Although Epicurus advocates pursuing pleasure for the good life, discuss a few reasons why he does not advocate a life completely filled with immediate gratification.
Epicurus supports the idea of pursuit for pleasure, especially at the basic level of food, drink and shelter. He, however, disagrees with the idea of excessive luxury and unnecessary pleasures citing a number of reasons. Epicurus perceives the desire and pursuit of excessive luxury as an advancement towards future pain, suffering and immense distress (Fitzpatrick, 2018). According to Epicurus, if a pleasure is unnecessary, then it is not worth pursuing because it is a waste of energy and could lead to imprudent decisions that could cause untold stress and suffering on the victims, their friends and family members.
Another reason that Epicurus cites in his dismissal for excessive and unnecessary pleasures is that human beings can live normally and happily as long as they manage to avoid mental stress and pain. A painless and mentally settled life is the excellent depiction of a happy life and any other desires for more luxury and pleasurable living could lead to problems in the future (Arruzza, 2018). Epicurus was categorical that pleasures of the right kind such as the pursuit of natural needs such as friendship, food, proper shelter, clothing and a sense of belonging in society.
Although Epicurus emphasized on natural desires as the right kind of pleasures that people can pursue, a number of natural desires fall outside his definition of right pleasures. Epicurus, for instance, cited the desire for fine food, fine drinks and fine shelter as extreme luxury hence unnecessary. Another natural desire that Epicurus dismisses as unnecessary is the desire for immortality (Fitzpatrick, 2018). He perceives the fear of death and desire to avoid death as utterly irrational as it deters people from living to their full potential. Epicurus made his postulations with a strong intent to help people to focus their energies on simple natural pleasures by avoiding immediate gratification that could lead to more pain and distress in the future.
References
Arruzza, C. (2018). Plotinus and Epicurus: Matter, Perception, Pleasure. Ancient Philosophy, 38(1), 232-236.
Fitzpatrick, T. (2018). How to Live Well: Epicurus as a Guide to Contemporary Social Reform. Edward Elgar Publishing.
