The Concept of the Happy Life; A Comparison in Epicurean and Stoic Philosophies

Subject  > Humanities Essays  > Philosophy  > Classical Philosophy

Throughout history, the nature of the happy life has been described by numerous philosophers and their philosophies. Among those that have attempted this explanation are the Stoics, who were founded by Zeno, and Epicureans, established by Epicurus. Both agree that indulging desires in moderation is necessary for attaining happiness. As well, according to the Epicureans, the ultimate aim of life is to achieve tranquility of the soul, which is very similar to the condition of apathy the Stoics believed was ideal (Matson, 195). Though they existed concurrently, the similarities between the two philosophies ended there; the philosophical arguments presented by Stoicism and Epicureanism differ greatly in terms of religious beliefs, fatalistic existence, and how one might be able to live ...

... to be reasonable is to be happy (192). The two contrasting schools of thought see the necessary steps to achieving the happy life completely differently. Epicureans believe that pleasure is the ultimate happiness and we should aim for a state of ataraxy through the avoidance of anxieties brought about by unnecessary attachments. Stoics feel that happiness is virtue, and that to achieve true happiness, one must learn to accept what is outside of one's control. The contrasting ideas of the Epicureans and the Stoics are evident throughout both philosophical arguments. To achieve the happy life, Epicureanism dictates that one must accept the existence of gods, but realize their intentions have no influence on the lives of

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