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EPICURUS and THE PLEASANT LIFE: A Philosophy of Nature Kindle Edition– November 30, 2022 - Revised and Expanded 2nd Edition
Explore the essence of true happiness and fulfillment through 'Epicurus and the Pleasant Life,' a profound journey curated by Haris Dimitriadis. Drawing from over two decades of dedicated research, Dimitriadis illuminates the path to happiness by embracing the wonders of the natural world.
This meticulously crafted work navigates through the evolution of human thought, traversing the philosophical landscapes from the eras of Epicurus and Aristotle to the contemporary age. The book intricately dissects the notions of a 'good life,' presenting a detailed analysis of major theories that have profoundly shaped human existence.
The focal point rests on the profound wisdom of Epicurean philosophy, followed by an exploration of Aristotle's foundational principles in classical philosophical thought. Moving further, the author expertly weaves through the intricate tapestry of modern philosophical and scientific opinions, encompassing diverse disciplines such as psychology, biology, neuroscience, astronomy, and beyond.
This comprehensive comparison between historical philosophical perspectives and modern scientific insights offers readers a deeper understanding of the similarities, disparities, and evolutionary trajectories in human thought. By juxtaposing these profound philosophies, readers are invited to uncover parallels that resonate between Epicurean wisdom and contemporary viewpoints.
The ultimate aspiration of this work lies in empowering readers with the invaluable insights gleaned from Epicurean philosophy and recent scientific revelations. Dimitriadis hopes that this synthesis of ancient wisdom and modern discoveries will not only enrich readers' lives but also serve as a compass guiding them towards enhanced health and enduring happiness.
'Epicurus and the Pleasant Life' is more than a book; it's an enlightening expedition into the realms of philosophy, science, and human experience, offering a roadmap to a fulfilling and joyful existence.
This meticulously crafted work navigates through the evolution of human thought, traversing the philosophical landscapes from the eras of Epicurus and Aristotle to the contemporary age. The book intricately dissects the notions of a 'good life,' presenting a detailed analysis of major theories that have profoundly shaped human existence.
The focal point rests on the profound wisdom of Epicurean philosophy, followed by an exploration of Aristotle's foundational principles in classical philosophical thought. Moving further, the author expertly weaves through the intricate tapestry of modern philosophical and scientific opinions, encompassing diverse disciplines such as psychology, biology, neuroscience, astronomy, and beyond.
This comprehensive comparison between historical philosophical perspectives and modern scientific insights offers readers a deeper understanding of the similarities, disparities, and evolutionary trajectories in human thought. By juxtaposing these profound philosophies, readers are invited to uncover parallels that resonate between Epicurean wisdom and contemporary viewpoints.
The ultimate aspiration of this work lies in empowering readers with the invaluable insights gleaned from Epicurean philosophy and recent scientific revelations. Dimitriadis hopes that this synthesis of ancient wisdom and modern discoveries will not only enrich readers' lives but also serve as a compass guiding them towards enhanced health and enduring happiness.
'Epicurus and the Pleasant Life' is more than a book; it's an enlightening expedition into the realms of philosophy, science, and human experience, offering a roadmap to a fulfilling and joyful existence.
- GenresPhilosophyNonfiction
619 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 15, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 23, 2017
Haris Dimitriadis’s book is above all a very pleasurable read.
In its almost 500 pages, the author does much more than describe the philosophy of Epicurus.
- He masterfully provides scientific, historical and philosophical background that greatly enhances the understanding of the meaning and relevance of Epicurus’ basic concepts.
- He offers concrete, everyday examples of the application of these basic concepts.
- He incessantly offers insights into other philosophical schools of thought, politics, religion and psychology, thus weaving an intricate and always interesting text, which reads pleasantly and effortlessly.
Thus, while it was a pleasure to discover the philosophy of Epicurus, in itself, I also found in Dimitriadis’ book a wealth of well-researched and resourced knowledge from many disciplines, from neuroscience to psychology, which took my breath away.
His prose is meant to clarify and to inspire, but what jumps out of the text even more vividly and urgently is his wish to see us, humans, act and change, now. His good-natured exasperation at the “wrongs” done to the pleasant philosophy of Epicurus, is tangible and best put into words by Nietzche, whom he quotes: “Wisdom took steps forward with Epicurus, but then it went several thousand steps back. Epicurus would have won. Every respectable mind in the Roman empire was Epicurean. And this was the completion! But then, Apostle Paul came into the scene”.
Definitely a good read, especially for those in search of the meaning of life’s great mysteries.
In its almost 500 pages, the author does much more than describe the philosophy of Epicurus.
- He masterfully provides scientific, historical and philosophical background that greatly enhances the understanding of the meaning and relevance of Epicurus’ basic concepts.
- He offers concrete, everyday examples of the application of these basic concepts.
- He incessantly offers insights into other philosophical schools of thought, politics, religion and psychology, thus weaving an intricate and always interesting text, which reads pleasantly and effortlessly.
Thus, while it was a pleasure to discover the philosophy of Epicurus, in itself, I also found in Dimitriadis’ book a wealth of well-researched and resourced knowledge from many disciplines, from neuroscience to psychology, which took my breath away.
His prose is meant to clarify and to inspire, but what jumps out of the text even more vividly and urgently is his wish to see us, humans, act and change, now. His good-natured exasperation at the “wrongs” done to the pleasant philosophy of Epicurus, is tangible and best put into words by Nietzche, whom he quotes: “Wisdom took steps forward with Epicurus, but then it went several thousand steps back. Epicurus would have won. Every respectable mind in the Roman empire was Epicurean. And this was the completion! But then, Apostle Paul came into the scene”.
Definitely a good read, especially for those in search of the meaning of life’s great mysteries.
November 28, 2017
Thoroughly researched, very well written, obviously a labour of love. I’ll be reading Epicurus and the Pleasant Life again - taking notes this time! Epicurus’s teachings to create a calm mind and a healthy body still apply, even in today’s busy, digital world. A great read.
July 12, 2017
The first thing I want to mention is that I was not familiar with the subject. Sure, I have read books on Greek philosophy, but none featuring Epicurus, like in Epicurus and the Pleasant Life. The subject intrigued me though, and considering that this book is available on Kindle Unlimited, I thought I would give it a try.
I was pleasantly surprised that this book was written in such a way, which made it easy for me to understand this type of philosophy despite my ignorance. Many books on philosophy miss that mark and leave me turned off from the subject, simply because how they were presented. That is not the case with Epicurus and the Pleasant Life, instead, I am actually now considering looking further into the subject.
At its core, this book is a self-help book with spiritual undertones – not one that describes a particular devotion to a specific deity, but one that encourages the reader to find their own truth, but developing a closer relationship with their own happiness. It is more powerful than many other books who claim to be transformative, because it allows you to discover your true nature, and connects you with what brings you lasting happiness.
For someone like me, who could not find a home in stoic thought, this book makes a lot more sense, and so does the philosophy behind it. Of course, I would never suggest that a reader would suspend all critical thinking when approaching this philosophy, but I do suggest to keep an open mind and to be ready to see traditional philosophy from a different point of view.
Now that I have read this book, I can understand why it would be considered the Natural Philosophy of Life because that is what it seemed to me, natural, and instinctively correct.
Again, I want to say, that I am not familiar with the subject before reading this book, yet I found that I have enough understanding of it now after reading Epicurus and the Pleasant Life, to see that it warrants more than just a second look.
I was pleasantly surprised that this book was written in such a way, which made it easy for me to understand this type of philosophy despite my ignorance. Many books on philosophy miss that mark and leave me turned off from the subject, simply because how they were presented. That is not the case with Epicurus and the Pleasant Life, instead, I am actually now considering looking further into the subject.
At its core, this book is a self-help book with spiritual undertones – not one that describes a particular devotion to a specific deity, but one that encourages the reader to find their own truth, but developing a closer relationship with their own happiness. It is more powerful than many other books who claim to be transformative, because it allows you to discover your true nature, and connects you with what brings you lasting happiness.
For someone like me, who could not find a home in stoic thought, this book makes a lot more sense, and so does the philosophy behind it. Of course, I would never suggest that a reader would suspend all critical thinking when approaching this philosophy, but I do suggest to keep an open mind and to be ready to see traditional philosophy from a different point of view.
Now that I have read this book, I can understand why it would be considered the Natural Philosophy of Life because that is what it seemed to me, natural, and instinctively correct.
Again, I want to say, that I am not familiar with the subject before reading this book, yet I found that I have enough understanding of it now after reading Epicurus and the Pleasant Life, to see that it warrants more than just a second look.
November 6, 2017
Beautifully Written
This book is beautifully written in words and format. I read it on my MacBook on the Kindle cloud reader. The first thing I noticed was how appealing the pages were to the eye. The second thing I noted was the words. In the words of my teen daughter, this is a deep book. I took notes along the way. And even with the notes I will be visiting this book again and again. There is so much to learn on these pages and it just can not be absorbed in one reading. I liked that the author introduced views of other philosophers like Karl Marx, Nietzsche, and Kierkegaed on concepts as the meaning of life. I have read a few philosophical books during my college years and am familiar with many mentioned in this work. I never thought about the many layers of happiness until reading this work. This is a kindle unlimited title which I could have borrowed, but this is a book to own. I want to have it at my fingertips when I want to indulge in one of the concepts and not have to keep borrowing it. Five stars and I recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about Epicurus and his philosophy on pleasure.
This book is beautifully written in words and format. I read it on my MacBook on the Kindle cloud reader. The first thing I noticed was how appealing the pages were to the eye. The second thing I noted was the words. In the words of my teen daughter, this is a deep book. I took notes along the way. And even with the notes I will be visiting this book again and again. There is so much to learn on these pages and it just can not be absorbed in one reading. I liked that the author introduced views of other philosophers like Karl Marx, Nietzsche, and Kierkegaed on concepts as the meaning of life. I have read a few philosophical books during my college years and am familiar with many mentioned in this work. I never thought about the many layers of happiness until reading this work. This is a kindle unlimited title which I could have borrowed, but this is a book to own. I want to have it at my fingertips when I want to indulge in one of the concepts and not have to keep borrowing it. Five stars and I recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about Epicurus and his philosophy on pleasure.
October 28, 2017
Epicurus And The Pleasant Life: A Philosophy of Nature by Haris Dimitriadis is one of those books which can, quite literally, change your life. I thought Mr. Dimitriadis did a remarkable job in bringing Epicurus ideas to a modern audience.
Mr. Dimitriadis is obviously very passionate about the teachings of Epicurus, and this came across in the writing. Be sure to have a pen and a pencil with you when you read this book because I found myself jotting down notes. The writing was refreshing and straightforward. This is the kind of book that I can see myself dipping in and out of in the future.
If you are looking for a straightforward read about the philosophy of Epicurus and how you can take his teaching and put it into practice, then this is the book for you.
Mr. Dimitriadis is obviously very passionate about the teachings of Epicurus, and this came across in the writing. Be sure to have a pen and a pencil with you when you read this book because I found myself jotting down notes. The writing was refreshing and straightforward. This is the kind of book that I can see myself dipping in and out of in the future.
If you are looking for a straightforward read about the philosophy of Epicurus and how you can take his teaching and put it into practice, then this is the book for you.
December 22, 2018
The primary strength of this book is its ability to teach us how to apply an ancient philosophy to modern life. The book covers an impressively broad range of topics given that we have so few primary sources to go off of. However, there are a few weaknesses. First, I believe that the author’s first language is not English. Because of this, the prose can at times come off as awkward. Second, many of the topics discussed in the book are interrelated, and they can at times become repetitive. Last, I felt that there was quite a bit of oversimplification in the book when the author discusses the ideas of other philosophers, and, especially, when the author, in various places, discussed Christianity.
September 22, 2017
This book is jam packed from cover to cover with interesting information. I especially enjoyed the way the author went through the history up to present times while examining the relevancy for each chapter into today's society as compared to previous ones. I also enjoyed how he compared ideas from masters like Pythagoras, Socrates, Kafka, Frankl, Camus, Sartre — to name but a few with explanations and then explained how Epicurus' view differed. My favourite quote is from Simone de Beauvoir: "You are not born a woman but you become one." Suffice it to say I highlighted a lot of this book and tend to refer back to it again and again.
August 14, 2018
Very well written and researched! I’m not sure that this book did a whole lot for me though. Lately, my mental health has been wonky and I feel trapped inside my own mind. After so many hours of therapy and work on my mental status, it’s kind of scary to read a book and know that at one time, I could utilize some of the techniques that are described, and yet I no longer can. Anyway...long story short, I feel as though I should be able to rise above certain situations now and yet I can’t. This book frustrated me, because I was looking for something kind of “self-help” and I can’t even clearly describe what my mind is doing to me, so how can I help myself?
Ok, I’m done.
Ok, I’m done.
November 3, 2017
Brilliant Fusion of Ancient and Modern Understandings of Happiness! Epicurus is a widely misunderstood philosopher often associated with hedonistic pursuits. Nothing could be further from the truth. 2300 years ago he laid out a plan for personal happiness through seeking natural, wholesome pleasures at every opportunity.
Dimitriadis thoroughly examines Epicurus and many other ancient philosophers through the lens of modern psychology, neurology and biochemistry.
I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the human mind, and above all, a simple guide to happiness.
Dimitriadis thoroughly examines Epicurus and many other ancient philosophers through the lens of modern psychology, neurology and biochemistry.
I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the human mind, and above all, a simple guide to happiness.
November 24, 2019
Good book on Epicurean philosophy.
Very good and in depth description of basic Epicurean philosophy.
What is very good is the successful attempt by the author to ralate the Epicurean thoughts to modern life, which to my advice, is a good way of understanding and putting into practice philosophy in general.
One drawback in this book is that when drawing comparisons to other philosophycal thoughts it will only highlights the parts of such thoughts that are able to enhance the Epicurean thought currently scrutinised.
But that is another discussion.....fully recommend!
Very good and in depth description of basic Epicurean philosophy.
What is very good is the successful attempt by the author to ralate the Epicurean thoughts to modern life, which to my advice, is a good way of understanding and putting into practice philosophy in general.
One drawback in this book is that when drawing comparisons to other philosophycal thoughts it will only highlights the parts of such thoughts that are able to enhance the Epicurean thought currently scrutinised.
But that is another discussion.....fully recommend!
February 26, 2018
In an age where narcissism is king and we are slaves to technology, the wise words of Epicurus resonate louder than ever. This excellent book examines the Greek philosopher's teachings in great detail and seeks to lead the reader down the path to a more fulfilling life.
While many ancient Greeks held logic and knowledge up as the key to a happy life, Epicurus insisted happiness, feelings and a connection to nature were more important.
Haris Dimitriadis does a wonderful job of arguing why Epicurus' world view should win the day and this book certainly gave me plenty to ponder.
It lays bare the ludicrous state of our materialistic society where people find themselves buried under piles of debt to accumulate possessions that will only bring them fleeting happiness. Epicurus wisely argues that only basic needs have to be met to bring contentment and that our quest for more money and bigger houses only brings pain as it forces us to work longer hours and spend less time with our families and friends.
While the focus is on Epicurus and his work, Dimitriadis also gives us a wider look at philosophy and even explains the biological processes behind our thoughts. He's clearly a smart cookie and you can tell this book has been thoroughly researched.
However, it's sometimes to the book's detriment as he tries to cram too much in. At over 500 pages it's a daunting read and something that demands your full attention. This isn't a book you can dip in and out of but if you give it your full concentration you will be rewarded. Dimitriadis is an accomplished writer and it's an entertaining as well as informative read. But I can't help but think slimming it down to around 350 pages might have helped get the message across better. Still well worth reading though.
While many ancient Greeks held logic and knowledge up as the key to a happy life, Epicurus insisted happiness, feelings and a connection to nature were more important.
Haris Dimitriadis does a wonderful job of arguing why Epicurus' world view should win the day and this book certainly gave me plenty to ponder.
It lays bare the ludicrous state of our materialistic society where people find themselves buried under piles of debt to accumulate possessions that will only bring them fleeting happiness. Epicurus wisely argues that only basic needs have to be met to bring contentment and that our quest for more money and bigger houses only brings pain as it forces us to work longer hours and spend less time with our families and friends.
While the focus is on Epicurus and his work, Dimitriadis also gives us a wider look at philosophy and even explains the biological processes behind our thoughts. He's clearly a smart cookie and you can tell this book has been thoroughly researched.
However, it's sometimes to the book's detriment as he tries to cram too much in. At over 500 pages it's a daunting read and something that demands your full attention. This isn't a book you can dip in and out of but if you give it your full concentration you will be rewarded. Dimitriadis is an accomplished writer and it's an entertaining as well as informative read. But I can't help but think slimming it down to around 350 pages might have helped get the message across better. Still well worth reading though.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews