Ethics and justice of Epicurus

Ivan, Nišavić

Kultura

154

389

399

0023-5164

10.5937/kultura1754389N

http://scindeks.ceon.rs/article.aspx?query=ISSID%26and%2613390&page=0&so...

2017-2021/06/21/11:53:33

The paper gives us a short notice of Epicurean ethics analysed from a contemporary perspective, considering formal conditions under which it is an ethical theory. Assuming that, at least partially, his theory meets the requirements set by modern theorists, our further consideration is a somewhat inconsistent connection between the individual and the egotistic conceptions of ethics on the one side, and a kind of social contract on the other side. Epicurus argued that such an agreement must be respected if we want to ensure proper functioning of people in a community. It seems to us that the conduct of our own lives relaying solely on personal preferences and enjoyment excludes any need for consideration of social circumstances. Insisting on acceptance and respect of the agreement among individuals tells us, in addition to ensuring coexistence, that the Epicurean ethics is not purely individualistic and that the requirements for its hedonism are limited precisely by one such agreement. However, (underdeveloped and incomplete) contractarianism formulated in this way, although tempting, is not sufcient to ensure a complete and universal respect of prescribed norms and rules.