Money is the root of all evil and happiness. People never seem to be satisfied. When we have what we need we are always wanting more. Unless you don't have a lot of money then you don’t have the option or freedom to become materialistic. Because you have other things to deal with like how you're going to eat tomorrow (in more drastic cases) or pay the bills. In one sense poor people are free but then again they have to constantly worry about not having enough money.
If a person bases their happiness off of money then they have already promised themselves a lifetime of unhappiness. Money can only bring temporary happiness which means you will always be left wanting more. The Epicurus theory states that to be happy all one needs is friendship, freedom, and thought. Epicurus urges people not to eat alone because eating alone without friends is the life of a wolf. He says, “We don't exist unless there is someone who can see us existing, what we say has no meaning until someone can understand” (56). We need friendships to stay relevant. What’s the point of talking if there is no one to here us? And true friendships last forever unlike material things that eventually get outdated.
Distancing ourselves from material things is the only path to freedom. Being free from the burden of wanting more or competing with people to have the best. Epicurus says, “We must free ourselves from the prison of everyday affairs and politics” (57). If we live simple content lives then we can be free and on our way to happiness.
Lastly, thinking helps us vent out any fears, doubts, or confusions. Being happy does not mean that we will never have any issues or conflicts, but if we have the ability to think then those conflicts dissolve away. Writing our problems or saying them out loud helps us find the root of the problem to confront them. The ability to think allows us deal with any aggravations we might have.
Without friendship, freedom, or thought people can never be fully happy, "Nothing satisfies the man who is not satisfied with a little" (62). We must be content with simple things in our life first before we can be happy.
I liked how you began your blog, talking about how money is the root cause of evil and happiness. I agree with the line, "Money can only bring temporary happiness which means you will always be left wanting more." I believe when buying something in the moment it makes you happy for a little bit but like you said your left wanting more. I love the Epicurus quote you added, it really helps further the message you are telling.
ReplyDeleteExcellent reflection on Epicurean philosophy. Do you think it's easy to be content with simple things in our life before we can be happy?
ReplyDeleteI really like how you broke down the friends, thought, and freedom with a quote for each one. I also like how you started. Money is the root of happiness and sadness.
ReplyDeleteI agree that money itself doesn't satisfy our desire to be happy, but the yearning for something more. By having thought, freedom, and friends we can lead a more fulfilling life, with or without a lot of money. In my opinion, it's what we do with what we have that really counts.
ReplyDeleteI love your last sentence. It makes me think of the pyramid that says you can't focus on relationships, emotions, or leisure unless you have basic necessities. It directly correlates with this topic in the way that if we can't be happy with the basic and free things, we won't be happy with money.
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