In an age defined by constant stimulation, rising anxiety, and the ceaseless pursuit of more-more wealth, more achievement, more connection-few ancient philosophies feel as startlingly relevant as Epicureanism. Often misunderstood, misrepresented, or reduced to a caricature of hedonistic indulgence, the philosophy of Epicurus offers a rigorous, clear-eyed path toward peace of mind, self-sufficiency, and lasting contentment. It is not a call to pleasure for pleasure's sake, but rather a practical guide to living well, thinking clearly, and freeing ourselves from the fears that quietly rule our lives.
Epicureanism emerged in the Hellenistic period, a time not unlike our own-marked by political upheaval, the collapse of older certainties, and a growing sense of existential dislocation. Against this backdrop, Epicurus (341-270 BCE) founded his school in Athens, known as "The Garden," where men and women, slaves and citizens, gathered to engage in philosophical inquiry and to live according to a shared ideal of tranquility (ataraxia) and freedom from bodily distress (aponia). His philosophy, grounded in atomistic physics and ethical minimalism, challenged both the superstitions of religion and the dogmas of rival schools, especially the Stoics and Platonists. Yet his influence endured, quietly shaping later thinkers from Lucretius to Jefferson, despite the suppression of his ideas by Christian orthodoxy.
This book is not a historical treatise, though it draws deeply from the ancient sources. Nor is it a modern self-help guide, though its principles offer practical wisdom for daily living. Rather, it is a philosophical exploration of Epicureanism as a coherent worldview-a way of understanding nature, human desire, death, friendship, and the meaning of a good life. It seeks to reclaim Epicurean thought from centuries of distortion and neglect, and to present it as a living philosophy, capable of speaking to modern anxieties without resorting to dogma or denial.
At the heart of Epicureanism lies a paradox: true pleasure is found not in excess but in restraint, not in luxury but in simplicity. The greatest pleasures, Epicurus taught, are not those that overwhelm the senses but those that restore balance to the soul. Friendship, contemplation, gratitude, and the cultivation of modest desires-these are not only the means to happiness but the substance of it. To live wisely, therefore, is to understand the limits of our nature and the structure of our needs, to discern which desires are natural and necessary, and to let go of those that lead only to suffering.
In these pages, you will find not just an account of Epicurean doctrines, but a dialogue with them. Each chapter unfolds around central themes-pleasure, fear, death, desire, nature, justice, friendship-with attention paid both to the original context and to contemporary relevance. Where Epicurus offers clarity, we listen; where questions remain, we probe further. The aim is not to follow a master uncritically, but to think alongside a tradition that dares to make happiness its central concern-and to do so with both intellectual rigor and human compassion.
If Epicureanism has a single lesson for us today, it is this: life can be enough, if we learn to see it clearly. In a world clouded by illusion, distraction, and restless striving, perhaps that is the most radical message of all.
外文書商品之書封，為出版社提供之樣本。實際出貨商品，以出版社所提供之現有版本為主。部份書籍，因出版社供應狀況特殊，匯率將依實際狀況做調整。
無庫存之商品，在您完成訂單程序之後，將以空運的方式為你下單調貨。為了縮短等待的時間，建議您將外文書與其他商品分開下單，以獲得最快的取貨速度，平均調貨時間為1~2個月。
為了保護您的權益，「三民網路書店」提供會員七日商品鑑賞期(收到商品為起始日)。
若要辦理退貨，請在商品鑑賞期內寄回，且商品必須是全新狀態與完整包裝(商品、附件、發票、隨貨贈品等)否則恕不接受退貨。
