HISTORY OF IDEAS: Epicurus on Happiness (BBC)

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HISTORY OF IDEAS: Epicurus on Happiness (BBC)
by Darius Kadivar
24-May-2010
 

Alain de Botton makes Philosophy easy to understand. Here he speaks about Greek Philosopher Epicurus, the founder of the school of philosophy called Epicureanism. Only a few fragments and letters remain of Epicurus's 300 written works. Much of what is known about Epicurean philosophy derives from later followers and commentators.

For Epicurus, the purpose of philosophy was to attain the 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. He taught that pleasure and pain are the measures of what is good and evil, that death is the end of the body and the soul and should therefore not be feared, that the gods do not reward or punish humans, that the universe is infinite and eternal, and that events in the world are ultimately based on the motions and interactions of atoms moving in empty space. More Here

Alain De Botton speaks about Epicurus and Happiness:

Part I:

Part II:

Part III:

Alain de Botton: A kinder, gentler philosophy of success:

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HISTORY OF IDEAS: Seneca on Anger - A Guide To Happiness with Alain de Botton (BBC)

HISTORY OF IDEAS: Montaigne's Guide To Happiness,Wisdom and Self-Esteem (BBC Documentary)

HISTORY OF IDEAS:Socrates on Self-Confidence and Non Conformist Thought (BBC Documentary)

HISTORY FORUM: The Age of Enlightment in France and Europe.

EMPIRE OF THE MIND: The Greeks - Crucible of Civilization narrated by Liam Neeson (PBS-1999)

HISTORY FORUM: Machiavelli's "The Prince" and the "Art" of Governing

GOOD READ: All You Need to Know About The Enlightment Philosophers

HISTORY FORUM: Nader Naderpour on Iran's Constitutional Revolution and European Rennaissance (1996)

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humanbeing

interesting!

by humanbeing on

i'd give up the shopping in a second! always hated that.

but seriously, in order to follow this way of life, many of us would have to be able to let go of a recurring return to painful and traumatic experiences. worth a try.