Epicurus argues that some desires, such as desires for wealth and power, are unnatural and destructive. True pleasures, on the other hand, come from simplicity and moderation. The following doctrines explore the peace of mind these pleasures can bring and caution against the attractions of power and wealth.

Ethics. Epicurus’ ethics is a form of egoistic hedonism; i.e., he says that the only thing that is intrinsically valuable is one’s own pleasure; anything else that has value is valuable merely as a means to securing pleasure for oneself.

Philosophy was, for Epicurus, the art of living, and it aimed at the same time both to assure happiness and to supply means to achieve it. As for science, Epicurus was concerned only with the practical end in view. If possible, he would have done without it.

Philosophy. Epicureanism argued that pleasure was the chief good in life. Hence, Epicurus advocated living in such a way as to derive the greatest amount of pleasure possible during one’s lifetime, yet doing so moderately in order to avoid the suffering incurred by overindulgence in such pleasure.

The tetrapharmakos consists of four maxims which encapsulate the Epicurean outlook on god, life, death, pleasure, and pain.

Letter to Menoeceus – Epicurus – Translated by Robert Drew Hicks – Epicurus; 341-270 BC, was an ancient Greek philosopher as well as the founder of the school of philosophy called Epicureanism…….When did Epicurus write letter to Menoeceus?

“[According to Epicurus], you need to stop desiring anything you don’t naturally need.” For Epicurus, a hedonistic life is one free from bodily and mental pains. Most people live miserable lives because they’re so worried and anxious, and so the key to Epicurean hedonism is eradicating all anxiety.

The satisfaction of feeling full, and no longer being in need (hungry), would be a static pleasure. Epicurus suggested that static pleasures are the preferred form of pleasure. Physical pleasures and pains, he suggested, had to do with the present. Mental pleasures and pains had to do with the past and future.

The philosophy of Epicurus (341–270 B.C.E.) was a complete and interdependent system, involving a view of the goal of human life (happiness, resulting from absence of physical pain and mental disturbance), an empiricist theory of knowledge (sensations, together with the perception of pleasure and pain, are infallible …

In summary, a simple heuristic to remember the difference between the Stoics and the Epicureans: The Stoics cared about virtuous behavior and living according to nature, while the Epicureans were all about avoiding pain and seeking natural and necessary pleasure.

The “tetrapharmakos” was originally a compound of four drugs (wax, tallow, pitch and resin); the word has been used metaphorically by Roman-era Epicureans to refer to the four remedies for healing the soul.

Among the fragments of papyri, scholars discovered a summary of Epicurean philosophy that Philodemus labelled the “fourfold cure” — “tetrapharmakos” in Greek. It’s a summary of the first four of the forty “principle doctrines” of Epicurus.