Epicurus - The Hidden Life & influence on Nietzsche

[@zoeshamowie5525]

My name is Epicurus. I'm 33 years old. My house is in the northeast section of Athens, where all the villas are, and I am not married. I work as a philosopher for the citizens who wish to learn from me, and I get home every day by 8 PM at the latest. I don't smoke, but I occasionally drink diluted wine. I'm in bed by 11 PM, and make sure I get eight hours of sleep, no matter what. After having a glass of extravagant milk and doing about twenty minutes of stretches before going to bed, I usually have no problems sleeping until morning. Just like a baby, I wake up without any fatigue or stress in the morning. I was told there were no issues at my last check-up. I'm trying to explain that I'm a person who wishes to live a very quiet life. I take care not to trouble myself with any enemies, like winning and losing, that would cause me to lose sleep at night. That is how I deal with society, and I know that is what brings me happiness. Although, if I were to fight I wouldn't lose to anyone.

[@BeepBoop-qt4eq]

I no longer cry out of sorrow, I cry when I am moved by beautiful things. I find myself crying while listening to this podcast, reading the comments, thinking about Epicurus and Nietzsche.

[@TheWilliamHoganExperience]

Great stuff right out of the gate Keegan! Years ago my career as a college professor collapsed. I found myself living on a tiny sailboat with no engine I'd sailed down to Mexico from Los Angeles. How had I had worked so hard for decades, only to gain and then lose everything I had strove for? Worse still: Why had achieving my goals left me so dissatisfied? Then, epiphany struck: "You've achieved everything you ever set out to do, no matter how difficult - but you pursued the wrong things" Like Acceptance. Security. Status. Respect. I also thought I could make the world better as a teacher and as an architect. More beautiful. More just. smarter. I was focused on what was ugly, and trying to gain power over it. I lost, and I learned about the abyss Nietzsche spoke of. I learned that if you wrestle with monsters and pigs long enough, you risk becoming monstrous and piggish yourself. Regardless, the monsters and pigs remain unchanged. So I burned it all to the ground, and pissed on the ashes. I bought a boat and sailed away. I still live on a boat, and have the minimal, reclusive life that suggests. I no longer wrestle monsters and pigs. Now, I play my guitar and sing about the bastards. Epicurus is absolutely right: I've never been happier.

[@qMartink]

Bravo! Very inspiring. Thanks for sharing.

[@ericadler9680]

Nietzsche praised not just solitude but also and perhaps even more friendship and that is also something that connects him to Epicurus. For years, he dreamed of founding a philosophical school consisting of a few friends living and philosophising together.

[@gingerbreadzak]

00:01 📜 Epicurus' philosophy is often misunderstood as mere hedonism, but it actually focuses on avoiding unnecessary suffering to find happiness. 01:23 🧐 Epicurus encourages applying reason to determine which pleasures in life are worth pursuing, emphasizing simplicity and friendship. 02:23 🤔 Nietzsche had a complex relationship with Epicurus, both critiquing and admiring him, particularly for his retreat from the world and anti-political stance. 07:21 🌍 Epicurus was a materialist philosopher who rejected metaphysical beliefs and embraced a rational approach to life. 09:11 ⚰ Epicurus confronted mortality directly, seeing death as the return to non-existence, similar to Eastern philosophical views. 16:14 🍞 Epicurus and his followers lived simply, valuing frugality and moderation, and did not share property in common like some other philosophical communities. 20:00 💀 Epicurus believed that death is nothing to fear since it brings no sensory experience, and he emphasized using reason to accept the reality of mortality. 22:03 📜 Epicurus emphasizes that pleasure is maximized when there is no accompanying pain or distress, making the elimination of pain the primary goal in seeking pleasure. 23:08 🤝 Epicurus believes in living prudently, honorably, and justly as prerequisites for a truly pleasant life, similar to Plato's concept of the good life. 24:34 🤔 Epicurus sees injustice as a problem primarily because it generates fear and distress in individuals, rather than being intrinsically bad. 26:23 🙏 Prudence, for Epicurus, takes precedence over philosophy, and it applies to both earthly and heavenly concerns, ensuring a life free from fear. 29:37 🎯 Prudence is considered more valuable than philosophy by Epicurus because it leads to a life free from fear, rational choices, and the pursuit of simple pleasures. 31:15 🍀 Epicurus advocates for being satisfied with simple pleasures, as extravagant pursuits often lead to unnecessary suffering and anxiety. 37:46 🌟 Epicurus believes that the pursuit of pleasure should focus on the absence of physical pain and disturbance in the soul, achieved through rational decision-making and the elimination of irrational beliefs. 43:15 💪 Epicurus suggests that the purest security comes from living a quiet life away from the hustle and bustle of the world, minimizing disturbances and opportunities for harm. 43:58 🌟 Epicurus believes that the pursuit of power and wealth often leads to more harm than happiness due to attachments, dangers, and conflicts they bring. 44:41 🚫 Epicurus advocates a simple and happy life, challenging common wisdom that life is hard. He emphasizes the importance of learning life's limits and finding ease. 46:05 ⏳ Epicurus values making the most of the finite time one has to be happy rather than seeking endless pleasures. Contentment with what one has is crucial. 47:14 🌞 Epicurean pleasures include sunshine, nourishment, fresh air, learning philosophy, and companionship with friends. 48:25 🌳 Epicurus doesn't emphasize solitude like Nietzsche but rather withdrawal from the strife and struggle of society's power games to achieve a simple life. 50:46 🧐 Nietzsche acknowledges fundamental disagreements with Epicurus, particularly regarding pleasure, pain, and the value of struggle in life. 53:33 🌍 Nietzsche suggests that the Stoics' approach to minimizing both pleasure and pain might be more accurate in confronting the human condition. 56:03 🍃 Nietzsche believes that men of intellectual labor tend to lead Epicurean lives but sees advantages in the Stoic approach during volatile times. 57:41 🍀 Nietzsche critiques the Epicurean idea of reinterpreting one's circumstances to find happiness, hinting that it might be a post-hoc justification rather than rational analysis. 01:03:28 😈 Nietzsche highlights Epicurus' bitterness towards Plato and the Platonists, suggesting that Epicurus was motivated by envy and ambition in his writings. 01:05:03 🧠 Nietzsche uses Epicurus as an example to argue that philosophers' ideas are rooted in their psychology and physiology, not disinterested logical processes. 01:05:45 📜 Nietzsche interprets Epicurus as rejecting Plato and his grandiose, manipulative style in philosophy, favoring a more genuine, non-ornamental approach. 01:09:45 🤔 Nietzsche admires Epicurus for his fearlessness in confronting death, believing that this ability to embrace life without fear of an afterlife is valuable. 01:12:46 🌅 Nietzsche discusses the transition from Roman nobility embracing Epicureanism to the introduction of the concept of Hell by Christianity, noting that science is now liberating us from these notions. 01:14:39 😃 Nietzsche views Epicurus as an exemplar of a joyful, moderated approach to life, emphasizing the sensuous love of life and self-mastery. 01:17:21 🧐 Nietzsche sees modern thinkers as having an Epicurean inclination for knowledge, cautious and discerning in their pursuit of philosophical certainty, which reflects a shift away from absolute beliefs.

[@procrastinationvacation7163]

This is one of those smaller channels that puts out such consistantly quality content that you just have to comment your gratitude - thank you for your work!

[@abcrane]

I find Jung's concept of the shadow useful in addressing or applying any philosophical movement. Epicurean, stoic, will to power, transcendental...each has its life affirming and life negating outcome of expression, and each can serve one more adequately depending on special circumstances of any given situation. Fluidity is essential to navigating life's complexity.

[@PinoSantilli-hp5qq]

I pretty much live like Epicurus and came to similar conclusions.

[@charbam9506]

On a second note, thank you for your videos - they are insightful, intelligent and informative ….no fluff and pomp and circumstance; I really enjoy them and appreciate your work.

[@phillipjordan1010]

My life really improved when I totally gave up on political issues as a complete whole.

[@1hxbeats605]

Why?

[@phillipjordan1010]

@@1hxbeats605 why you ask. I simply chose to rise above the rabble. Do you realize there are people who now literally worship Donald Trump? How sick and pathetic. Such as waste of precious attention to engage in nonsense as modern political debauchery. Much more worthwhile artistic and philosophic pursuits to take up. That's my Why🤘🔥🐐

[@tangerinesarebetterthanora-v8k]

Political parties embody herd morality.

[@ericmay7722]

I've been thinking along the same lines. Seeing your comment was something of a confirmation for me

[@phillipjordan1010]

@@ericmay7722 yes for sure. Politics in US has really become super toxic over the recent years. The rise in numbers of ignorant, undereducated, uncultured people with toxic political views based on hate,fear,and bigotry inspired by someone of high privilege who conning them into dedication and worship of his name was enough for me. I've become a pariah in my local area because I stand against this pure ignorance. So I just completely washed my hands of all things political. Even voting I'm done.

[@LetsFindOut1]

Been listening to your videos alot lately. Just wanted to say thanks. Also enjoyed the conversation with Uberboyo, conversations always bring out interesting opinions and insights that otherwise wouldn't surface through a monologue kind of video.

[@Dylonysus]

Yo amazing episode man , have listened to around 10 so far and this is by far my favorite as I relate to it a lot personally. Also how you delve into his rejection of participation in the aegon, as an almost disgruntled perspective that is still competing in another sense is very interesting , will be relistening to this many times , thanks Keegan !

[@viniciusguimaraes6267]

Congrats for the podcast. You make Nitzsche’s Philosophy seem easy.

[@DinkSmalwood]

This channel is fucking great. A video essay on Nietzsches thoughts on and relation to Aristotle would be most intruiging.

[@omegacardboard5834]

Yes I've always found Nietzsche's relation to Aristotle very interesting. Mostly due to his lack of mentioning him! To my memory, from what I've read (Which is almost all the major works) he only mentions Aristotle's poetics. Particularly the point on tragedy being a way to expel pity. I think he also mentions Aristotelean logic at one point. He also interestingly at one point says that essentially the only philosopher to have a wife was Socrates, when Aristotle of course had one (perhaps he does not consider Aristotle a true philosopher?). But this lack of mention is strange given that I think Aristotle is one of the closer Philosophers to Nietzsche. His Magnanimous man or Proud man in the Nicomachean ethics is incredibly Nietzschean.

[@DinkSmalwood]

@@omegacardboard5834 I completely agree. I always found it odd how little that Nietzsche had to say, at least explicitly, about Aristotle. But there is serious overlap in their ideas on ethics. Just compare Aristotle's idea of eudaimonia with Nietzsche's idea of affirming life. Perhaps Aristotle was too focused on reason, logic and happiness for Nietzsche's tastes - I don't know.

[@hcct]

Incredible video. Absolutely incredible. Most people don't do a good job presenting Epicurus, even ones who want to set the record straight about his philosophy.

[@tangerinesarebetterthanora-v8k]

Nietzsche, Epicurus, and Hume are my holy Trinity of philosophers. Life is lived in this world. Any belief in another world beyond our own is cope.

[@theovergiver6415]

Add Camus, especially his Summers/Nupital essays

[@Game7Mode]

no pure land?

[@coltredwine5963]

This channel is absolutely fantastic, and the way the thoughts are presented is outstanding. I always run into impenetrable walls of fallacious thought when I read or hear many of the views of philosophers and thinkers, particularly the ones presented on this channel, despite my acknowledgements of their high intellect and observations. In the case of Nietzsche, for example, I'm always bothered by his insistence on THIS WORLD being the ONLY world, followed by his endless examinations of the ways we are ill suited for this ONE and ONLY world. He focuses on our need for falsehoods, rationalizations, delusions, and highly manipulated perceptions, as well as our many errors, failings, and the misguided paths of our lives. How can we be ill suited for the only existent thing? This is insanely irrational. If there is only ONE EXISTENT REALITY EVER, why would we even need philosophers? If we need answers to why we are ill suited for this world, to what world are we comparing it? I believe Nietzsche wanted to express himself under the harsh light of reality, but as this would be impossibly nihilistic, he smuggled in the IMAGINARY in order to justify an impossible and ill fitting reality. As Kierkegaard defined our being as a synthesis between the FINITE and the INFINITE (or ETERNAL) aspects of our existence, Nietzsche appears to be committed to the FINITE, but actually, and fortuitously, slips into the INFINITE to justify himself. His depiction of the "healthy, well constituted" peoples of various past civilizations seem to be largely caricatures of his own wish fulfillment, and except in video games, books, and movies, I have never met an Ubermensch, and neither did Nietzsche. On a lesser note, I find it hard to reconcile the belief of Epicurus (and many others) that the nature of existence is a near eternity of absolute nothingness, followed by a tiny, miniscule flash of light where our consciousness allows for things to exist, followed again by an eternity of absolute nothingness. I think we have to accept that, for Epicurus for example, his consciousness is the only thing that allows ANYTHING to exist, and even the abstraction that existence will go on without him after he is gone is nothing but an abstraction which he can only think WHILE HE IS CONSCIOUS, as that this will be gone also, and even the notion of existence will be gone forever. I would accept that the adherents of this belief actually felt this way if they lived this way as well. Why the fear of the danger of nihilism. Danger to what? Why the devotion to finding the best ways to live, and the placing of values on certain varieties of perceptions, actions, and belief systems? Why stoicism, or hedonism, or religious thought, or any other modes of life being presented as superior or inferior. In the view of life presented by Epicurus, is there anything less important than HOW you live? I feel that there is a lack of courage and honesty by not acknowledging that this belief leads with absolute finality to the utter acceptance that there is NO IMPORTANCE to how you live, and you can do whatever you want, or do nothing at all, and it won't matter in even a tiny way. Again, thanks for a great channel.

[@markoslavicek]

Absolutely not - Nietzsche never smuggled in anything otherwordly and he couldn't have been more clear about that. In Dawn, he sets himself a life goal to fight such assumptions, and later on in Twilight of the Idols even says that whatever a 'soul' may be, it is something in the body. There has only only been one world for Nietzsche and it is this bodily/material one. As to why we seem to be unfit for this world, is another topic that requires an elaboration on its own. But for that, we don't need Nietzsche - evolutionary biologists should suffice.

[@banquotheholstein]

Always grateful to have your podcast available. Your insight and analysis of Nietzsche’s thought and influences is tremendous and adds so much more depth than just reading all of Nietzsche has offered. One part of me hopes your podcast will expand and gain more patronage so you can reap a lot more from all of your knowledge, however, the latter part of me does enjoy the small community you have fostered! I am still young and studying in college, but once I am able to spare money I will be glad to support you, can’t wait for the next episode.

[@zerotwo7319]

If I could lift the earth, it would not have the same impact as this podcast. Well, maybe lifting the earth is also a feat.

[@fantasticleese]

Your content is enlightening and educational, I appreciate your efforts in presenting and interpreting these philosophies.

[@LamneYokaMou]

Death means nothing to us for what is dissolved is without sensation and what is without sensation means nothing to us Epicurus

[@kevinkestler4375]

Really excellent review of Epucurus. Very enjoyable to hear a deeper dive on his philosophy and the opinions Nietsche's had of him in "All to Human, The Gay Science, and Beyond Good. Always entertaining to be reminded how far we moderns have taken Epicureanism out of context from a few friends, some figs and cheese, and a little garden. Great job!

[@sihaves8808]

Thanks for this. Really interesting and a different spin on Epicurus.

[@Rhimeson]

Great thanks, always a pleasure to hear musings from Nietzsche's brilliant mind. I'll work myself through this on boxing day, thank you.

[@jaywalshmusicandsong1736]

My kind of Xmas.

[@andrewsmith3257]

Great work!

[@troygaspard6732]

Thank you for showing people the "real" Epicurus. I do not want what I do not have.

[@charbam9506]

Oh, the irony…the man who found a piece of cheese an extravagance, history’s game of “whisper down the lane” would have us believe was the greatest glutton of all. Now, that is injustice.

[@MrJamesdryable]

I'm excited for this one.

[@stuarthicks2696]

Well written.

[@ericadler9680]

I doubt that Nietzsche's philosophy is about finding happiness; the ultimate goal seems much more to be self-realisation through creativity, that is, not finding happiness, but finding meaning, which is not the same thing. As Zarathustra says; "Trachte ich denn nach Glücke? Ich trachte nach meinem Werke!".

[@6ixthhydro652]

Beautiful

[@jamessheffield4173]

Epicurus founded the Garden, a combination of philosophical community and school. The residents of the Garden put Epicurus’ teachings into practice. Bing search

[@wadejameskennedy4495]

thank you.

[@dragushcobaj4121]

A video on Nietzche and his ideas on dancing would be appreciated.

[@Game7Mode]

dance now ask questions later

[@Boastinggamer2]

Are you planning on making a discord server soon?

[@Bilboswaggins2077]

38:50

[@PopGoesTheology]

11:30

[@kimfreeborn]

Everyone must eat a bucket (peck) of dirt before they die.

[@WeUx6]

The pigeon' spake.

[@untimelyreflections]

This is not black pigeon speaks. I sound nothing like him.

[@ollimekatl]

I Love Listening and Reading and Studying ancient things. But I had the thought that Einstein gave of doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result is the definition of insanity. I agree to a certain extent but after doing something thousands and millions of times expecting a different result it appears obvious. How long have these men been regurgitated over the last 2k years? Seems like western society is expecting a different result after thousands of years of trying the same ideas over and over. If you’re going to say that it lead to todays thinking, you must have great faith, but faith is only evidence of what you care about and care that it be true.

[@untimelyreflections]

Why would you assume that the point of philosophy is to get some kind of utilitarian “result”? Just speaking for myself, this is not the value that I see in Epicurus.

[@ollimekatl]

@@untimelyreflections Because science is also a philosophy, along with Hegelian dialectics, and religious philosophies.

[@Game7Mode]

@@untimelyreflections lol

[@cornucopiaofcool2144]

Philosophy ain't enough. Still need plumbing and housing. Indus People figured that out.

[@Game7Mode]

my plumber claims to be an expert in the field of philosophy of plumbing.

[@Ancient_Man_In_Modern_World]

Jesus stands as King over it all! Humanity is NOT at a neutral stance with GOD, but a revolting peoples. A-Theos (Against GOD) Epicureanism says: “all things pleasurable are morally good.” It is not. There is a real objective reality that we simply live off kilter to. Because of the fall, a blatant disregard.

[@untimelyreflections]

Oh wow another mortal man here to tell me about what God wants.

[@Ancient_Man_In_Modern_World]

@@untimelyreflections ? No, no.. are you not aware of the social science revolving around Christian history? From sociologist Jurgen Habermas, ‘The Transformation of the Public Sphere’ to sociologist, Rodney Stark, ‘The Rise of Christianity’ ??

[@untimelyreflections]

There’s a sociological study that proves “Jesus stands as King over all”? Do you hear yourself?

[@Ancient_Man_In_Modern_World]

@@untimelyreflections I see you playing word tricks.. clearly having some impious presupposition.. But what I don’t see, is someone genuinely concerned in such a response. So yeah..

[@untimelyreflections]

@@Ancient_Man_In_Modern_World No, it's actually very simple. Every single person who has ever claimed to know what God wants has been an ordinary person, and whenever I ask them how they know what they know, they never have an answer, and start playing word games. Like you are now.

[@sebastianb.1926]

did he invent Christian guilt?

[@Game7Mode]

no. God did.