Roman stoics Seneca and Epictetus on epicurean hedonism and the social roles of philosophers

Abstract

Epicureans and Roman Stoics interpreted pleasure (?????) differently from each other: for the Epicureans, pleasure was the ultimate good, while most Stoics perceived pleasure as something indifferent. This difference in understanding of pleasure is the crucial point of a disagreement between these two Hellenistic schools of philosophy, in particular if we consider their ethics. This paper examines this difference and highlights the significant similarities between the Roman Stoic and the Epicurean positions. Further, it briefly explores the Epicurean and the Roman Stoic understanding of social relations and philosophers? role in politics and society.