How Is It Possible To Live A Pleasant Life-a Study On Plutarch's That Epicurus Actually Makes A Pleasant Life Impossible

Epicurus was a great philosopher in the Hellenistic period.Separated from politics,his philosophy of “individual happiness” caused a lot of controversy in ancient times,and set off a storm that subverted traditional Greek classical political philosophy.Plutarch,who lived in the Roman Empire,had a natural affection to Greek culture.He emphasized political participation and defended the tradition with the principle of “public virtue”.Thus,he gave fierce criticism to Epicurus.The text “That Epicurus Actually Makes a Pleasant Life Impossible” is a representative text in terms of criticizing Epicureans by Plutarch.Based on the texts of Epicurus and Plutarch,this study will peruse and interpret them,in order to understand their different attitudes to classical political philosophy.The article is divided into three parts.The first part mainly introduces the text “That Epicurus Actually Makes a Pleasant Life Impossible”,including the editions of the ancient manuscripts and the modern translations,and the research status at home and abroad in the relevant fields,and explains the purpose and significance of this study.The second part is divided into three chapters.The first chapter analyzes the background of Epicurus' era,and the formation of his thoughts,and the subsequent development of the Epicureans.Mainly based on the text “Letter to Menoeceus”,it also summarizes Epicurus' view of happiness.Furthermore,it introduces Plutarch's life and his political activities,and gives a brief introduction to the “Moralia” and Plutarch's relevant writings on the criticism of Epicurus.It also gives an introduction to the content and structure of the text “That Epicurus Actually Makes a Pleasant Life Impossible”.The second chapter studies the text “That Epicurus Actually Makes a Pleasant Life Impossible” by segmenting and interpreting.According to the order of the text,the author tries to grasp the steps and levels of Plutarch's criticism on Epicurus.After the opening introduction,the formal criticism is on.The first level is the discussion during the walk.It mainly criticized that Epicureans deprived people's mental pleasure and the pleasure in public life.The second level is some reflections after the walk.The Epicureans denied the people's fear of the gods and their belief in the afterlife.In the end,they only lead to greater unhappiness.The third chapter is a summary of Plutarch and Epicurus.By comparing their opposite attitudes towards classical political philosophy,and analyzing the influence of Plutarch's criticism on Epicurus,the author intends to indicate the meaning of Plutarch's criticism for that time and the present,and rethink what kind of life is truly a happy life for us at presentThe third part is an epilogue.It is a summary statement of the full paper.