Epicurean lives, properly understood, are full of good experiences, yet Epicurus, the founder of the school, did not mandate the pursuit of pleasure. Instead, he advised that one do the opposite. Consider some of his lines:
He who is not satisfied with a little, is satisfied with nothing.
Self-sufficiency is the greatest of all wealth.
To live well, one should live a moderate life without demanding desires. Nothing in excess. A life that leads to ataraxia (tranquility) is a good one according to the Epicureans. What we may call a wantonly hedonistic life is not the Epicurean one, properly understood.
IPAinhand t1_iwkgtd7 wrote
Reply to comment by betajool in Why There Is No Modern Epicurean Movement by cleboomusic
Epicurean lives, properly understood, are full of good experiences, yet Epicurus, the founder of the school, did not mandate the pursuit of pleasure. Instead, he advised that one do the opposite. Consider some of his lines:
He who is not satisfied with a little, is satisfied with nothing.
Self-sufficiency is the greatest of all wealth.
To live well, one should live a moderate life without demanding desires. Nothing in excess. A life that leads to ataraxia (tranquility) is a good one according to the Epicureans. What we may call a wantonly hedonistic life is not the Epicurean one, properly understood.