Living for Pleasure
Emily A. Austin
If we all want happiness and pleasure so much, then why are we so bad at getting it?
Pleasure feels amazing! Anxiety, however, does not. The Ancient Greek Philosopher Epicurus rolled these two strikingly intuitive claims into a simple formula for happiness and well-being--pursue pleasure without causing yourself anxiety. But wait, is that even possible? Can humans achieve lasting pleasure without suffering anxiety about failure and loss? Epicurus thinks we can, at least once we learn to pursue pleasure thoughtfully.
In Living for Pleasure, philosopher Emily Austin offers a lively, jargon-free tour of Epicurean strategies for diminishing anxiety, achieving satisfaction, and relishing joys. Epicurean science was famously far ahead of its time, and Austin shows that so was its ethics and psychology. Epicureanism can help us make and keep good friends, prepare for suffering, combat imposter syndrome, build trust, recognize personal limitations, value truth, cultivate healthy attitudes towards money and success, manage political anxiety, develop gratitude, savor food, and face death.
Readers will walk away knowing more about an important school of philosophy, but moreover understanding how to get what they want in life--happiness--without the anxiety of striving for it.
Duration - 8h 23m.
Author - Emily A. Austin.
Narrator - Diana Gardiner.
Published Date - Wednesday, 08 January 2025.
Location:
United States
Description:
If we all want happiness and pleasure so much, then why are we so bad at getting it? Pleasure feels amazing! Anxiety, however, does not. The Ancient Greek Philosopher Epicurus rolled these two strikingly intuitive claims into a simple formula for happiness and well-being--pursue pleasure without causing yourself anxiety. But wait, is that even possible? Can humans achieve lasting pleasure without suffering anxiety about failure and loss? Epicurus thinks we can, at least once we learn to pursue pleasure thoughtfully. In Living for Pleasure, philosopher Emily Austin offers a lively, jargon-free tour of Epicurean strategies for diminishing anxiety, achieving satisfaction, and relishing joys. Epicurean science was famously far ahead of its time, and Austin shows that so was its ethics and psychology. Epicureanism can help us make and keep good friends, prepare for suffering, combat imposter syndrome, build trust, recognize personal limitations, value truth, cultivate healthy attitudes towards money and success, manage political anxiety, develop gratitude, savor food, and face death. Readers will walk away knowing more about an important school of philosophy, but moreover understanding how to get what they want in life--happiness--without the anxiety of striving for it. Duration - 8h 23m. Author - Emily A. Austin. Narrator - Diana Gardiner. Published Date - Wednesday, 08 January 2025.
Language:
English
Opening Credits
Duration:00:00:33
Series Editor Foreword
Duration:00:02:55
Chapter 1. Maybe We're Doing It Wrong
Duration:00:11:42
Chapter 2. Epicureanism, the Original Cast
Duration:00:22:03
Chapter 3. Happiness, Theirs and Ours
Duration:00:13:38
Chapter 4. Natural Hedonism
Duration:00:27:01
Chapter 5. What Do You Want?
Duration:00:23:25
Chapter 6. Why Can't We Be Friends?
Duration:00:22:33
Chapter 7. Let Me Be Frank
Duration:00:26:41
Chapter 8. The Pleasures of Virtue
Duration:00:23:27
Chapter 9. Imposter Syndrome
Duration:00:19:33
Chapter 10. Wealth and What It Costs
Duration:00:24:25
Chapter 11. Living Unnoticed: Politics and Power
Duration:00:22:58
Chapter 12. Living Unnoticed: The Tyranny of the "Like"
Duration:00:17:10
Chapter 13. Ambition, Work, and Success
Duration:00:15:33
Chapter 14. Greed for Life
Duration:00:21:10
Chapter 15. Misfortune and Resilience
Duration:00:27:12
Chapter 16. Of Sex, Love, and Harmless Pleasure
Duration:00:17:48
Chapter 17. Building the Tranquil Child
Duration:00:21:18
Chapter 18. Foodies, Dinner Parties, and Wine Snobs
Duration:00:19:59
Chapter 19. Science and Anxiety
Duration:00:16:41
Chapter 20. That Old Time Religion
Duration:00:22:07
Chapter 21. Experiencing Death
Duration:00:18:47
Chapter 22. Pandemics and Other Comforting Horrors
Duration:00:16:42
Chapter 23. The Fourfold Remedy
Duration:00:20:06
Chapter 24. Practicing Epicureanism
Duration:00:27:43
Ending Credits
Duration:00:00:41