The Pleasure Principle: Epicureanism: A Philosophy for Modern Living
Written by Catherine Wilson
Narrated by Billie Fulford-Brown
3.5/5
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About this audiobook
In our troubled world, looking back to ancient wisdom can shed light on fresh solutions.
For years, many of us have upheld the Stoic belief in ‘no pain, no gain.’ But when the pace of modern life and the demands of jobs and family overwhelm us, punishing exercise regimes, productivity apps and early morning starts may not be the best solution.
According to the pleasure-centric philosophy of Epicureanism, life can be good without great sacrifice. By consciously practicing ‘choice and avoidance’ – by being strategic about our recreational, professional and familial pursuits – we can live with less fear and regret. By understanding our place in a world that came about by chance, we can gain greater perspective on our role within it and where our priorities should lie.
No honest philosopher can give you a formula for happiness, but in The Pleasure Principle, Professor Catherine Wilson explores how Epicureanism can provide a framework for thinking about life’s key issues, including family, death, politics, religion, wealth, science, and love.
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Reviews for The Pleasure Principle
11 ratings2 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Enjoyed reading this brief explanation of Epicureanism for the lay reader, especially since I have read a book or two about Stoicism lately. Both philosophical systems have a lot of wisdom, but they really do have some conflicting ideas. Somehow I feel that the best way is taking some of both, but the trick is like the serenity prayer: knowing -when- to apply one or the other. My love of science certainly moves me towards Epicureanism! How the hell could ancient Greeks formulate ideas like atoms? Astonishing.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Littered throughout with unusually bald political statements — some understandable, such as conservation of the planet; others less so, such as oppression of women and homosexuals, and even, unbelievably, gun control.This lack of objectivity took a star away from a 4-star treatment of Epicurean philosophy which in its second revision, under a second title, still suffers from a desperate need to be organized.