Stoicism and Epicureanism are two of the most influential schools of philosophy that have emerged from Ancient Greece. Each of them has its unique perspective on life, and thus each provides different guidance on how to approach living in the world. Both of them seek to answer the question of the meaning of life, but each places emphasis on very different aspects: Stoicism considers virtue to be the highest pursuit, while Epicureanism sees the avoidance of pain as the chief goal.

This post gives a brief overview of the two philosophies and explores the main similarities and differences between them. To better understand the difference between the two belief systems, I also discuss two concrete life situations and how a Stoic vs an Epicurean would approach them.

Stoicism: The Path of Rationality and Virtue

Stoicism is known for its emphasis on rationality and the significance of virtue. Its core tenet - and one you might already be familiar with - posits that individuals have the power to choose how they respond to external events, and that personal happiness can be attained through moral behavior. Stoics maintain that individuals should accept the things they cannot change and concentrate on taking responsibility for their actions.

Key concepts of Stoicism:

• Virtue is the only good and thus the only worthy pursuit of human existence.
• The Dichotomy of Control, that states that we should focus only on things within our control, choosing to accept those that are not with equanimity.
• It is possible to live a good (i.e.: moral) life regardless of the circumstances one might find themselves in.

Epicureanism: The Pursuit of Pleasure

Contrastingly, Epicureanism promotes the pursuit of pleasure as life's primary objective. Epicureans assert that the ultimate goal of human existence is to achieve happiness by avoiding pain and anxiety. They propose that humans should indulge in pleasurable activities while steering clear of extreme emotions or desires that might lead to suffering.

Central ideas of Epicureanism consist of:

• Pleasure is the ultimate good, but this refers to the so-called 'ataraxic' pleasures and not the 'hedonic' ones you might have in mind. (Examples of ataraxic pleasures include tranquility, inner peace and freedom from fear.) 
• Moderation is the key to avoiding long-term suffering, because it allows us to avoid indulging in the moment which can cause more harm later on.
• Adopting a simple life and evading unnecessary desires paves the way to happiness, as pleasure can be derived from the smallest of things.

Stoicism vs Epicureanism: Common Ground

Despite their divergent approaches, Stoicism and Epicureanism share several important similarities. These commonalities include:

• Both schools of thought underscore the value of self-control and moderation as being central to living a good life.
• They aim to assist individuals in achieving personal happiness and fulfillment, but identify the source of this happiness in different places.
• Stoicism and Epicureanism both stress the importance of employing reason and logic to shape one's worldview.
• Each philosophy highlights the significance of personal ethics and morality and strives to understand human nature so that it can guide individuals better on how to attain tranquility.

Stoicism vs Epicureanism: Points of Departure

While they share some common ground, Stoicism and Epicureanism are fundamentally distinct in several ways. Key differences include:

• Epicureanism endorses the pursuit of pleasure as the ultimate goal, whereas Stoicism focuses on pursuit of virtue as the chief task in life.
• Stoicism encourages its students to accept fate and to recognize that much of their existence lies outside their sphere of influence, while Epicureanism pushes for the active pursuit of pleasure and avoidance of pain, with the belief that such an active pursuit is possible in all aspects of life.
• Stoicism encourages individuals to be indifferent towards material possessions and external circumstances, since they believe that true happiness stems from inner virtues. Epicureanism, on the other hand, does not necessarily dismiss material possessions; it suggests that they can contribute to happiness as long as they are pursued in moderation.
• Stoics are taught to detach themselves from desires by cultivating rational thought, while Epicureanism acknowledges the role of desires in the pursuit of pleasure (while maintaining that individuals should give in to their desires in moderation).

Stoic vs Epicurean: Practical Implications

To appreciate the distinctions between these two philosophical schools, let's look at two real-life situations and see how a Stoic vs an Epicurean would approach them.

Stoic vs Epicurean: Unemployment

Imagine you have recently lost your job. 

As a Stoic, you would accept the situation wholeheartedly and work to forge a new life based on the skills and resources you already have, without necessarily trying to reduce your suffering. In contrast, as an Epicurean, you might use this opportunity to reflect on what type of work truly brings you joy and attempt to maximise your pleasure by looking for a job that fulfils that need better.

Stoic vs Epicurean: Dealing with Anxiety

Now, let's see how you would handle anxiety if you chose one belief system over the other.

As a person embracing Stoicism, you would strive to detach yourself from your emotions and concentrate on what you can influence about the anxiety-inducing situation. On the other hand, an individual influenced by Epicureanism might attempt to find comfort in pleasure or diversion to escape their emotional turmoil, which could lead to persistent denial of the problem.

Although Stoicism and Epicureanism have a few elements in common, they are two very distinct schools of philosophical thought, each offering a unique approach to living a fulfilling life. Neither of them is better than the other, and which one (if any!) you decide to follow is up to you. I hope that the insight I have given you has helped you decide which one of them you read about next. If you've opted for Stoicism, be sure to check out the other posts I have written on the topic, which you can find here.

If Epicureanism turned out to be something else than you expected, you were probably looking for the distinction between Stoicism and hedonism, which you can find here. 

If you want to explore how Stoicism compares to another philosophy that emerged at the same time as Epicureanism, check out this post about Stoicism vs Cynicism.