Cure And Pain:Epicurus On Happiness

Happiness is an important theme in Epicurus’ s thought.Previous scholars often elucidated his happiness theroy from the perspective of happiness,but this paper is from a supplementary perspective--pain theory,trying to explore the path of happiness in Epicurus’ s field of vision,namely,to find the pain point,then to take medicine for the disease.The way of thinking in which philosophers analogize philosophy to medicine has appeared in the classical Greek period,while the philosophers in the Hellenistic period had really developed it into a kind of therapeutic philosophy.Among them,Epicurus’ s therapeutic philosophy is the most typical.A common view is that Epicurus adopted the method of subtraction,which is especially reflected in his thinking about the starting point and the end of the theory of pain.Starting with Epicurus’ s category of happiness,this paper first compares the health status of the body and the soul,and then illustrate that the health of the soul is more important.Then analyze the root cause of the disease of the soul,this paper proves that the false belief produces unnatural and unnecessary desires,with make the soul disturbing.The paper further shows that social culture produces or aggravates new false beliefs,so we should establish correct cognitive standards at both body and soul,conform to natural or necessary desires,and suppress neither natural nor necessary desires,thus achieving Epicurean abstinence.After finding out the source of the suffering,the thesis focused on the specific means or prescriptions implemented by philosophers to treat the soul.First examine Epicurus’ s four basic cures: no fear of god,no fear of death,attainment of happiness and endurance of pain.Then,by analyzing the Epicurean addition to specific and idiographic states,a comprehensive recipe is obtained that contains a reasonable explanation of the cosmic and the atomic worlds,as well as a correct attitude towards love and sexuality.Throughout the whole treatment process,although there is a superficial opposition between positive and authoritative doctors and negative and obedient patients,they can achieve a benign doctor-patient interaction.Our discussion shows that the Epicureans not only cling to teacher’s idea,but also maintain the seriousness of knowledge;they has also made some progress and injected a new vitality in the form and content of the theory.While focusing on the inherent continuity and self-consistency of Epicurean philosophy,the study also carefully examines the similarities and differences between the theory of pain and the ideas of other philosophers or different schools.The study of the Cradle Argument shows that there are significant differences between Epicurus and Stoicism.Epicurus’ Cradle Argument echoes his view of the belief of social and cultural influence,which highlights Epicurus’ philosophy of subtraction therapy,which emphasizes the reduction of all kinds of additions on human beings and the return to the nature state.On the question of whether pleasure and painlessness are the same,Epicurus’ view is also controversial.Based on the interpretation of the text,we believe that there is a strong continuity between Epicurus’ pleasure and free of pain state,both belonging to the ultimate good.Different from the Cyrene’ view that physical pains are more important than mental pains,Epicurus believed that mental pains should be more important than physical pains,which not only challenge the public’ cognition,but also met the real needs of the public for treatment of the disease of the soul.Epicurus denied the synchronic nature of pain and pleasure,when we regard feeling as the motion of atoms,we find that pain and pleasure are the displacement and restoration of atoms,that they cannot exist together.The rejection of pain is the common appeal of many philosophers,but Epicurus is unique in that he allows to endure pain in order to obtain greater pleasure.That means the treatment of Epicurus’ philosophy can be carried out in a bitter way before sweet.In a word,Epicurus’ theory of pain enlightens us that any construction of ethical theory must be based on the care for the individual,and a reductionist philosophy therapy is an effective way to realize this care.Happiness is not the endless satisfaction of desires and condensing pleasure;In the pursuit of happiness,painful treatment problems are often more urgent.