Plz help! Compare the Stoic and Epicurean views about life. Which of these views appeals to you? Write a paragraph that explains the reasons for your choice.

Epicurean views on life are more appealing to me.

Explanation

Epicureanism and Stoicism were two competing philosophical stances during the Hellenistic period. They were vastly different in the way they consider life, the universe and personal ethics.

For Stoicism, logos (reason) preceded the existence of the universe and everything in it. In a way, Stoics believed there was a rational design -a divine plan- to life, the universe, and society. Therefore, one can use logos (reason) to study and understand nature. At the same time, a divine plan implies a subjacent universal justice. A person can be virtuous when acting based on reason: that is understanding his/her duty for the fellow human being and through rational moderation of pleasure, duty and pain.

On the other hand, Epicureanism did not believe in a divine plan. For Epicureans, there is not a rational design. Instead, the universe is compound by random relationships between atoms. Everything that exists is an accident. At the same time, Epicureanism ethics was based on achieving Ataraxia. They believed one need to look for pleasure and avoid pain. But this does not mean that the Epicurean had a naive or hedonistic view on life. On the contrary, they believed sensual and bodily pleasures would lead to more pain. Therefore, one requires to look for, and cultivate the pleasure of mind.

Given Epicureanism materialistic view on life, and a misinterpretation of its views on ethics, Epicurean fell from grace during the middle ages.  However, their views on life, the universe and ethics are important for our age and time. They are more concordant with the current scientific understanding of the world than stoicism and they can help us to find peace amid our busy contemporary life. That is why I choose Epicureanism over Stoicism.

we both have laws and checks and balances.