Comparison between Stoicism and Epicureanism Discussion 2022

Running head: SOCIOLOGY
Sociology
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1SOCIOLOGY
Discuss the founder of the philosophy as well as the key ideas of each, comparing the two
The term Stoicism refers to an ancient Greek philosophy that teaches human beings to
develop self control as well as fortitude as a process of overcoming destructive emotions.
Epicureanism can be defined as system of philosophy that has been developed on the basis of the
teaching of Epicurus1. According the mentioned philosophy, the greatest good includes seeking
modest pleasures for attaining a state of tranquility, relief from body pain as well as freedom
from fear. Both the philosophies have been founded in Athens approximately around 3000 B.C.
In the following table, the two mentioned philosophies have been compared in order to gain an
in-depth knowledge about the similarities and differences of the same.
Comparison between Stoicism and Epicureanism
Stoicism Epicureanism
When it comes to the founder of Stocism, it is
a school of philosophy that has been founded
by Zeno of Citium in Athens in the early 3rd
Century BC2.
The founder of Epicureanism was Epicurus,
who was an atomic materialist and followed
the steps shown by Democritus. The mentioned
philosophy has been found in the 307 BC.
In contrast to the key concept of Epicureanism,
according to Stoic philosophers a good number
of things are out of the control of human
beings. As a result of this, several things may
The key concept of Epicureanism includes
human beings should have control and capacity
to train their desires. Epicurus believed that
man is miserable due to hi desire for physical
1 Andrew, Edward. "The Epicurean Stoicism of the French Enlightenment." The Routledge Handbook of the Stoic
Tradition (2016): 58.
2 Sedley, David. "Epicurus on Dialectic." Dialectic after Plato and Aristotle (2018): 82.

2SOCIOLOGY
befall an make the life of a human being more
difficult. Some of the major factors that human
beings lack control over include Sickness, loss,
poverty, death and other tragedies. Thus all
human beings can do is to wait and hope that
the miserable storm that they are encountering
for no fault of their own will pass. Stoic
philosopher’s stresses on the fact that miseries
can arise at no fault of man and hence
attainment of happiness id not merely
confirmed in ceasing desire things that we
should not or need not desire.
or non physical materials that need not to be
desired. According to him, human beings
should desire things that are necessary as well
as natural to them in order to develop the
capacity to bath in the pure joy of being3.
According to Epicureanism, one whose basic
needs are met is able to rival the gods in
happiness.
To stoic philosophers to be alive means to be
open towards the trouble of life that can arrive
at any point of human lives. According to them
to lead a happy and successful life, a man
should have virtue, courage, wisdom and moral
strength4. There is no point on giving up one’s
desire since it is natural to have desires for
things that are not necessary or beneficial5.
When it comes to Epicurean philosophers they
believe that materials that we don’t need to
meet our basic needs are the materials that
enhances an d develop our pain. Thus the
concept of Epicureanism is all about avoiding
pain and seeking natural as well as necessary
pleasure.
3 Kavanagh, Thomas M. "Epicureanism across the French Revolution." In Lucretius and Modernity, pp. 89-101.
Palgrave Macmillan, New York, 2016.
4 Konstan, David, and Catherine Wilson. "Exchange: Epicurean and Stoic Philosophy." The Philosophers'
Magazine 74 (2016): 97-103.
5 Baron, Arkadiusz. "The Influence of Aristotelianism, Epicureanism, Cynicism, and Stoicism on Human Life in the
Early Church." Theological Research 3, no. 1 (2015): 25-42.