really worth it. That is, good life characterized by the achievement of happiness is one basic need that nature readily affords even the unluckiest individuals. I agree with Epicurus’ philosophy on life’s blessedness.
The achievement of life’s desires is variable and depends on the availability of the need in question. Human happiness appears to be a concept that nature is readily consistent with provided people make the little effort that is needed to achieve them. For instance, food and sex are needs that are arguably available at people’s disposal and one does not necessarily have to undergo so much pain to acquire them (Stanford). Plants that provide food grow naturally both in water and soil and humans do very little (including activities such as planting, weeding, and harvesting) to get the consumable produce. Additionally, through the institution of marriage humans fulfill their sexual desires by getting intimate with their partners. As such, happiness is a concept that humans do not have to strain on a daily basis to achieve.
Acquiring luxurious things may come with the cost of pain and disturbance of health in the long run. Epicurus did not entirely advocate against enjoying life pleasures such as drinking and finding love. Instead, he mentioned that humans should enjoy these but with moderation. As Alain de Botton puts it, individuals have often misunderstood Epicurus’ concept of enjoying life and have instead overindulged in such activities as overdrinking and uncontrolled purchase of valuable items. Alain’s argument coheres with Epicurus’ philosophy as the persons colloquially term Epicureans suffer from health hazards like liver and heart diseases in the long run. However, the achievement of pleasurable items and activities with moderation is linked to static pleasure which humans can enjoy from time to time once the need is satisfied. Therefore, Epicurus recommended indulgence into pleasurable activities but moderately despite himself having lived a far from luxurious life. His meals mostly comprised simple foods such as cheese, bread, and vegetables.
Alain’s tour to find out how a few people lived their lives arguably demonstrates the unnecessary things humans strive to acquire might not afford them lifelong satiety. In one of the households, he meets a gentleman with a relatively expensive taste. The gent’s closet is filled with expensive attire that he keeps buying whenever he goes shopping. When asked by Alain about the worst financial decision he has ever made, the gentleman reports that he has severally fallen into the trap of impulse buying and has a constant need to keep with fashion by purchasing newer and more expensive items. As such, Epicurus’ philosophy of life’s blessedness affording humans necessity more naturally holds. This argument is further supported by the disturbing circumstances individuals find themselves in the endless pursuit of happiness without moderation.
Works Cited
Stanford. Epicurus. 16 April 2018. https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/epicurus/. 2 July 2021.
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