Finis est venit
Pietas non differet
Mors est necesse
Monday, May 31, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Epicurean Philosophy
The well known story, "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" tells about a little mouse who continually demands more from his human friend. Once he receives his cookie, he craves a glass of milk, and then after he wants a nap...so on and so forth. The story illustrates Epicurean philosophy because the mouse is always wanting more, instead of enjoying what he has at the moment. Epicurius taught to live in the moment, because as mortals, we never know which day may be our last. As a teenage girl, I'm familiar with the saying "Live everyday as if it's your last" and as cliche as it sounds, it directly relates back to Epicurian philosophy and the idea of Carpe Diem. Epicurius also believed that pain is composed of unnecessary desires, which basically sums up the mouse in a nutshell. All of his requests were unnecessary, because he did not need the cookie/milk/or nap.
This is also demonstrated in the story "Cookies" by Arnold Lobel, where Frog and Toad continued to devour delicious cookies, though they knew they shouldn't. After trying to prevent consumption by tieing the box of cookies with a string and putting it on the highest shelf possible, the friends resorted to feeding the cookies to birds, to exemplify their "willpower." The idea of eating more than necessary exemplifies gluttony, considered one of the seven deadly sins. Furthermore, once again the idea of unnecessary desires, leads to pain, which was part of the Epicurean philosophy. Another point is that pleasure should be attained and enjoyed in moderation, and kept in balance to pain, neither in excess.
Another story written by Arnold Lobel, depicts the story of Frog and Toad, where Toad's "List of Things To Do Today" gets blown away by the wind. Toad then faces the problem of not being able to remember any of the events on his list/not being able to run after the list because it was not part of the list. The basic idea of Epicurean philosophy behind this story revolves around the notion of Carpe Diem, once again. Toad's goal of following his "To Do" list constricts life to a piece of paper. Epicurius believed in mortality of humans; unaware of when life is going to end should push one to accomplish what he wants to do as he wishes and "seize the day" as part of his Carpe Diem philosophy.
This is also demonstrated in the story "Cookies" by Arnold Lobel, where Frog and Toad continued to devour delicious cookies, though they knew they shouldn't. After trying to prevent consumption by tieing the box of cookies with a string and putting it on the highest shelf possible, the friends resorted to feeding the cookies to birds, to exemplify their "willpower." The idea of eating more than necessary exemplifies gluttony, considered one of the seven deadly sins. Furthermore, once again the idea of unnecessary desires, leads to pain, which was part of the Epicurean philosophy. Another point is that pleasure should be attained and enjoyed in moderation, and kept in balance to pain, neither in excess.
Another story written by Arnold Lobel, depicts the story of Frog and Toad, where Toad's "List of Things To Do Today" gets blown away by the wind. Toad then faces the problem of not being able to remember any of the events on his list/not being able to run after the list because it was not part of the list. The basic idea of Epicurean philosophy behind this story revolves around the notion of Carpe Diem, once again. Toad's goal of following his "To Do" list constricts life to a piece of paper. Epicurius believed in mortality of humans; unaware of when life is going to end should push one to accomplish what he wants to do as he wishes and "seize the day" as part of his Carpe Diem philosophy.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Horace 1.9
Horace's Poem 1.9 both represents and contrasts Epicurian ideas. For example, in the fourth stanza, Horace writes: "Quid sit futurum cras, fuge quaerere et quem fors dierum cumque dabit, lucro appone nec dulcis amores sperne puer neque tu choreas" meaning, Don't seek for what is going to be tomorrow and whatever days fate will give, count them for profit, and while a young boy, don't reject sweet love and dances." This represents Epicurian ideas because Horace is encouraging the idea of pleasure, instead of focusing on negativity or pain, associated with it. Furthermore, the fourth stanza emobodies a carpe diem motif, reminding me of a poem we analyzed in English called The Passionate Shepherd to His Love. This poem was written from a male perspective, basically urging the object of his affection to succumb to all desires because as mortals, time is not infinite. This goes hand in hand with the Epicurian idea of mortality. Since life is not eternal, Horace is advising the youth to love and enjoy simple pleasures, for one does not know what tomorrow may bring.
Although the poem represents Epicurian ideas, it also contrasts against them. To illuminate, in stanza three, Horace writes: "Permitte divis cetera" meaning "Surrender the rest to the Gods.." A major belief of Epircurius was that Gods do exist, but do not interfere in our lives. Another point in the poem which disagree with the ideas of Epicurius is exemplified when Horace writes "Deprome quadrimum Sabina, O Thaliarche, merum diota" meaning "Oh Thaliarchus, fetch the four year old, pure Sabine wine from its two handled jar." This does not agree with Epicurian values, because drinking only satisfies temporary pleasure, which is a major discrepancy of Epicurian ideals. Furthermore, some people these days may drink, only to numb pain. Alcohol may also be viewed as part of an "unnecessary desire" which was also frowned upon by Epicurian ideals.
Although the poem represents Epicurian ideas, it also contrasts against them. To illuminate, in stanza three, Horace writes: "Permitte divis cetera" meaning "Surrender the rest to the Gods.." A major belief of Epircurius was that Gods do exist, but do not interfere in our lives. Another point in the poem which disagree with the ideas of Epicurius is exemplified when Horace writes "Deprome quadrimum Sabina, O Thaliarche, merum diota" meaning "Oh Thaliarchus, fetch the four year old, pure Sabine wine from its two handled jar." This does not agree with Epicurian values, because drinking only satisfies temporary pleasure, which is a major discrepancy of Epicurian ideals. Furthermore, some people these days may drink, only to numb pain. Alcohol may also be viewed as part of an "unnecessary desire" which was also frowned upon by Epicurian ideals.
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