Epicurus vs. Postman.... Who Will Win?

           The Epicureans would have had a blast in the 21^st century.  In the novel, Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder, we are brought through a course of philosophy, covering all the major philosophers of all time.  Epicurus were one of them.  Throughout Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman, he states how television is degrading our society and how all serious forms of discussion have turned into entertainment.  So, who were the Epicureans? What did Postman believe about entertainment, and why would the Epicureans and Postman disagree?

            Epicurus founded a school in Athens for philosophy around 300 B.C.  He was influenced by Aristippus who, “believed that the aim of life was to attain the highest possible sensory enjoyment,” (Gaarder 131).  Epicurus’s followers were called Epicureans and they followed a certain belief in how to live life to the fullest.  Epicureans emphasized that every action a person does should be for the purpose of pleasure, even if the outcome will not be advantageous.  As the philosophy practice progressed, the followers, “developed an overemphasis on self-indulgence.  Their motto was ‘Live for the moment!’” (Gaarder 133).  As we can all relate, many people in the 21^st century do things for the satisfaction of doing them, instead of learning and doing the best things for themselves.

            Neil Postman on the other hand believes entertainment and over-indulged pleasure in the modern world is dangerous for society.  The culture of television, “offers viewers a variety of subject matter, requires minimal skills to comprehend it, and is largely aimed at emotional gratification,” (Postman 86).  Postman takes on the more logical point of view in how our entertainment-based culture, based on ‘emotional gratification’, is making people less logical and unable to discuss clearly.

            In a debate between Epicurus and Postman, both sides would get very heated.  Epicurus had a faith in pleasure and that the best thing someone can do is receive satisfaction.  Postman would retort with how this pleasure would bring society down a notch in its ability to think clearly, learn, and be rational.  The Epicureans later believed to live in the moment.  Postman discusses this point and how it is present in today’s news.  News segments only last for a few moments, then go onto the next topic.  Whereas the Epicureans believed this living for the moment was beneficial, Postman believes it does not provoke thought and cannot be taken seriously. 

            So, do you agree with Epicurus that we should live for pleasure and satisfaction, or with Postman that too much pleasure is detrimental?

Works Cited

Gaarder, Jostein. Sophie's World: A Novel about the History of Philosophy. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1994. Print.

Postman, Neil. Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business. New York: Penguin, 1985. Print.