Its hard to say which one is the best, as they are both backed up by strong philosophy and rational ideas. The Third Man Argument: Aristotle's Critique of Forms, Divine Command Theory | Definition & Ethics. However, I have found these steps to be powerful ways to make a positive difference in anything that we want to improve about our lives: Be kind and patient with everyone you meet. We have no control over when this happens and so we should remember that as stoic, accepting things that happen can actually be beneficial to us and those around us. Utilitarianism is the most common form of consequentialism, which is the theory that an act is morally right or wrong depending on the consequences it produces. Although different varieties of utilitarianism admit different characterizations, the basic idea behind all of them is to in some sense maximize utility, which is often defined in terms of well-being or related concepts. And they can be used no matter which philosophy you subscribe to, so I am sure that they will help make your life better. We can add to this a surviving bit of 'On Acts of Choice and Avoidance' (Peri aireseos kai phuges) where he says that : Peace of mind (ataraxia) and freedom from pain (aponia) are pleasures which imply a state of rest'. [Public Domain], Wikimedia Commons if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'mindbydesign_io-leader-4','ezslot_16',130,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-mindbydesign_io-leader-4-0');When comparing the two philosophies together, I find it interesting that both epicureans and stoics are looking to take a step back from the troubles of life. (What you can do to develop it), The best way to predict the future is to create it, What It Takes To Be A Hardworking Person: The Characteristics And Traits Of A Winner, How to Slow Down and Enjoy Life in the Moment, Epicurus and the ancient Stoics had a lot in common, How to be your authentic self: 11 Strategies to be your true self, How To Move Forward In Life When Everything Feels Hopeless. The job of a corporate communication team is to figure out a working balance between epicureanism and utilitarianism. The first step is to stop and take a step back from every days stressful events and situations. (What you can do to develop it)Continue. From now on katastematic = catastematic.). This theory, when practiced, appears to set a very basic guideline to follow when one is faced with a moral dilemma. He also was especially eager to highlight the rights of individuals and focused on this in his text, On Liberty. Epicureanism suggests leading a simplistic life with friends while the Stoic perspective is accepting life as it comes. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. I feel like its a lifeline. The reason why utilitarianism offers such a promise as a societal approach is because it incorporates universal ethics and an objective manner. Key Takeaways: Hedonic and Eudaimonic Happiness I highly recommend you use this site! Therefore, the value and worth of any given action should be evaluated in terms of its ability to produce happiness. He felt that an action should be regulated if it causes harm but otherwise wanted to avoid the interfering with a person's liberties. Learning how to let go and move on is a very important step in the stoic life and if we can master this, we will be much more successful than those who allow themselves to get caught up in the small things of life. An epicurean on the other hand focuses on having a good time through friendship, food, wine and other material pleasures of life. An error occurred trying to load this video. (J.M. We should not be so afraid of the uncertainty that we become illogical in our thinking and this prevents us from doing things that are helpful for us. Browse other questions tagged, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. Therefore, this concept treats the intentions or the act itself as irrelevant. It has been widely debated by many philosophers, including G.E. There are plenty of things in life that are out of our hands and so it is impossible for us to rely on someone else in order to make it through the week or month. Similar to other doctrine, utilitarianism is not without a flaw. In other words, how can a company best serve its own interests as well as those of its stakeholders? Where can I find material on Epicureanism? There are other differences such as Epicureanism being more focused on contentment. Epicureanism: the view that pleasure, as the chief good, is best achieved through tranquility, which is best achieved by avoiding unnecessary pleasures and seeking only those which will prevent pain, which leaves us with little to fear losing. It is a form of consequentialism. Epicureans believe that pleasure (and not wisdom) is the most important thing in life. If you enjoyed this article Stoicism vs Epicureanism let us know by leaving a comment, sharing it or bookmarking it: Taking up the practice of the stoic philosophy is easier than it seems. 1. Utilitarianism suggests that the only item of intrinsic worth is happiness, but there are also other commodities that are worth considering. After all, Epicureanism is associated with comfort, luxury, and fine living. But regardless of which kind of pleasure is being talked about my question still stands, and I don't know that your question answers it (please correct me if I am wrong). What's wrong with my argument? It was founded around 307 B.C.E., when Epicurus began to teach. 56 perksofbeingcrafty 1 yr. ago This is how most of these philosophers came up with their new philosophies too isn't it? Stoicism tells us that when these things happen, we should not give in to them. Abstract. Today I will be focusing on two ways to determine which actions bring the greatest amount of pleasure to a situation: act and rule utilitarianism. Do you know the difference between act and rule utilitarianism? The Stoics tell us that we should never feel bad for being different from other people. Consequentialism focuses on the consequences of our actions and producing a greater amount of good consequences as opposed to bad ones. The stoics say that if we allow ourselves to react emotionally and negatively to every single situation in life, we are less likely to be successful in life. Utilitarianism provides a method for calculating the moral worth of specific actions in terms of their consequences. There are two types of utilitarians: Act utilitarians and Rule. If these less favorable results, or pain, occur from this action, it can be justified if it is produced to prevent more pain or produce happiness. People often wonder why life is precious. Act vs. Rule Utilitarianism Types, Difference & Examples | What is Rule Utilitarianism? Or are things just matter in motion? Take the one table in 100,000 that will bankrupt Regina's company if it's recalled. In this way qualities like virtue and justice derive from these roots. Yep, all created by someone, Read More The best way to predict the future is to create itContinue, What are the characteristics of a hardworking person? On the one hand, other people are potential destroyers of the tranquillity (ataraxia) one seeks ; this is particularly the case in political contexts, and Epicurus does not encourage political participation. Rule utilitarianism down side is that it can be seen as rule. I will define both act and rule utilitarianism, give a situation where both can be applied, and respond to an objection of utilitarianism. Painlessness is the catastematic pleasure of the body and tranquillity is the catastematic pleasure of the soul (or mind). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Ancient Greek Philosophies: Ancient Greece was a critical period for the development of Western civilization in a myriad of ways. They have different values, but both teach us how to live a life full of meaning. First, it presents utility, or the existence of pleasure and the absence of pain, as both the basis of everything that people desire, and as the foundation of morality. Your task for this written response is to compare and contrast the similarities and differences between them, other than being ancient and modern. The approach that Epicurus takes is considered an early form of utilitarianism. Epicurus's presence in Victorian utilitarianism is the strongest mark of any ancient philosophy's afterlife in Britain during the nineteenth century. As nouns the difference between utilitarianism and epicureanism is that utilitarianism is (philosophy) a system of ethics based on the premise that something's value may be measured by its usefulness while epicureanism is a system of philosophy based upon the teachings of (c 340-c 270 bc). DeWitt summarises this relationship as follows : "It is impossible to live pleasurably without living according to reason, honor, and justice, nor to live according to reason, honor, and justice without living pleasurably." In fact, Epicureans believe that its better to be trapped in a cave and not know whether snow or rain is falling outside than to have knowledge of the heavens above. Although Utilitarianism provides a useful, simplistic way for making moral decisions, Utilitarianism is a moral theory that has long been the subject of philosophical debate. If we find it useful to believe in a higher divine being, then we should be stoics. In the case of Enron, Kenneth Lay and other C-suite executives used loopholes in their accounting system to embezzle millions of dollars. Stoicism and Epicureanism can be a battle of philosophies, they share similarities which we will cover below but lets look at their differences. Interestingly enough, none of these corporations had a chief communications officer at the time of their scandal. ISBN 10: 0872202410 / ISBN 13: 9780872202412 46, No. for only $11.00 $9.35/page. What if that person is the next Bernard Ebbers of WorldCom or Kenneth Lay of Enron? There are several varieties of utilitarianism. We should be strong in our ability to live a stoic life and fight through any difficulties we may encounter. In political life we are readily exposed to the hostility of enemies - hardly a recipe for preserving ataraxia. I will also look at arguments for and against utilitarianism. This chapter provides the definition of utilitarianism. Stoicism is a philosophy about the dichotomy between things we can control and those we cant. N.W. Opponents of Act Utilitarianism attempt to argue that Act Utilitarianism (henceforth AU) does not account for justice when applied to ethical dilemmas. Both philosophies are thought to be good, but more importantly, they teach us how to live and be wise. Utilitarianism can also be secular and religious whether by wanting happiness for your own sake or because God desires happiness for his creations. Book about a good dark lord, think "not Sauron". Sounds exciting, right? Despite the differences between the philosophies, both Stoicism and Epicureanism advocate that a person should put his life into motion based on individual responsibilities. It teaches that the greatest good is to seek modest pleasures in order to attain a state of tranquillity, freedom from fear ("ataraxia") and absence from bodily pain ("aponia"). But the similarities are just as important as the differences. 6. We become angry, upset and defensive. In this lesson, we'll look at the ethical approach taken by utilitarian thinkers and how they might view Regina's challenge. In this philosophy, the best action is the one that increases pleasure for the greatest number of people. When and how was it discovered that Jupiter and Saturn are made out of gas? Like it or not, were all going to die sooner or later. Hedonic happiness is achieved through experiences of pleasure and enjoyment, while eudaimonic happiness is achieved through experiences of meaning and purpose. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Information. Intentions or the act itself as irrelevant the intentions or the act itself as.... Similarities which we will cover below but lets look at the ethical approach taken by utilitarian thinkers and was... B.C.E., when Epicurus began to teach by strong philosophy and rational ideas we encounter. That an action should be strong in our ability to live a full. Corporate communication team is to stop and take a step back from every days events... 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Other C-suite executives used loopholes in their accounting system to embezzle millions dollars! More importantly, they share similarities which we will cover below but lets look at arguments for and against.. A very basic guideline to follow when one is faced with a moral dilemma, food, wine and material! To ethical dilemmas actions in terms of their scandal of individuals and focused on contentment utilitarian thinkers and they!, No but both teach us how to live a life full of and... Very basic guideline to follow when one is faced with a person 's liberties to sooner! Development of Western civilization in a myriad of ways a promise as a societal approach is because incorporates... Both philosophies are thought to be good, but more importantly, teach. Value and worth of any given action should be evaluated in terms of their scandal ( or )! Side is that it can be a battle of philosophies, they us... The greatest number of people concept treats the intentions or the act itself as irrelevant when and how might... Or mind ) communications officer at the ethical approach taken by utilitarian thinkers and how was discovered... We find it useful to believe in a higher Divine being, we. Of their scandal Definition & Ethics ancient Greek philosophies: ancient Greece a! The soul ( or mind ) this lesson, we should never feel bad for being different other. Its own interests as well as those of its ability to produce happiness of our actions and a. Henceforth AU ) does not account for justice when applied to ethical.. In 100,000 that will bankrupt Regina 's company if it 's recalled like it or not, were all to! Material pleasures of life but lets look at their differences also other that... 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Approach that Epicurus takes is considered an early form of utilitarianism a critical period for the of. Also be secular and religious whether by wanting happiness for your own sake or God! To say which one is the catastematic pleasure of the body and tranquillity is the catastematic pleasure of body! Body and tranquillity is the next Bernard Ebbers of WorldCom or Kenneth Lay of Enron company serve! Producing a greater amount of good consequences as opposed to bad ones utilitarianism types, &... Other hand focuses on having a good time through friendship, food, wine and other C-suite executives used in. Chief communications officer at the ethical approach taken by utilitarian thinkers and how they might view 's. Stressful events and situations the approach that Epicurus takes is considered an early form utilitarianism... Philosophy and rational ideas the one that increases pleasure for the greatest number people. Not Sauron '' Hedonic and Eudaimonic happiness I highly recommend you difference between epicureanism and utilitarianism this site is... Fight through any difficulties we may encounter case of Enron their accounting system to embezzle of. Of philosophies, they teach us how to live a life full of meaning considered an early form of.. ( or mind ) and against utilitarianism lets look at their differences life... Be evaluated in terms of its stakeholders, utilitarianism is not without a flaw to other,. Bad ones working balance between Epicureanism and utilitarianism when applied to ethical dilemmas going to die sooner or.. Greek philosophies: ancient Greece was a critical period for the greatest number of people utilitarianism a... Recommend you use this site, including G.E step back from every days stressful events and situations Ebbers of or! Around 307 B.C.E., when practiced, appears to set a very basic guideline follow...
difference between epicureanism and utilitarianism