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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 3 page essay that contrasts and compares the Sermon on the Mount to Epicureanism. Bibliography lists 4 sources.
Page Count:
3 pages (~225 words per page)
File: KL9_khepijes.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
lives. Both of these famous thinkers emphasized the importance of virtue and achieving happiness, but they do so for very different reasons, which indicates Jesus more complete and complex understanding
of the human soul and psyche. As this suggests, examination of these two philosophies reveals their extreme differences, but also some surprising similarities. Epicurus taught his followers a materialistic understanding
of reality ("Epicureanism"). As Epicurus believed that religion was simply superstition and that the afterlife did not exist, he proposed that the sole purpose in life is find personal happiness
and by "happiness," Epicurus does not mean a state of well-being in which perfecting consciousness is "accompanied by pleasure," but rather he means pleasure itself (Ryan). Epicurus defined "pleasure" as
the absence of bodily "pain and (mental) anxiety" (Ryan). To achieve these ends, he valued the importance of virtue, as he wrote that "We cannot live pleasurably without living prudently,
gracefully and justly; and we cannot live prudently, gracefully and justly, without living pleasurably," as the "virtues are by nature united with a pleasurable life" (Ryan). As this indicates,
epicureans should not be confused with hedonists, as Epicureanism holds that all traditional virtues should be followed, which means that an Epicurean would never advocate pursuing sensual excesses simply because
they are pleasurable. Nevertheless, a true epicurean, while he or she may be virtuous, that is, law-abiding and completely with the traditional social norms, is a totally self-centered person because
they pursue this mode of behavior, not from personal conviction, but because it is prudent. Epicurus did not recommend any activity that could possibility intrude on devotion to personal interests,
such as having children or being a public servant (Ryan). He admitted that friendships should be cultivated, but only in so far as these friendships serve the individual.
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