Epicureanism
The good life consists of simple pleasures, friendship, and freedom from fear.
Overview
Often misunderstood as hedonism, Epicureanism actually teaches that the highest pleasure is ataraxia — tranquility and the absence of suffering. Epicurus advocated simple living, deep friendships, philosophical reflection, and above all, freedom from two great fears: fear of the gods (who, he argued, are indifferent to us) and fear of death (which we will never experience). Physical pleasures matter less than peace of mind.
Origins
Epicurus founded the Garden in Athens around 307 BCE — a philosophical community that welcomed women and enslaved people, unusual for its time. His philosophy emerged as an alternative to the anxieties of Hellenistic life, offering happiness not through power or wealth but through withdrawal into a community of friends devoted to simple living and rational inquiry.