Sydney Smith 
Denysha Taylor Epicurus believed that the good life meant getting “pleasure”, but pleasure was living modestly and gaining knowledge of the world and oneself. This journey led one to two states: tranquility and freedom from fear and the absence of pain. These two states in combination constitute happiness in its purest form. He believed that if you were sick or hurt, it was because you were not in this state of tranquility. Overindulgence in things that gave one pleasure was not part of the “good life”. Epicureanism believed that this would lead to suffering and physical pain. If one is overindulging in pleasures then usually they are trying to cover their suffering or fill a hole in their life, which ironically, will only lead to more suffering. Since there is a belief that pleasures of the mind were to be sought over the pleasures of the body, social and political involvements were to be discouraged. Knowledge was sought, but only to gain self-consciousness, such as ridding oneself of fears.
Ideas such as these constitute putting this philosophy under redemption. Not only does he try to explain how to live ones life, he explains how to live it fully and well. As creatures of habit, humans have a hard time breaking out of routine or breaking out of our cycle of sin. Epicurus tells us that it is possible to know oneself and to live a “good life”.
Tyler McCuistion
3:53 pm, 09.08.13
I definitely agree with you in that Epicureanism relates to redemption. The philosophy says that when you overindulge in one thing you are trying to cover in another. Epicureanism is something that could be very useful in the modern day world and even modern day psychological thought. People feel they have many shortcomings and try to go find temporary happiness in something they don’t need instead of having the courage to face their real problems. We could learn much from studying some moderate epicureanism in our lives.
Hillary Richardson
11:27 pm, 09.09.13
I agree that redemption goes along well with Epicureanism. Having a balanced life is very important. We do not reach a “good life” without understanding that we need to have things balanced out. Happiness comes to those who are balanced!
Maddy Spell
11:36 pm, 09.09.13
Kasey, that was a wonderful way to apply what we have learned to the blog prompt. I feel like gaining knowledge about the world and ones self comes with living, and living comes with failing at things. Without redemption, once we failed that would be it. I agree that redemption is necessary in attaining the “good life”, at least in respect to what I want out of life.