10 Epicurean Ethics

definition of philosophy according to Epicurean ethics

'art of making life happy'

ENUMERATE: Major Categories of Desire

- artificial - natural

timespan where Epicurus lived

342 - 270 BC

a student of Socrates who ironically advocates the hedonistic principle that pleasure is the supreme good

Aristippus

formulated the Cyrenaic doctrine

Aristippus

a group of people who stressed physical pleasure

Cyrenaics

TRUE OR FALSE: Epicureanism was one of the philosophies that arose during the rise of ancient Greek philosophy as a source of relief from decreasing social disorganization.

FALSE - Epicureanism was one of the philosophies that arose during the DECLINE of ancient Greek philosophy as a source of relief from INCREASING social disorganization.

served as a sanctuary from the turmoil of the outer world for a select group of men who applied in their daily lives the precepts of their mentor

Garden of Epicurus

place where Epicurus was born and educated

Samos

TRUE OR FALSE: Both Epicureanism and Cyrenaic belief teach that the person who wishes to be happy must cultivate the ability to choose the right pleasures.

TRUE

TRUE OR FALSE: Epicureanism distinguished itself for the constancy of its doctrine.

TRUE

TRUE OR FALSE: Epicureanism is considered as one of the 'salvation philosophies' which flourished until the Greco-Roman culture was superseded by the Christian.

TRUE

TRUE OR FALSE: Epicureanism posits that a person's ultimate goal is not a constant succession of intense sensual pleasures.

TRUE

TRUE OR FALSE: Epicureanism posits that only actions that further the enjoyment of individuals can have moral significance.

TRUE

TRUE OR FALSE: Epicurus believes that the whole point of philosophy is to heal the souls and to enable us to live a happy life.

TRUE

TRUE OR FALSE: Epicurus believes that there is no benefit from philosophy if it cannot drive out the disease of the soul.

TRUE

TRUE OR FALSE: Epicurus believes there is no benefit from philosophy if it cannot drive out the disease of the soul.

TRUE

TRUE OR FALSE: Epicurus equates pleasure with peace of mind, while Aristippus identifies pleasure with sensual pleasures.

TRUE

TRUE OR FALSE: Epicurus recognizes the fact that we often pass over many pleasures when a greater discomfort ensues from them.

TRUE

TRUE OR FALSE: Epicurus taught that happiness involves serenity and is achieved through the simple pleasures which preserve bodily health and peace of mind.

TRUE

TRUE OR FALSE: Epicurus, in his letter to Menoeceus, expressed that both old and young alike are to seek wisdom.

TRUE

TRUE OR FALSE: Fame, material luxury, and power are all artificial desires, while delicious food is an unnecessary natural desire.

TRUE

TRUE OR FALSE: The old must seek wisdom so that he may be young in good things because of the grace of what has been.

TRUE

TRUE OR FALSE: The purpose of life, according to Epicurus, is personal happiness, by which he means pleasure itself.

TRUE

TRUE OR FALSE: The young must seek wisdom so that he may also be old at the same time, because he has no fear of things which are to come.

TRUE

WHICH IS NOT TRUE: Epicureans and Virtues a. Moral virtue is viewed as a matter of excellence that must be pursued for its own sake. b. Virtue is a means towards individual pleasure. c. Honoring the noble and the virtuous is apt if they produce pleasure, but if they do not, one must bid them goodbye. d. none of the above

a. - Moral virtue is NOT viewed as a matter of excellence that must be pursued for its own sake.

WHICH IS NOT TRUE: Pleasure as the Purpose of Life a. the first and native good and thus we choose every pleasure whatever b. a state equably diffused or the absence of bodily pain and mental anxiety c. is not believed to be sensual indulgence but a sober reason which searches for the grounds of choosing and rejecting d. a banishment of doctrines through which mental trouble arises

a. - the first and native good and thus we DO NOT choose every pleasure whatever

WHICH IS NOT TRUE: Epicurean Ethics a. the intensity of happiness is more important than the duration of pleasure b. mental pleasures are superior than physical pleasures c. physical pleasures are acceptable in themselves d. contends that pursuit of physical pleasure for their own sake does not lead to happiness

a. - the intensity of happiness is LESS important than the duration of pleasure

pleasure that comes from the gratification of specific wants or desires

active or positive

a state of serenity which characterizes freedom from trouble in the mind and pain in the body

ataraxia

WHICH IS NOT TRUE: Epicurean Ethics a. to understand how we should live in order to enjoy the most pleasant and serene existence, we must know the nature of the various desires and the different pleasures which come from their satisfaction b. reflection on the desires will lead us to the view that optimism and control are the true roads to happiness c. mere sensual enjoyment leads ultimately to unhappiness, and philosophical contemplation keeps the mind at peace d. none of the above

b - reflection on the desires will lead us to the view that FRUGALITY and SIMPLICITY are the true roads to happiness

WHICH IS NOT TRUE: Characteristics of a Prudent Person a. truly knows that the truly good things are easy to obtain and that evils are short-lived b. knows that destiny controls the factors that will bring him happiness c. has the power to turn chance occurrence into good account d. chooses wise decision rather than the fortunate outcome

b. - knows that HE HIMSELF controls the factors that will bring him happiness

WHICH IS NOT TRUE: Epicurus' Life a. inherited Athenian citizenship from his parents b. went to Asia Major to each for several years after being driven out of Samos by the death of Alexander the Great c. returned to Athens and taught in his famous garden until his death d. was known to be warmly affectionate to his followers and they were devoted to him

b. - went to Asia MINOR to each for several years after being driven out of Samos by the death of Alexander the Great

WHICH IS NOT TRUE: Knowledge and the Pursuit of the Right Pleasure a. The quest for practical knowledge enables us to realize the good. b. Philosophy must have some practical application, otherwise it is useless. c. By nature men seek pleasure, but it is patience that will guide them to the choice of the right pleasures. d. Without deliberation, it is impossible to hinder needles and artificial desires or to secure the right pleasures needed to attain happiness.

c. - By nature men seek pleasure, but it is KNOWLEDGE that will guide them to the choice of the right pleasures.

WHICH IS NOT TRUE: Beliefs on Pleasure a. Aristippus sets the goal of file as the constant seeking of active or positive pleasure. b. Epicurus maintains that the active pleasure are important in so far as they terminate the pain of unfulfilled desires. c. For Epicurus, the active pleasures are more fundamental than the passive, since it is through them that happiness is gained. d. Epicurus assures that the calm and repose of the good life are within the reach of all, such that everyone is capable of attaining a life of serenity.

c. - For Epicurus, the PASSIVE pleasures are more fundamental than the ACTIVE, since it is through them that happiness is gained.

WHICH IS NOT TRUE: Generalities of Epicurean Ethics a. enemies of Epicurus accused him of sensualism b. frugality and simplicity of his life effectively refuted the charges against him c. the nobility of his family accounted for his popularity d. disdains theoretical speculation and stresses that philosophy should serve practical human needs

c. - the nobility of his CHARACTER accounted for his popularity

WHICH IS NOT TRUE: Desire and Epicureanism a. It is necessary to keep our desires at a minimum and distinguish the natural and necessary desires like health and tranquility than those that are artificial. b. The artificial desires are not just unnecessary, but can also be destructive of the natural and necessary desires. c. The satisfaction of the necessary desires, or those that preserve bodily health and mental peace, leads to happiness. d. None of the above

d. None of the above

WHICH IS NOT TRUE: Similarities of Epicurus and Cyrenaics a. Both maintain that human nature is so constituted that people always seek what they believe will give them pleasure and avoid pain. b. Both believe that pleasure is the only intrinsic good and pain is the only intrinsic evil. c. Both encourage people to choose pleasure judiciously for the means that produce some pleasures bring with them disturbances. d. None of the above

d. None of the above

WHICH IS NOT TRUE: Pleasure according to Epicurean Ethics a. A desire for a life filled with intense pleasure will be frustrated because there is inadequacy of them in the normal course of events. b. Pleasures derived from goals are usually outweighed by the pains necessary to produce them and the pain that results from them can cancel out the pleasure. c. The most intense physical or sensual pleasure is self-defeating. d. none of the above

d. none of the above

purposes of necessary desires

for happiness, for comfort, for life

pleasures that come from the absence of pain

passive or negative

through which our good can be realized

philosophy

the alpha and omega of a happy life

pleasure

the first and kindred good and the starting-point of every choice and of every aversion

pleasure

the overall virtue that must be cultivated; most valuable of all moral attributes and is the source of all virtues by which we are able to live happily

prudence

what Epicurean ethics believed to be the noblest part of philosophy

prudence

types of natural desires

unnecessary and necessary