Epicurus' Solution for Lasting Happiness - Wireless Philosophy

Premise 1: All organisms attempt to avoid the worst pains which can happen to them, and gain the greatest pleasures available to them. More specifically, the greatest pleasure one can gain for the longest time and the worst pain one can avoid for the longest time. All living organisms obey this law, else they die. As a result, only organisms that pursue such goals remain. Even suicide is a benefit to the individual who will escape pain because of it, therefore suicide does not defy the rule of all organisms to peruse pleasure and avoid pain.

Premise 2: A calm mind is the pleasure which lasts the longest, is the easiest pleasure to maintain and causes no harm later on. A chaotic mind is the pain which is the easiest to contract, causes the most harm and lasts until a calm mind is supported.

Conclusion: Therefore, all organisms are best to strive after a calm mind whilst avoiding a chaotic mind. All things that promote a chaotic mind are best avoided. If it is not necessary for the maintenance of a calm mind or the removal of a chaotic mind then regard it as irrelevant to you. All humans aim for the removal of pain and gaining of pleasure to the extent of their current abilities, but living is merely a requirement for pleasure, which makes life worth living. However, excitement and bodily pleasures do not last nearly as long as calmness; calm lasts longer and can easily be satisfied, so it is superior to them in the regard that it fulfills the true desires of life to seek the best pleasure.