EPICUREANISM: Ancient Answers to Modern Questions" | Marc Nelson | TEDxOgden
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- Опубліковано 22 тра 2024
- Equality. Serenity. Minimalism. These might sound like modern values, but these ideas were embraced by ancient Greeks over 2,300 years ago. In a philosophy of life now known as Epicureanism, Epicurus recommended maximizing peace of mind and health of body by embracing minimalism, humble lifestyles, gratitude and more. You might be surprised by how applicable these ancient ideas are to modern dilemmas. You might even call Epicurus the Original Millennial. Marc Nelson is an Adjunct Instructor at Weber State University where he teaches philosophy, honors, and study abroad courses. He lives with his wife and 2 kids in Ogden, and enjoys hiking the Ogden mountains, floating the Ogden River, and drinking the Ogden beer. Whenever possible, he tries to live by Epicurean teachings. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx
I love the quote "it is liberating to only want what already have."
“Simplicity is one of the core lifestyle choices ” I couldn’t agree more with that being said.
This really made me reflect on my uncle as well as some of my friends. In college, my uncle always said that if you're stressing then you're working too hard. He may not have his dream job, but he has what makes him happy. He has a job that allows him to spend time with his family, mountain bike, snowboard, and go on road trips. Unfortunately in today's society everyone is taught that money shows how successful you are when in reality, you get to decide how successful you are.
The things you really need are few, and easy to come by. The things you can imagine you need are infinite, and will never satisfy.
They were easy to come by before greed destroyed the ecosystems.
@@MrLoobu : Nope, the things you really need have all been appropriated by a few : the rich and powerful, when mankind "discovered" capitalism - the private ownership of the means of production including land and human labour.
How does a man come to own another man ? How does a man come to "own" land which he didn't bring with into this world ? The Answers are far more complex than we have time to discuss on this thread.
@@sonnyxlbright5904 I think I agree with you and it is too deep to get into properly, but I would just add that its an illusion in my mind that any one of us owns what another needs. Many of us live in comfort while playing many games to feed addictions and maintain lifestyles like children, they all feel good, though ultimately they damage and enslave us to their makers. I advocate anyone saving their family by taking them to wild places to live more freely from totalitarianism of all kinds and have the chance to benefit or fail due to their own choices.
Yes, for example, today I am fasting from food for the entire day. Just drinking water and researching stoicism.
@@cartergomez5390 I don't think that's the idea mate
Epicureanism is simply the most perfect philosophy in the history of mankind and will continue to be through the centuries.
Dr. Nelson, one key point of your TED talk that stood out to me was "Stoke your gratitude." You speak of the endless loop or cycle of desire and what we can do to break it. I find myself falling into this trap. Once I gain that new possession its onto the next. I also dwell on my newfangled objects, creating unnecessary stress in an attempt to keep them "mint". Your analogy with the Lexus help put this into perspective. Your ability to connect the seemingly antiquated message of Epicurus to our modern world was seamless and easy to follow.
Thank you!
I genuinely enjoyed how you applied his teachings to life today. I have a hard time understanding Epicureanism and this simplified it for me. Epicurus is truly the millennial! I can agree with the idea of less money means less stress and problems. I grew up not having much, and I lived content. Now having more, I can feel myself being materialistic at times and always wanting more.
"The more you have, the more you want." This quote couldn't be more true. When we have everything we need, then we try to obtain everything we want. We start to seek out the things we don't need and don't necessarily want just because we feel we need to have more. Living a simple and easy life is really the most stress-free because we don't need to worry about things of value getting stolen or broken. We can work less because we don't need as much to provide for ourselves, and in turn, we can spend more time doing the things we love and enjoy.
I absolutely agree with the points made in this Ted Talk. It reminds me of how many people are starting to move into the "Tiny" homes or living in vans so that they can travel the country with few possessions. I also really resonated with this when you talked about working less, so that you could do more things that you enjoy. I frequently get into disagreements with my parents about how I do not work as often as I should, but I would rather take that time to go on a vacation to a new place or to spend time with friends and family.
Friendship is magic.
Dear Dr Nelson:
Thank you for this discussion of what has been my favorite philosophical system since my 20's (a long time ago). It's an excellent introduction to Epicureanism, which seems to be a rather marginal system of thought, eclipsed by Stoicism, Christianity, etc; and looked at rather pejoratively through time.
However, one thing I would take issue with sir, is your translation or reading of ataraxia. Personally, I wouldn't use the word "serenity" due to the decidedly saccharine overtones/implications of that word. To be honest, I don't think there's any single English word available that's equivalent to that concept, given how infected our language is with Stoic/Judeo-Christian notions about things.
Nevertheless, I greatly enjoyed your talk.
Peace and a long life of contented calm! I hope you've achieved ataraxia!
I appreciate how you used life examples of how epicureanism and how it can influence us. It can be super beneficial for people my age. Knowing to control stress and realize that stress can mean I'm working too hard is important and I'm glad to have had the chance to reflect on this as I watched.
I really like the part about how people treat their possessions, like the new car, and how there's more stress about worrying about it, whereas the person with a rustbucket is less worried. I thought it was a very interesting idea that doesn't seem to be noticed as frequently as it could.
As a positive critique, putting Epicureanism concepts into modern terminology (ie. "Mo Money, Mo Problems) allows me to understand their ancient philosophy and how it plays a role in modern society. Through that translation, I understand the idea that if you have less things, there is less stress, less value, those things hold, allowing for a more serene life.
I really enjoyed how there were examples that related to modern life. I think so many of us are taught very young in our society to chase money and that having money would make our lives so much less stressful. While I think having money doesn't hurt, stressing about acquiring said money is so detrimental to our well-being. I can 100% remember being younger having people adamantly dissuade me from majoring in social work to major in something more lucrative. I also remember being young and thinking that having what I have now, I would be so satisfied and content, but there is always something else we're chasing. It's like it never ends. This was a great perspective shifter.
I really like the general idea of realizing that you're needs are probably already met, so stop pursuing things that you don't need by doing something (work) that you don't like and instead just do things that truly make you happy.
I like that you explained that friendship is magic.
I love the comment that he was the OG millennial. I like that you started by explaining who he was and why it is is relevant today.
Nice delivery. You brought up a topic/person that most people dont know about and made it relevant to today. It was easy to understand and doable.
Great talk ! I like that you explained friendship is magic . Friends love and making room for it in your life because it doesn't matter when you are dead long before you stop breathing .Epicureanism is simply the most perfect philosophy in the history of mankind and will
continue to be through the centuries.
Thank you for sacrificing some of your own serenity to share this message with us. It really is a beautiful idea for millennials today. 🙌🏼
"When gold and jade fills up a room, no one can protect it.", 金玉满堂莫之能守 , Tao Te Ching in Chapter 9. Having too much attracts trouble and thieves. A simple life with nothing to steal makes life more safe and more easy to be satisfied.
A compatible view, but not quite the same view.
The Dao abides. The Dude abides.
Piece of mind is all we all want in the end. Trying to get through life, it can create a lot of problems including stress and anxiety. Take money for example, the more money we tend to have, the more we tend to want. The more we end up buying, the more debt we get in, or not get the essential things we need. I feel like for this generation, this movement is coming back some. With the housing market being so high, a lot of younger people are living out of vans and traveling across country. The simplicity of not having an abundance amount of items to lug around is probably reliving to them. I enjoy Ted Talks and glad to have watched this one.
I really liked this talk. It made me think when I was younger how I wanted certain things that were expensive because it was "nice" and "everybody" had it. Over the years, I learned I'm alright with the simple. I was telling my boyfriend when we get engaged I don't want a big diamond ring, I'll be happy with a simple ring. When I was younger I always wanted a big huge house when I was older, but I learned I would be happy with a roof over my head and be with my future family. I think we want big and expensive things when we see other people with those things. Before, we were happy with the things we have. We need to be happy with the things we have and those things we want will come when they want to.
Dr. Nelson I loved this presentation! I believe that when we learn to appreciate what we have, or love what we have, we truly become grateful for all things in life. By appreciating what we do have rather than what we don't we begin to devote our time to the things that matter. I am going to school to have a better life, and to be able to provide for my family, and I will attempt my best to work hard for experiences, trips, and memories; things that aren't material. One of my favorite quotes that I believe encompasses epicureanism is "wealth is in the mind, not the pocket"
I agree with you when you say " the more you have the more you want". I grew up in a small home with not alot of things. once I got my own job I continuously bought bigger and nicer things. This did lead to alot of stress. If I just kept to the things that I needed at a reasonable price then I wouldn't worry as much when the got damaged or ruined.
and although I had to do this for an assignment, this is a great talk :)
The fact that he excepted everyone in his school of philosophy especially in a time when no one did shows me how serious he was about his philosophy. I often wonder if the people who think it's easier to be poor, have actually ever been poor? -Christy Amidan
Thank you for using life-related examples of how epicureanism can influence our lives daily! This really helped me understand the concept better and get a better grasp of what epicureanism really is.
I love the fact that you bring up the fact of meaningful work. In my opinion, it shows that it is possible to be a workaholic and still enjoy life to the fullest, as long as it has meaning and purpose. If you are fulfilled by what you do, you can still truly enjoy it. It gives you something to strive for that isn’t endless madness and stress.
You're absolutely right, people now a days care more a lot of materialistic stuff and trying their best get the latest gadget just so they could be caught up with the latest trend. It'll cause them stress and anxiety if they don't have materialistic stuff but just to be grateful for what you have and cherish those materialistic because at the end of the day when we leave this earth, we can't take all the stuff that we bought here on earth.
This Ted Talk really made me think about the top 1% and if they are actually happy and if their money simply makes them anxious. Thanks for opening our eyes to new ideas!
I don’t think he even mentions the most important ingredient in Epicurean ethics: PLEASURE. If we read Epicurus’ letter to Menoeceus we see that the whole point of exercising philosophy and doing hedonic calculus is to fill our lives with pleasure. I hope people who are intrigued by this continue studying.
Yes but I think it's important to point out that Epicurus defines pleasure not as unbridled hedonism, but as "absence of pain and fear". That's a very modest definition - you already feel pleasure when you don't feel pain and you have a peace of mind.
@@marekvodicka In fact, hedonism means endless chase after those bits of pleasure.
Wanting more and more stuff is hedonism in its own way.
He does. He doesn't name it "pleasure", he talks about "serenity", which is more accurate word for what Epicurus meant. Epicurus wrote in ancient Greek language, who says pleasure (as understood in modern terms) is accurate translation?
The whole idea was to maximize PLEASURE and minimize the opposite. Pain. Which was and still is a characteristic of any religion ever. Maybe not budhism. That's why Poggio Braciolini and Lucretius we're viewed like the anti-christ by the xv century religion induced society
I agree, what I loved about Epicurus and his teaching was about “pleasure”, the golden rule, and moderation. Too much of anything will spur. Or I guess I am cherry picking and combining epicurean theory and hedonism. But what I take away from Epicurus, is working hard to enjoy and get pleasure. You can have nice things, treating others the way you want to be treated. Avoiding pain. If you’re thirsty drink, hungry eat, it you work out too much this can be damaging, it you don’t work out enough it can lead to obesity etc
I loved how you talked about this topic in such a modern way. I feel like the way you tied it into modern world "problems" it made it a lot easier for me to understand and relate to. I also enjoyed the part where you talked about the more stuff we have that is nice psychologically we get used to those things really fast so they aren't as nice anymore in your head. That way nothing is ever enough to satisfy that materialistic need.
You do not need a lot to be happy. Its all about your perspective and that was the message I took away from this. This was a well put together presentation. The world would be a better place if more people studied philosophy and listened to lectures like this one.
Watching from Philippines, thank you.
I believe this philosophy is one that more American's should learn about. Being raised in a society where your wealth determines your status is pretty toxic. It creates an environment where you prioritize work and commodities over family, friends, and memories; leaving you hollow and alone. I have been trying to cement this philosophy into my ideology for nearly a year, which has led to me having more friends, less stress, and overall a better quality of life.
Dr Nelson brings this ancient philosophy into relevance in our modern world by reminding us that these teachings really still apply today. i really appreciate his use of humor and great speech to bring this topic into the minds of his students and audience on ogden and all around.
When watching this TedxTalk I didn't realize that this would be you, Marc Nelson, but this made me think more about how Epicureanism is used a lot in our everyday lives. And how college students can used this video to help them know what stresses can be in there life's and how much friendships can impact someone's life without them realizing it.
Epicureanism hits so close to the way I try to live ( sometimes successfully and sometimes not so much throughout my 39 year long journey so far ). Its funny how we can make these internal excuses as to why we "need" more, but we really don't. The times in my life where I have owned almost nothing real to speak of, I can truly say that my stress level was at its lowest points. I didn't work much nor did I worry about work. I did have amazing experiences and those were the "possessions" that I valued and kept. As my family grows and I have more than myself to look after, things have changed. That is not to say I have any less amazing experiences. My stress and worldly possessions have skyrocketed but I always try to remember to live simple for myself and my family. As far as work goes, I am skilled at what I do. Over the years I have found that the better I get, the more of a piece of the cog that I am for some one person's wallet getting fatter. Never have I gained any more fulfillment or satisfaction at my job because of progressing within the field. Another testament to what Mark said about Epicureanism and how it can make our lives better is the fact that though I make more money than I ever have before in my life.. I am no richer.
Epicurus knew what he was talking about! And I believe its not too extreme for any of us to fully or even partially embrace to make this life better and the world in general.
Thank you, Marc. Very thought-provoking.
I’m not sure that Epicurus advocated “be poor.” He was mainly saying to be satisfied with the simple life-and not to crave unnecessary and unnatural things such as fame and fortune. A middle-class lifestyle could be a simple one, as well, no? Vows of poverty would seem to be more stoic than hedonistic to me.
woostybrains I thought vows of poverty were more a things of a Cynic. You can still be a bossman and be a stoic.
@@SIickTurtIe True, one of the most famous Stoics is Marcus Aurelius. Doesn't become more bossman than the Roman emperor.
It's nice to see that old philosophies can still be applied in the modern world. I feel like a lot of the time we get so caught up in what we don't have or what we could have and knowing that even in the past people realized we can be more at peace with less is so refreshing. It's hard now days to truly feel happy with the things we have because new bigger better things are coming out everyday. Learning to take a break and just realize you can be content with what you have can greatly improve your outlook on life.
This was a pretty great talk - it gives a lot of perspective on how to live a less stressful and more fulfilling life.
I found this to be quite interesting! In our day, especially in Western cultures, working and income is considered highly important in order to provide for your family/loved ones. It's a neat point Marc makes about the pressures of providing consuming our time to the point where we basically forget about the people we're caring for. This video was a great reminder to keep in mind what you find most fulfilling in life and to make that the forefront of our actions!
The values presented by Epicurus are very enticing. If I was posed with the decision of getting a well paying job or a job that makes me happy. I would choose happiness but then I would second guess myself asking the question " how much more money?" Adopting Epicureanism would help make that conundrum so much easier as I would disregard the money one entirely.
I read many philosophy 📚 and 💡, but the way epicurean philosophy 📚 has influenced me is simply life 🧬 changing. I prefer epicurean philosophy over stoic philosophy.
This was inspiring me to do something for work that I’m passionate about! I love love this idea. I think that life really is about happiness and making your life simple and something you don’t need an escape from. The days shouldn’t be dreaded, but enjoyed. Love this.
I didn't read the title of the video, and so, for like the first 7 minutes I was, like, " huh, this sound a lot like my teacher. He's talking just like Mr. Nelson." And then I read the name Marc Nelson and I was like 'oh.' I really like it, I don't know if I'm 100% a fan of Epicureanism yet but the video is definitely a good look into it.
This is the most relatable and enjoyable explanation of Epicureanism I have heard. I liked the comparison of Epicureanism to a self-help program. I have seen the benefits of a simple life and the stresses and challenges caused by wanting more and competing with others for bigger and better. The ripple effect of never being satisfied with what you have and feeling like you have to have better can be far-reaching and detrimental. Some of the most influential people I've known had very little but were happy with what they already had and spent their energies positively with those they cared about. A strong sense of self is required to tune out society's measure of success and to embrace a simpler lifestyle.
I salute him for, his way of explaining things, and actions ,mindsets everything 😊 I learned so many things for him.
This reminds me of a lecture I had one time in philosophy class. I really like this guy's philosophy: Just focus on what you have rather than always wanting more. I often find myself "keeping up with the Joneses". Great ted talk! Much like the lecture, we had in class but that's okay.
I am thankful for your time to share this information on Epicureanism. I really enjoyed listening to your message. I read the Letter to Menoeceus and it was really confusing to read and I felt like my take away was not great. However, I feel like this was explained in a much simpler way. "The more you have, the more you want," sadly I am a person that falls into this category of people. My goal would be going forward to be happy with what I have and follow my bliss. I hope that this truly will decrease stress and anxiety. I work as a medical assistant in a family practice and I really have an enjoyable job. I get to help people, but I could work less and enjoy doing more with my family while my children are still in my home.
I was not expecting to see professor Nelson on this ted talk. I was pleasantly surprised! I love how funny and well explained everything done. It was easy to watch, not boring at all and he got the point across very well! I completely agree that the more you have the more you want. Epicurus was most definitely the first millennial lol. A simple lifestyle is the way to go!
I love the idea that, life is to enjoy. "Living your best life does not need money, it needs passion, meaning serenity." I like this quote think it resonates with many of us because a lot of us aren't living our best life now because we want to in the future. That is why many of us stick to jobs we hate and are almost always stressed. I really agree with many of these ideas.
I love this idea and it makes a lot of sense. I feel like I already sorta follow this. I am not super materialistic but if I were to be I would put it into my dream house. Nothing too big or flashy, just something perfect for me and my family. I do try and minimize my total monthly costs and of course I do this so I can spend my left over cash on what I want or go out with my fiancé. It has worked really well for us and we aren't extremely poor living paycheck to paycheck but definitely not rich. We do live a simple life and are doing really well in fact the best we have ever done since being together. This is a great piece of advice for anyone.
This is a very interesting talk and I very much enjoyed listening to it and some of the ancient ideas it put forward. I was unaware of what epicureanism until just now, so please keep in mind my response is coming from a place of inexperience. Either way, it's just as Marc said; in today's age, since birth, we have been told that money is important and brings it's own joy. This is simply untrue. True Joy is an emotion, not a bank account. In order to experience more happiness, one needs to focus on themselves and doing what brings them the most happiness, not the most money. I could quote a few popular examples, but I'd rather not make a leap in logic by mistake.
Personally this TEDx talk was very eye opening. I'm living on my own for the first time, and have been constantly stressing over money and buying items, when in reality I have all I need as long as I maintain my basic needs while leaving a little money on the side for hobbies. At the beginning of this college semester I recieved much money, between 2 and 3,000 dollars. It took spending all of it and being dis-satisfied with my choices anyways to realize that happiness has no relationship with money unless it causes no stress. In the future, I plan to save my money and only use the rest for hobbies and basic necessities. Less money to manage means less stress, and this TEDx talk has helped me realize that simple truth. Thanks Marc, and keep the good advice flowing 😊
Epicureanism and its focus on “finding your bliss” and reprioritizing the important things in life seems to hold strong as a reasonable method of f self-help. Even 2,000 years later, the idea of forgoing wealth and want and instead pursuing passion and serenity seems revolutionary and relevant. I think it is worth noting that (as stated by Dr. Nelson) there are still needs for survival and existing today. I agree with this and feel that sometimes those requirements seem less basic. However, it is logical to me that Dr. Nelson mentions that people living in the modern U.S. meet those basic requirements much easier than say, a Greek man 2,000 years ago. It also would be difficult to “break out” of some of the ways much of the population has been brought up, specifically when it comes to cycles of generational wealth, wealth desire and the overall viewpoints of our society on what defines happiness.
I thought Dr. Nelson’s talk was concise in defining the key principles that Epicurus taught and lived by, and in a short amount of time I do not know how you could even begin to consider the complexities of attitudes and opinions of people. I find this idea to be congruent with much of modern psychology, in that money or material goods are not the key to happiness and lack of anxiety in most instances. Like many areas and ideas of self-help, this way of living likely would not be easy for many of us, I’m sure. But breaking the cycle of rising expectations and lack of bliss, purpose and gratitude seems to be an effective way of being happy.
I enjoy alot listening to this Tedtalk and it really made me realise so much about my own perspective towards different actions and problems in everyday life. One of the main thing that I have learn from the section is that we should be happy for what we have, if we focus on what we don't have we will never get. enought.
I loved the focus on the temptation of having lots of money and wealth. It is very applicable today. There seems to be a culture in America where being successful correlates with wealth. If you're not wealthy then you're not successful. But, Epicureanism argues that "money does not buy happiness, money buys stress". The idea of simplicity is a very attractive concept. Well done!
I loved this! The idea of letting go of your desire to be wealthy and learning to be happy with everything that you already have is super cool and I think it gives a better outlook on life. I feel like your day to day life would be more enjoyable and you would be happier in general.
This was so good! I need these thoughts every day, thank you!
I liked the discussion of how wealth does not always mean happiness. Great memories are more valuable to me than money. However, I don't believe the lower class is happier than the higher class, yet I don't believe the higher class is happier than the lower class. I think each class has its own different struggles as well as its own different pleasures. Very eye-opening how greedy humans are with always wanting more.
Trueee Comment
This was very interesting, It reminded me a lot of our slideshow in class but the Ted talk format gave It a different feeling. I think that the explanation of Epicureanism makes sense to me, as a way to distance yourself from jealousy and a constant desire for more. I know that there are things in my life where I am never satisfied with what I have. But I think there is real wisdom in these teachings. Especially when It comes to learning to be happy with your current status. This can be anything from personal looks to guitar gear for me. I’m going to try and take a step back and be appreciative of everything in my bedroom, and I’m going to just be happy with the things that I have there. I’m blessed to be in America and to have clothes, a good family and a warm house in the winter. My guitar plays just fine and I’m honestly happy right now. I think that I will try and stop comparing myself to others and to their lives as well.
Nicely said, Marc!! Love love love it!
I love the idea of money not bringing happiness, for most of my friends, buying things on a whim gives them temporary happiness and that's a good thing, but when that happiness runs out, they can't fulfill that need with the same thing anymore. If someone is able to get everything that they want, they will often never be satisfied because they will always have wants. That feeling can also lead to lots of stress on a person's life
I like the real life examples you used of epicureanism. I think it is really important for people to understand serenity and know how to achieve it and I think you did a great job of giving examples on how to do that.
Karl Marx did his PhD thesis in regards to Epicurus.
“The Difference Between the Democritean and Epicurean Philosophy of Nature”
Yes but we shouldn't hold that against Epicurean philosophy
One thing that caught my attention is when you said one of the keys to happiness is to be poor. I relate to this so much. My whole life I have wanted to work with babies and kids and wanted to open a daycare or be a kindergarten teacher until I learned about the salary and that is when I decided to go into nicu nursing which makes alot more money. I know I will still be happy because I will get to work with babies but it will be a very big change taking are of sick babies in a hospital rather then in a daycare with healthy babies.
Great talk as a practice I have used this polosopy for 40 years the pruste of Joy pleasureand peace of mind Epicurus had a noledge for the age . friends love and making room for it in your life because it doesn't matter when you are dead long before you stop breathing
I enjoyed your ability to tie the beliefs of this old philosophy to modern day life. It was a lot more inspiring to be able to relate it to things that are going on in my life right now. I think the focus on money and material wealth and Epicureanism's approach to this topic highlights the issues that we as a society have developed surrounding wealth. A good example of this would have been mentioning the unexpected sadness or discomfort that often accompanies lottery winners with they win a very large amount of money. People often think they will get ahead in life from winning the lottery when in reality, that amount of wealth often brings them down.
I did not know this Ted talk would be with you speaking! So cool! Anyway, I really liked how you discussed how this can still be applied today. I really like how you spoke the truth when it came to money. My whole life has been surrounded with "do what you can to be successful/have a ton of money" and not "do what makes you happy/feel fulfilled". I have never wanted a ton of money because it stresses me out, and I don't even have the money! In class you talked about how different philosophy and psychology are, but you were able to smash them together to bring in more credentials to your speech, which is impressive. With inflation however, I do think that we need more money now to feel "comfortable" with where we are today. I also liked all of the jokes thrown in to make the Ted talk more enjoyable. I think I needed to hear this today. Thank you!
Great Tedx Talk! I was pretty skeptical about the proposition at the beginning of the video, but you went on to explain why Epicureanism actually is a great mindset and allows you to follow your bliss. I think the portion on how being "poor" is very relevant in today's society. A good contrast in the video was when you had a picture up of a stressed-out worker at a desks and a picture of you with some children in nature. I couldn't think of a single reason anyone would actually want to not be in the picture on the right! Great talk and definitely something to incorporate into my life.
I enjoyed the layout of the ted talk, it was so easy to be able to understand everything because of the comparisons you used and related everything to everyday occurrences. As well as the pictures on the monitor helped me visualize what really was being said and what each sentence really meant. As a visual learner myself this was very helpful!
I really enjoyed listening to you speak. After learning this in class and then coming to hear it again it really makes me want to live a simpler life, perhaps not to the extreme as Epicurus went but maybe change some significant things in my life. I really do encourage more people to learn about how others are living and the various life styles that are in the world; even if its just to see something from a different perspective.
During the TED talk i loved when you were talking about Epicurus you added the the joke, was a great joke with millennials. Its great that he offered practicle life advice to anyone and everyone regardless of race, gender, and social status. Humor in this TED talk is well excicuted and keeps the audience interested while being informative, really well done.
I really liked a lot of what was said. The part about how people that already have a lot of luxuries will always want even more luxuries was very interesting to me and was very convincing that Epicureanism would be a healthier and happier way to think. One thing I question about Epicureanism is it seems to be focused purely on your own desires and enjoying your life with no mention of the fulfillment you can get from hard work and achieving your goals and helping others. It's great to be satisfied with your life and grateful for what you have, but I think there is also something healthy about having a hunger or drive to be better and work to achieve your goals. I think a healthy balance of both would be important for achieving happiness.
I think the ted talk was very good overall. The topic at hand is good for teaching the expression of gratitude and how to live modestly. I think you did a good job at public speaking and quickly conveying the point.
I love the idea of Epicureanism. The idea of being poor versus being rich is such a sensitive topic in today's society. But living in 2022, I do believe it is extremely hard to accept Epicureanism. Most of us want to live comfortably. I feel like most people have to quit their careers that they enjoy doing because the salary isn't enough to meet ones needs. We are struggling as a human race to enjoy the simple things in life when our own needs aren't being met. How must one accept Epicureanism in today's society? How low do you need to go to accept that money isn't everything? It's not everything but it's something you need in order to survive.
I thought it was super interesting when you were talking about how Epicurus offered practical life advice. Also, I really love how Epicurus talked to people about how to be happier and how that is what Epicureanism is about.
Meaningful work--yes, that is the dream.
I love this idea of not having stress and negativity in your life and just living by epicureanism but I think it's hard, a lot of people live the way they think they are supposed to. life is more about money and working for what you want even is it is stressful.
Thank you for this! This made me think a lot about the richest people in america, and how an epicurean lifestyle would effect them.
That was a great talk professor Nelson!! I really enjoyed listening to this. While listening I couldn't help but recall the teachings from the bible. There was a lot of not loving money so much, not coveting what others have, seeking peace in hopes it results in lasting joy and satisfaction in our lives while on this earth. There is probably major differences in motivation and what that looks like but in general the idea is very similar. I also think it's super cool that the time period that you are speaking of is mentioned in Acts 17:16-34 when Paul went to Athens.
Such an interesting topic. I agree with you when you said, "Epicureanism could help most of us be happier people." I think if you want to be happier, then being poor is one way to do it. If you are rich, then you can buy anything you want without working hard for it. Once you get it, you will want something else. If you're poor, you will work hard for something that you want and you will value it more because you worked hard to get it.
Best Professor Out There!!!!!
Epicurus did not advocate being poor, rather self-sufficient. It is a salient difference between the two. Dear Marc repeated this misunderstanding several times. And about that slide on an old car and a fancy car....Marc says you would have more anxiety over the new car getting scratched, so you would park the new car at the end of your yard, while the old car causes no such worries. What about putting your family on that old, unreliable and potentially dangerous car and trying to travel any meaningful mileage; that worries me sick. The problem with simplification of deep philosophies like that of Epicurus is that the listener might think the whole thing is worthless impracticality, while it is the opposite.
Loved the explanation about epicureanism! It really helped me in my major to understand about epicureanism. Also very helpful for our lifestyle.
Thumbs up from me - awesome presentation that captures much of what Epicurus pursued :)
This was great! I really liked how you talked about the background of Epicurus. I think if you added some quotes from Epicurus it would strengthen your talk.
How could anyone not like this?
Stoics, of course )
As a guy who lived homeless while also going to school, owning cheaper things and losing them sucks soooooooooooooooooo bad. Getting back to my tent and seeing it wrecked by police even though i was clean and sober. It sucks. Its insane that people actually think this-our homeless population is happier because they cant afford stuff. Think im wrong? Try it.
In this Ted Talk I truly enjoyed learning about Epicurus and his teachings of materialistic living vs simplistic living. His teachings are definitely relevant nowadays. In fact it reminded me of the minimalist movement that has grown in the past years. It’s great that you use our current situation here in the United Stated to pinpoint our focus on what we as Americans consider happiness. The points made in this video leads me to compare the difference between other countries when it relates to the practice of Epicureanism. Many countries heavily practice an Epicurus state of mind when compared to the U.S. I would recommend adding a bit more aesthetics to the visuals of the presentation in the back screen. Overall useful information was covered here to help us analyze what we consider meaningful in life.
The more the we have, the more we want. It is a very important principle that you shared with us! I think the foundation and desires you build your "wealth" upon will come back around if we ever do achieve our financial goals. Many times, it is a negative outcome, but I think it can be positive as well.
Minor quibble:
The "most Epicurean car" is probably a bicycle. 6:16
Might I suggest: living in walking distance of a market and one's occupation.
Dr. Nelson,
I thoroughly enjoyed your speech as it was very approachable in the sense that it was informative and had a clear direction with the message you gave. It was also very enjoyable to watch! In a few places, it felt a little rushed, so perhaps next time allowing more time to process your questions would be beneficial, especially when talking about something that pertains to each of us as listeners so directly.
Thank you very much!
Interesting to see the ideas of Epicureanism thrown into a decent ten-minute pitch. made over decent points and really got to why Epicureanism is a good philosophy to keep in mind during the Anthropocene. I just find it hilarious that this was an option for my intro to philosophy class run by Marc Nelson, a very Unepicurean action, I can't tell if it was an act of pride or of comedy either way it was quite hilarious. Plus considering it was a pretty good pitch factoring in the public enviroment.
I think the sentence "if you want to be happier, be poor" is something a lot more people should listen to, including myself. When you don't have a lot, you can appreciate the simple things in life. But if you're always on that grind, you'll only find temporary happiness- as they say, the grind never stops. Another point that was brought up was to live a simple life. If you live a simple life, you won't need to worry about having a lot of possessions anyway.
I like the way this connects the teaching of epicurus to us in the modern age. I think it is a little unrealistic though; I think it takes a lot more than it should to survive and be able to live like this says, in an apartment with a few possesions.
I found the list to be a very interesting experiment that demonstrates the growing wants of people very well . but along with these growing wants I feel that in our society though they are not truly needs the common persons perception of needs has changes significantly. with the water fountain example given I do see how that fulfills our need for water but can not think of one person who would think that way to start with. i think that taking a step back and apricating everything we have is a great step to reaching happiness
I really do think that this philosophy can be applied to any thing, and it needs to be applied more.