Epicurus On Worrying About The Future

in #philosophy7 years ago

Epicurusfuture.jpg

The gist of it is live in the present moment, but I think it’s much deeper than that. It is like the stoic concept of prosoche or mindfulness, the practice of which consists in freeing your mind of value judgments about the future and past. This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t plan, only that you should not become emotionally invested in your expectations, whether they are favorable to you or not.

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Epicurus was an interesting man. Closely related to this post is his Tetrapharmakos, or four-part cure on living a happy life. Outlined by four parts:

  1. Don't fear god
  2. Don't worry about death
  3. What is good is easy to get
  4. What is terrible is easy to endure

Many would say he is wrong, but I do believe there is some right to it if we take some time to think.

Many would say he is wrong, but I do believe there is some right to it if we take some time to think.

And that is precisely the problem. Most people don't think; they have others think for them.