How to Be Happy Without the Struggle

Over 2,000 years ago, Epicurus, a Greek philosopher, made a simple yet bold claim. The key to the good life, he said, is to pursue pleasure and avoid pain. Is it really that easy? To answer that question, we turn to Emily Austin, a professor of philosophy at Wake Forest and author of “Living for Pleasure: An Epicurean Guide to Life.”
(This episode first aired in January 2023.)
"Living for Pleasure" is available on Amazon: amzn.to/4bZjv3I
Key points for quick navigation:
00:33 Epicureanism promotes ataraxia by enjoying simple pleasures and reducing anxiety.
04:57 Epicurus prioritizes wise pleasure choices for genuine happiness.
11:41 Epicurus values basic pleasures and challenges misconceptions about hedonism.
14:02 Epicurus's view on pleasure and pain aligns with modern behavioral science.
21:33 Epicurus rejects suffering for future gains, advocating pleasure as true happiness.
24:36 ️ Stoicism and Epicureanism have been philosophical rivals.
26:12 Stoicism prioritizes virtue, while Epicureanism values friendship.
31:38 Epicurus advises choosing friends based on reliability and shared values.
33:54 Moderation in enjoying desires enhances their impact in life.
37:40 Epicurus categorizes desires, cautioning against corrosive ones.
46:53 Epicurus values basic needs like food and friendship for satisfaction.
50:20 Sacrificing necessary desires for excessive ones often leads to regrets.
54:42 Epicurus's emphasis on stable relationships reduces anxiety.
01:02:42 Epicurus's early scientific insights shaped modern thinking.
01:08:25 Creating joyful memories helps cope with misfortune.
01:09:20 Reflecting on joyful memories maintains a positive outlook.
01:10:03 Focusing on positive memories shifts perspective in adversity.
01:10:31Choosing experiences builds a reservoir of positive memories.
01:10:46 Time spent with friends creates enriching shared memories.
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🎯 Key points for quick navigation: 00:33 *🌞 Epicureanism promotes ataraxia by enjoying simple pleasures and reducing anxiety.* 04:57 *📚 Epicurus prioritizes wise pleasure choices for genuine happiness.* 11:41 *🧀 Epicurus values basic pleasures and challenges misconceptions about hedonism.* 14:02 *🧠 Epicurus's view on pleasure and pain aligns with modern behavioral science.* 21:33 *🌟 Epicurus rejects suffering for future gains, advocating pleasure as true happiness.* 24:36 *🛡️ Stoicism and Epicureanism have been philosophical rivals.* 26:12 *💼 Stoicism prioritizes virtue, while Epicureanism values friendship.* 31:38 *🤝 Epicurus advises choosing friends based on reliability and shared values.* 33:54 *🍷 Moderation in enjoying desires enhances their impact in life.* 37:40 *🍴 Epicurus categorizes desires, cautioning against corrosive ones.* 46:53 *🌟 Epicurus values basic needs like food and friendship for satisfaction.* 50:20 *🎯 Sacrificing necessary desires for excessive ones often leads to regrets.* 54:42 *🌿 Epicurus's emphasis on stable relationships reduces anxiety.* 01:02:42 *💡 Epicurus's early scientific insights shaped modern thinking.* [\[01:08:25\]\(kzbin.info/www/bejne/b5CnYYl9a9CHqpY\)] 📚 Creating joyful memories helps cope with misfortune. [\[01:09:20\]\(kzbin.info/www/bejne/b5CnYYl9a9CHqpY\)] 🎉 Reflecting on joyful memories maintains a positive outlook. [\[01:10:03\]\(kzbin.info/www/bejne/b5CnYYl9a9CHqpY\)] 🏹 Focusing on positive memories shifts perspective in adversity. [\[01:10:31\]\(kzbin.info/www/bejne/b5CnYYl9a9CHqpY\)] 🕰️ Choosing experiences builds a reservoir of positive memories. [\[01:10:46\]\(kzbin.info/www/bejne/b5CnYYl9a9CHqpY\)] 🎁 Time spent with friends creates enriching shared memories. Made with HARPA AI