Garden of Delights
Hedonism is a philosophy of life that posits we should seek pleasure and distance ourselves from pain. Epicureanism—a specific form of hedonism—argues that such pleasure should not be pursued through excess, but rather through moderation. Seeking pleasure to an excessive degree leads to an emptying of meaning, rendering life dull and purposeless—a path that can ultimately lead an individual to ruin. This is the complete opposite of what Epicureanism proposes. Following this line of reasoning, one can conclude that a sound way of living may be found in a routine centered on manual activity, where tasks are performed with pleasure. Here, an individual’s focus is directed toward a positive disposition, cultivated through the disciplined guidance of one’s thoughts, physical practices, proper nutrition, and personal development. Since anything done repeatedly becomes a habit, and—following Aristotle’s line of thought—every habit leads toward *aretē* (excellence) and *virtū* (virtue), an individual can, through the pursuit of perfectibility, elevate themselves to the highest possible degree of personal development.
