Epicurean wrap-up

Well Geoffrey, I’d say you certainly had a more successful Epicurean experience this week than me, although I did rally towards the end, clocking up a number of specifically scheduled meals with friends in order to get my numbers up and try to savour the experience.

Despite that, my big lesson out of the week has been that making the most out of life (Epicurean style) can take quite a lot of effort to arrange, which feels counterintuitive. I’m sure that over time one could form established habits, but as a 7 day experiment, it was unexpectedly much harder to implement than the constant virtuousness of Stoicism.

I liked the “always eat when hungry and only then” rule - harder to implement than it sounds, but a great reason to snack the moment the munchies hit. Avoiding anxiety was also very tricky, but I did my best to take deep breaths on some current causes of such, and live more in the moment. Remembering the Epicurean viewpoint of no afterlife helped focus on enjoying the now - the only time we know we still have.

What did you learn last week Geoff?

“Let no one be slow to seek wisdom when he is young nor weary in the search thereof when he is grown old. For no age is too early or too late for the health of the soul.”

Epicurus in Letter to Menoeceus, from Lives of the Eminent Philosophers by Diogenes Laërtius, translated by Robert Drew Hicks

Simon.

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Well Simon, I think the impediment for us was the inability to commit 100% to the specifications of this philosophy. While our rules moved us closer to the happiness espoused by the Epicurean philosophy – unsurprisingly feeding myself, addressing my worries rather than ignoring them, and spending an increased amount of time with people I like was all very pleasurable – we weren’t able to commit to one concept that I think was essential: freedom.

Without uprooting our lives entirely and moving into a commune with a like minded group of pleasure seekers willing to abstain from the modern world and live in self-sufficient harmony, I don’t think we were ever going to live quite as Epicurus and his mob suggested. If I could live in a world where going to a paying job each day and having to use the Myki system were not realities, it is quite apparent how much happier life could be. But you and I suffer the very fear that Epicureans advocated the need to free ourselves from. We were not willing to sacrifice the apparent security of this world, its pressures and expectations, to find happiness on our own terms.

As with the Stoic concept of virtue, it’s not that hard to identify just what it is that you find to be virtuous or pleasurable, it’s just difficult to commit to change even if that would lead to a good or happy life.

Geoff.

Three days of Epicureanism: a status report in chat form

Simon: So Geoff, how goes Epicureanism for you?

Geoff: Fucking peachy Simon. How about you?

S: Quite terrible. I am failing at this right now.

G: I don’t think that can be quite right. I have read quite consistently that there is a strong link between Epicurean and Stoic philosophies but I’ve actually found that while Stoicism required a real focus and a constant fear that you were “failing”, Epicureanism, if it has anything to do with the rules that we have set for ourselves (probably not?) is a wonderful excuse to enjoy life. I’ve been living three days of doing what I please. In fact, I have been pushed into doing more of the things that bring me pleasure than I otherwise would.

S: I think it’s just a confluence of events that is conspiring to have me fail, in particular, the friendship challenges we set ourselves. My day job and my hobby are all, this week in particular, taking up a lot of my time, and it seems that if there is one thing you need to maintain friendships, it’s time.

G: Yeah, but again, you can’t actually fail. By having to eat with other people, you’re pushed to value that time and to actually take the time to engage with people.

S: Sure, but the fact that I’ve eaten the majority of meals since Sunday alone, would beg to differ.

G: Mmm, maybe you need to write more journals at the end of the day and reflect on how you’re not using your time pleasurably...

S: Yes, well, I have been examining my anxieties...

G: Anxieties? I have no anxieties! Everything is pleasure and happiness.

S: Don’t interrupt, happy boy.

G: Okay, this blog post is weird and going nowhere. I’m leaving. Be sure that I’ll be enjoying whatever it is I move onto. Out.

S: Well, that’s our status report, I guess. Epicureanism in action?