When a philosopher has been said to influence everyone from Karl Marx to Thomas Jefferson, it bears taking note, particularly given the polarized political zeitgeist in which we currently find ourselves. One such philosopher was Epicurus (341-270 BC), perhaps best known as an advocate of ‘the simple life’ as the path to happiness.
So naturally, we became ‘epi-curious’ about Epicurus given that the right to the ‘pursuit of happiness’ is a founding principle of a free society. What we discovered was that ‘happiness’ itself is an incredibly polarized concept, a polarization that can also be seen in terms of the political Left and Right. This perhaps partially accounts for the differing narratives and interpretations regarding Epicurus’ history and philosophy.
For example, given the contrast between the motivations of Karl Marx and Thomas Jefferson, it should not be surprising that each interpreted the philosophy of Epicurus in equally contrasting ways. Were Epicurus alive today, how he himself might have viewed their Epicurean narratives is certainly a subject open to discussion.
According to one source regarding the Greek philosopher: “Epicurus promoted the following worldview: the universe is made of atoms and void and subject to the laws of physics without divine intervention. The world can be understood through an empiricist epistemology, and pleasure, pursued intelligently and ethically, is the goal of life.”
We are reminded of an old ‘Peanuts’ comic strip in which Charlie Brown and Lucy are having a contemplative exchange while leaning on a brick fence. “I’m intrigued by this view you have on the purpose of life, Charlie Brown,” says Lucy. “You say we’re put here on earth to make others happy?”
“That’s right!” responds Charlie Brown enthusiastically. Then, following a moment of quiet reflection, Lucy turns to Charlie Brown and poses a question left unanswered: “So what are the others put here for?”
As strange as it may seem, that humorous exchange not only reveals the inherent contradiction in altruism, but also provides a key to understanding the polarization behind differing views of ‘happiness.’
It’s a psychological polarization: on the one hand, the ‘incompetent’ see ‘others’ as the means to their happiness while in contrast, the ‘competent’ rely on themselves to pursue happiness. In political terms, the former represents the Left, while the latter represents what’s Just Right – both in politics and when it comes to the pursuit of happiness.
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