Epicureans seek happiness in the avoidance of pain. Stoics seek happiness in indifference to pain. These philosophies are at odds with each other because they differ at a base level: the idea of pain. Epicureans see pain as an unpleasant thing, something to be avoided at all costs, while stoics see pain as something to cope with. To a stoic, happiness is an idea and so is sorrow. If you can control the way you think about things, as is the stoic way, then you can be happy even when in pain (not to bring up masochism). Epicureans avoid pain, but they might accuse stoics of avoiding reality because, to an epicurean, pain always leads to suffering. Stoics simply do not see the connection between pain and suffering as an unbreakable one.
For example, allow me to introduce Bob the Epicurean and Steve the Stoic. They are both in Mr. Boswell’s Humanities class, and the final exam is fast approaching. They both know that the exam is going to be full of pain if they don’t study for it. In an effort to avoid this pain, Bob the Epicurean studies his notes on the class. Steve the Stoic, however, knows that he can control his response to the pain of the exam and he can be happy. During the exam, Bob knows the answers and avoids the pain of failing. Steve has a happy attitude and fails miserably. After the exam, both are happy.
Stoicism seems the more logical philosophy to me because a stoic can be as happy as s/he wishes, no matter their lot in life, while an epicurean must constantly struggle to make choices that will bring them the least amount of pain.
I really enjoyed the metaphor you used with Bob the Epicurean and Steve the Stoic. It has really helped me better understand these two philosophies.
ReplyDeleteNice illustration of the philosophies, but I'm not sure the Stoic feels happy whether or not he passes or fails the test. Happiness is not the goal--survival is. It may sound a little strange or off-putting, but there is some logic to this.
ReplyDeleteRemember, what sustains a Stoic, makes life worth living as it were, is the belief that what happens in life as happens for a reason. Whether what happens in life makes me feel happy or sad isn't important. The mere fact that it happened makes it sacred. Thus, my own survival in light of what life throws at me, not my own happiness, is what I concern myself with. I demonstrate that I accept the rationality of life but not giving up, no matter how it makes me feel.
In other words, a good stoic always does his/her homework. It’s a survival tactic, not a feel good tactic. An Epicurean, on the other hand, may or may not do the homework. It just depends on how they think it will benefit him/her.
What is a better way of living life? Calculating my long term happiness—which is hard to do and doesn’t always pay off—or just not worrying about happiness, believing it will come and go no matter what I do?