Comparing Epicurus 'And Socrates' View Of The Good Life

Both Epicurus and Socrates have different but similar takes on what we need to do in order to achieve the “good life”, but come to the conclusion that not knowing the difference between wanting and needing are what holds back most people in the end.

First of all, Socrates’ views on the good life were to live a simple life, and that happiness does not come from material goods, but from three things: (1) what we define as happiness, (2) our relationship between pleasure and happiness, and (3) the overall connections between morality, pleasure, and happiness.

The first item that concerns our happiness is what we define as happiness. Socrates explains the balance between our different body parts and health of a person are deeply connected and therefore create a bond of happiness within a person. Another concept of happiness that Socrates connects to our definition of happiness is the idea of justice and the soul.

Epicurus describes these particular aspects of the good life as desires that are natural and necessary desires; for example having access to food and/or the company of friends. When it comes to friends, Epicurus believes that if a friend is experiencing pain and that pain is affecting you in a painful way, then you should let go of that friend, because the friend is hindering you from experiencing real happiness. Obtaining natural and unnecessary desires are seen as just a gateway to unhappiness and an unnecessary burden. The constant desire one has to obtain these unnecessary desires is another way of allowing pain and anxiety into your life. Epicurus also believes that another way to true happiness is the acceptance of the fact that everyone eventually dies. Next the differences between the two ideals will be