The Epicurean Paradox

Around 300 BCE, the Greek philosopher Epicurus posed a question about the nature of God and evil:

"Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?"

The Question

If a deity is all-powerful and all-good, how does evil exist?

Various responses have been offered: free will, divine purpose, soul-building through adversity, evil as absence of good rather than a thing itself.

Whether these resolve the paradox is something each person must examine for themselves.

What do you think?

 "Pleasure is the beginning and the end of living happily."
—Epicurus

Epicurus and the Pursuit of Happiness

Epicurus, a Greek philosopher from the 4th century BCE, argued that pleasure is the ultimate goal of life—but not in the way most people assume.

A Different Kind of Pleasure

His philosophy wasn't about indulgence or excess. Epicurus defined pleasure as tranquility (ataraxia) and freedom from pain (aponia). True happiness, he believed, comes from simple things: friendship, intellectual reflection, and wisdom—not wealth, power, or fame.

What He Taught

Many desires are unnecessary and create more suffering than satisfaction. The pursuit of luxury, status, and endless accumulation often produces anxiety rather than contentment.

Fear—especially fear of gods and death—prevents people from achieving peace of mind. Much of human suffering comes from these unnecessary anxieties.

Pleasure, properly understood, is about moderation, meaningful relationships, and mental tranquility.

Worth Considering

In a culture that equates happiness with consumption, status, and constant stimulation, Epicurus offers something different: the idea that less might actually be more.

Whether his philosophy holds answers for you is something only you can determine.