All Great Minds Think Alike...Sometimes

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Great minds run in the same direction. But in the case of great minds like Epicurus (342 – 270 B.C.E.) and Epictetus (50 – 130 C.E.), the road toward their common goal differed. Both Epicurus and Epictetus believe that it is in human nature to seek out pleasure and that happiness implicates serenity. However, Epicurus differs from Epictetus in that Epicurus does not believe that it is the virtues that bring about happiness, but rather, one’s own pleasure. While both Epicurus and Epictetus confer their opinions on happiness, it is consequently apparent by juxtaposing these two philosophers that their views on how to achieve is different, this can be proved by comparing their individual ethical theories.

Epicurus was a hedonist and believed that pleasure was the end/goal of life. He was born and educated on the island of Samos in the Aegean Sea. He moved to Asia Minor later and taught there for some years until he moved to Athens in 306 B.C.E. and taught in his famous garden, The Garden of Epicurus, until he died (Great Traditions in Ethics, 35). Epicurus lived a life of frugality and simplicity. Epicurus' ethical theory cultivates from his belief that “nothing is created out of nothing” and hence he argues “…that only natural causes operate in the world…” (39). Epictetus, on the other hand, was a firm stoic and hence practiced stoicism in his ethical theory and believed “hedonism is a false doctrine” (56). Epictetus was born in the Greek city of Hierapolis in Phrygia. In his later life, he started (another) school in Nicopolis and taught there until his death (Great Traditions of Ethics, 48). Since Epicurus and Epictetus had different foundations for their theories, their views on ethics and how it relates to happiness varied.

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... and ethical views such that, Epicurus does not deny God’s existence but believes there are no intervention in our lives. Epictetus’ ethical views are influenced by his stoic stance and therefore believe God plays a huge role in our lives. But when it comes to death, Epicurus and Epictetus stand on the same level. They both believe that anxiety is the greatest barrier to happiness and that one should live frugally and obtain pleasure. And therefore, I can conclude that all great minds think alike...sometimes.

Works Cited

Denise, Theodore Cullom, Nicholas P. White, and Sheldon Paul Peterfreund. "The Pleasant Life." Great Traditions in Ethics. Australia: Thomson/Wadsworth, 2008. 35-45. Print.

Denise, Theodore Cullom, Nicholas P. White, and Sheldon Paul Peterfreund. "Self-Discipline." Great Traditions in Ethics. Australia: Thomson/Wadsworth, 2008. 47-57. Print.

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