Catherine Wilson is a Professor of Philosophy, currently at the City University of New York. She is the author of How to Be an Epicurean: The Ancient Art of Living Well, which covers Epicureanism, an ancient philosophy, as a way of life.
In this conversation Michael and Catherine cover the basics of Epicureanism, a philosophical alternative to Stoicism based on minimizing the painful experiences of yourself and others, while maximizing enjoyment. They also discuss the contrasts between Stoicism and Epicureanism, including the idea that Stoicism is a tool for stress management, while Epicureanism is a tool for stress avoidance.
This conversation is a must for anyone interested in expanding their knowledge of Hellenistic philosophy, or anyone interested in ancient philosophies of life besides Stoicism.
(01:33) Stoicism vs Epicureanism
(03:45) Convention vs Nature
(10:13) Epicurean Altruism
(20:35) The Garden
(25:17) Back to Convention
(29:11) Intellectual Pleasure
(30:49) Stoicism vs Epicureanism, Revisited
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Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations.