Hedonism - Epicurus’ Philosophy

Epicurus’ philosophy may hold the title hedonism but it far from the common definition of hedonism that we know today. The definition we think of in today’s society summarizes as excess of all things that feel good. Today’s definition of hedonism manifests in vacation spots such as Hedonism, a resort located in Jamaica. The resort defines itself as a place to lose inhibition and consume as much as one wants whether it is food, drink, or eroticism. Epicurus’ would view this resort as an abomination of his philosophy, as it bases itself solely on natural and unnecessary desires and in some cases the vain desires that he defines as unnatural. Epicurus’ philosophy on hedonism is far more refined than today’s view, in that the philosophy of hedonism describes human actions as a way to either feel good or to avoid feeling bad, and with a rational and disciplined mind one realizes that they must feel bad for the time in order to reach the greater good over the horizon.

Epicurus defined the desires that people seek as natural, natural and unnecessary, and unnatural. Natural desires are those required for life such as, food, shelter, and other concrete things necessary for survival. Natural desires are named as such because they are things animals strive for without needing to be told, they come with our natural sense of survival. Natural and unnecessary desires are the pursuit of excess natural pleasures that lead to gluttony and sloth. Finally, unnatural desires are for those unquenchable thirsts of power, wealth, or fame. Unnatural desires the worst desires because there can never be enough to satisfy a person’s hunger therefore they never lead to any form of enlightenment. So what of the intangible desires that are not unnatural such as knowledge, or reaching a concrete goal of completion?

There are two forms of pleasure in the hedonistic philosophy, moving pleasures and static pleasures. Moving pleasures are those that one feels while in