伊壁鸠鲁的哲学：对幸福的沉思

Epicurean Philosophy: A Meditation on Happiness

摘要: 伊壁鸠鲁的哲学思想长期以来遭受人们的误解，甚至有人把伊壁鸠鲁主义当作纵欲主义的代名词。身处不幸时代的伊壁鸠鲁期望以理性的态度去把握快乐，在他看来“快乐即幸福”。他对真理的标准、自然以及原子的研究，本质上是要祛除造成人们恐惧的观念，通过理性思考达到“免除身体的痛苦和灵魂的苦恼”的状态。他认为哲学是治疗心灵的良药，哲学的目的在于帮助人们过上幸福的生活，由此开启了不同于自古希腊以来的思辨哲学的哲学路径，这也是他哲学思想的主要贡献。

Abstract: The philosophical thought of Epicurus has long been subject to misunderstanding, with some even using the term Epicureanism as a synonym for unbridled hedonism. Living in an unfortunate era, Epicurus aspired to grasp pleasure through a rational attitude; in his view, “pleasure is happiness.” His investigations into the criteria of truth, nature, and the atoms were essentially aimed at dispelling the fears that plague human minds, achieving through rational contemplation a state “free from bodily pain and mental distress.” He regarded philosophy as a remedy for the soul, with its purpose being to help people attain a happy life. In doing so, he initiated a philosophical path distinct from the speculative philosophy that had prevailed since ancient Greece, which constitutes the major contribution of his philosophical thought.