An Epicurean Stoic is a Stoic that borrows from Epicureanism.
In my book 30 Philosophers, I wrote that I sometimes identify as an “Epicurean Stoic.” Let’s start with Epicureanism. It puts pleasure at the center of a good life. But not pleasure in the sense of indulging every desire. Quite the opposite. Epicurus recognized that some pleasures cause harm and others contribute to a lifetime of happiness. The trick is learning the difference. Epicureanism has its dichotomy of pleasure where you learn to prefer long term pleasures over short term ones. Pleasures like being healthy over eating lots of Donuts.
What I love about Stoicism is its emphasis on self-discipline. Stoicism has its dichotomy of control where you learn to focus on what you can control. We can’t control the world around us, and we can’t always control the thoughts that pop into our heads. But we can learn to manage our responses. Take emotional spiraling. We all spiral sometimes. Something goes wrong, we get frustrated, and one negative thought leads to another. Before long, we’re feeling worse and worse, sometimes over something relatively minor. Stoicism offers tools to recognize that downward spiral, catch ourselves, and work our way back up.
Epicureanism reminds me to enjoy life, especially the simple pleasures that contribute to lasting happiness. Stoicism reminds me to develop the discipline and emotional resilience to navigate life’s inevitable difficulties. Perhaps what I appreciate most is that both are applied philosophies. They’re not just abstract discussions about existence, reality, and truth. They offer practical advice about how to live.
Enjoy the pleasures of life, but think about tomorrow. Practice discipline, but don’t forget to enjoy today.
That’s what being an Epicurean Stoic means to me.
