ETHICS

DR. LIONEL E. BUENAFLOR

Head-Social and Behavioural Sciences Department
Head-Batangas Heritage Center
University of Batangas
 Part 2: Frameworks and Principles
Epicureanism

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 Hedonism
• Hedonism is the general term for any philosophy that
says that pleasure is good and pain is evi.
• It comes from the Greek word edonh, which means
“pleasure.”
• Followers of this philosophy look at the happy life in
terms of having the most possible pleasure and the
least possible pain.
• The pursuit of pleasure is our birthright.

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 Hedonism
• The great follower and probably the founder of this
philosophy is believed to be Aristippus of Cyrene (c.430-
450 BCE).
• Life, for Aristippus, is basically a search for pleasure. He
considered pleasure as always good—regardless of its
source.
• Because pleasure is the natural goal of all life, we should
try to have as much intense, sensual pleasure as we can.
• Inasmuch as sensual pleasures are more intense than
mental or emotional pleasure, then they are the best of
all.

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 Hedonism
• Physical pleasure is the best to all other things as it makes
life more exciting, dynamic, and worth living.
• And because pleasure of the present is much more
desirable than the pleasure of the future, then it is better
to desire for the pleasure of the present for the future
might not even come.
• Aristippus held that whatever pleases the person most at
the moment is the highest good there can be.

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 The Philosophy of Epicurus
• Political activities and ambitions are pointless.
• Epicurus founded a school which he called the Garden,
which became known for good living and pleasant
socializing, as well as for its philosophy.
• One of the distinguishing features of the Garden was that it
welcomed everyone. It was one of the very few places in
Greece where women were allowed and encouraged to
interact with men as equal.
• Epicurus made no distinctions on social status or race. He
accepted all who came to learn: prostitutes, housewives,
slaves, aristocrats.

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 The Philosophy of Epicurus
• Epicurus was a practical philosopher. For him, philosophy is
important because it may help the human person to free
himself from ignorance and superstitions.
• Philosophy, according to him, should not be looked up as
simply a mere acquisition of knowledge. Rather, he
considered philosophy as the medicine of the soul.
• The chief aim of human life is pleasure.
• Human beings are not part of a created or purposeful order
caused or ruled by God. Rather, people are only accidental
products of the collision of atoms just like any other beings.

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 The Philosophy of Epicurus
• The gods function mainly as ethical ideals, whose lives we
can strive to emulate, but whose wrath we need not fear.
• His philosophy is a form of EGOISTIC HEDONISM. The only
thing that is important in life is one’s own pleasure.
• For Epicurus, rather than seek to have the most of
anything, including the longest possible life span, the wise
and sophisticated Epicurean chooses to have the finest.
• The highest pleasures are intellectual, and the greatest
good is peace of mind, not intense or exquisite physical
pleasure.

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 The Philosophy of Epicurus
• Although pleasure is the gauge for the goodness of human
action, Epicurus upheld that there are different kinds of
pleasure:
1. Both natural and necessary
2. Natural but not necessary
3. Neither natural nor necessary
• Real happiness could be obtained by means of those
activities that will free the human being from the troubles
of the mind and from the physical pain.

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 The Philosophy of Epicurus
• If fame were to bring safety and security, it is good and
right to be famous. However, if a famous life brings more
trouble than an obscure life, it is foolish to want what is
actually bad for us.
• It is important that people should determine the minimum
desire, which nature is requiring the body.
• The concern of Epicurus was the individual pleasures.
• Hence, his ideology is considered as a SELF-CENTERED
MORAL PHILOSOPHY.

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 The Philosophy of Epicurus

• Unlike Plato and Aristotle, who believed that the leader of

the society should be a philosopher, Epicurus held instead
that philosophers should not engage themselves in any
political affairs.
• To obtain a moral life, epicureans follow these eight
counsels as the basic guide to good living:

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 The Philosophy of Epicurus
• Do not fear God;
• Do not worry about death;
• Do not fear pain;
• Live a simple life;
• Pursue pleasure wisely;
• Make friends and be a good friend;
• Be honest in your business and
private life; and
• Avoid fame and political ambition.

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor