epicureanism vs stocism?

[Narz]

Been watching vids on both on YouTube. I think Epicureanism is more my speed, more realistic.

I enjoyed this one :

as well as many by Gregory Sadler.

 

[Perfection]

I prefer Conanism

 

[Hygro]

Matrix the idea:
Epicurean vs not
Stoic vs not

Taking into consideration that the two categories in question might trend apart, they need not be mutually exclusive.

 

[Narz]

Taking into consideration that the two categories in question might trend apart, they need not be mutually exclusive.

They have alot in common & probably 90% of people won't subscribe to either.

If you prefer you can say which aspects of either one you take on board into your personal belief system.

 

[Narz]

Personally what I like about 'becoming an epicurean' is that it seems reasonable & doable. Whereas to be a stoic I'd have to do all this 'overcoming the world' stuff which, while probably valuable, seems like less of a realistic goal.

I've read less about the stoics and I feel like when I was younger I would've resonated with it more, seems like more of a young man's, macho, philosophy, whereas Epicureanism seems more realistic and chill.

I'm just learning about this stuff so I'm open to any counterarguments, reading/listening material.

 

[Kyriakos]

Just to note* it should be 'stoicism'.

I am not familiar with either, though i know what they tend to allude to. That said, 'epicureanism' is often argued to not be really something having to be tied to actual works of Epicuros or his students.

 

[Narz]

I am not familiar with either, though i know what they tend to allude to. That said, 'epicureanism' is often argued to not be really something having to be tied to actual works of Epicuros or his students.

Yes, well in English I means someone who loves luxury goods/fine things, which is pretty much the opposite of what the man himself was into (cultivating the pleasures of simple things, seeking pleasure but keeping one's desires in check, lest they lead to more pain than the pleasure is worth).

 

[Lexicus]

People think Epicureanism means lavish hedonism, but really he was just into avoiding 'disturbance' which I think is pretty cool. I voted for Stoicism though.

 

[Gori the Grey]

Yeah, I'm an epicurean, in that stricter sense alluded to by Kyr, Narz and Lex in the last three posts. Not a hedonist, but a keep-your-life-on-an-even-keel-ist.

 

[innonimatu]

It almost makes one a cynic, to see that more than two millenia were not enough to end the motives that push people into these escapisms.

 

[Mise]

They all have something to teach you and all offer a reasonable perspective on life. Learning to live without anything at all is taking things to the extremes, but sincerely believing (knowing) that you can survive even if the worst happens is a valuable part of your "kit" as a human. Appreciating the simple pleasures of life, understanding that they can, actually, be rather complex and deeply meaningful to human existence, and then prioritising them, is another wonderful tool to have in your kit. You can draw on all of these philosophies at various points in life.

The concept of "contentment" is a common theme in most ancient philosophies across the world. The sorts of lifestyles we often aspire to are out of reach for most of us, and in any case, there is always something more to reach for, no matter how high you get. Contentment is, in my opinion, one of the most important "life hacks" you can learn.

 

[Karpius]

It almost makes one a cynic, to see that more than two millenia were not enough to end the motives that push people into these escapisms.

Too often, personal independence is somehow equated with escapism. However, the one escaping too often expects someone to cover the escape, which hardly equates to personal independence.

Contentment is, in my opinion, one of the most important "life hacks" you can learn.

So very true, but so impossible to teach and share with others. One can have the loftiest goals and still be content where they are. For me, it all ties to the ability to be completely honest with oneself. Brutally honest.