Stoicism vs. Epicureanism: Two Paths to a Meaningful Life
Stoicism and Epicureanism, developed in the 3rd century BCE, were two of the main Hellenistic schools of philosophy. While both differ in their fundamental tenets, both aimed toward a greater state of perfection – although, the ideal could never be attained by fallible creatures. Both the Epicureans and Stoics developed ways of living that recognized the sufferings of human existence while negotiating a way through them. Though both have different ways of approaching life, the main question for these two philosophies was, “What is the purpose of life?” These two philosophies helped people gain insight on how to live a virtuous life.
Epicureanism: Finding Balance in Pleasure
Derived from the Cyrenaics, who were self-indulgent hedonists, Epicureanism teaches to avoid excess to pursue a good life while appreciating the pleasures of life in plentiful amounts. The founder of Epicureanism (c. 340-271 BCE) saw death as a total extinction with no afterlife. He regarded the universe as infinite and eternal, consisting only of space and atoms. The soul or mind is constructed of indestructible parts that can never be destroyed. Epicurus sought to free humanity from the fear of death and of the gods, which he considered the main causes of unhappiness. He founded a school called “the Garden” where he lectured his students and steadily grew followers, including poets Horace and Lucretius.
The point of this philosophy was that happiness is a result of pleasure, which is the main goal of life. However, excess pleasure brings about pain and should be controlled. Rather, there has to be a balance of pleasure and pain through a code of conduct. The most important virtues that a person should have are justice, honesty, and prudence. In terms of God, gods exist but exist apart from the world. They did not create the world, and gods are self-sufficient and do not need humans. The followers of this philosophy also felt that if a person were to be full of fear and anxiety, he or she would be hindered in achieving their purpose in life.
Stoicism: Embracing Virtue and Accepting Fate
The Stoics answered the purpose of life is to pursue virtue. Virtue, to them, is considered a detached calm, and one must guard against emotional outbursts to prevent interference with this calm. To be Stoic meant that desiring the impossible is irrational. The only concern should be within themselves – this does not mean wealth, pleasure, or reputation but the inward reaction to the circumstances of life. A person who truly followed Stoic philosophy would abolish passions that cause mental disturbance. For example, losing a wife and child would not disrupt the calm within the self. The person would view the incident as of no account. Bad things that happen must be thought about rationally because the best course of action is to follow Nature. In accordance with Nature, all that happens is rational.
Zeus was the god Stoicism followed. Zeus meant nature, but there was also a tendency toward pantheism. The Stoics were materialists in that they believed God could not exist as a supernatural entity apart from physical Nature. There was a sense of duty toward fellow human beings and a moderation in all things. Justice would regulate relationships between individuals. Man’s problem is resisting the inevitable outcomes of fate. The antidote for man’s woes is to limit wishful thinking and to always seek wisdom over pleasure.
Comparing the Two Philosophies
These two philosophies were created out of a need for an explanation about the meaning of life. Epicureanism and Stoicism were the two eminent Athenian schools of philosophy in the 3rd century BCE that developed ethical systems that could help individuals feel more secure in an unstable world. Stoic ethical practice was to overcome passions, which were the enemy of reason and a hindrance to virtue. In contrast, Epicureans believed the end of human action is to be free from pain and fear, allowing their philosophy to stress self-responsibility and disapprove of omens and other superstitions.