CONTENTS

SYNOPSIS. xvii

PART 1  PLEASURE: THE GUIDE TO LIFE. 1

Chapter 1: Pleasure: The Guide To Life. 3

PART 2  THE NATURAL AND NECESSARY PLEASURE. 41

Chapter 2: Health.. 43

Chapter 3: Food.. 53

Chapter 4: Housing. 60

Chapter 5: Safety. 66

Chapter 6: Friendship.. 77

Chapter 7: Altruism… 100

Chapter 8: Knowledge. 111

PART 3  THE NATURAL AND NON-NECESSARY PLEASURE  137

Chapter 9: The Natural And Non-Necessary Pleasure. 139

Chapter 10: Sex. 141

Chapter 11: Family. 156

Chapter 12: Exercise. 173

Chapter 13: The Senses. 177

Chapter 14: Nature. 185

Chapter 15: Humor, Arts, And Aesthetics. 188

Chapter 16: Enjoyment And Flow… 200

PART 4  THE EXISTENTIAL FEARS. 207

Chapter 17: Death.. 209

Chapter 18: God(S). 220

Chapter 19: The Natural Phenomena. 247

PART 5  THE HUMAN NATURE. 265

Chapter 20: The Human Nature. 267

Chapter 21: Beyond Neurons: Who Am I?. 283

PART 6  EPICUREAN PHILOSOPHICAL THEMES. 311

Chapter 22: The Meaning In Life. 313

Chapter 23: Free Will 336

Chapter 24: Money And Happiness. 353

Chapter 25: Politics. 383

Chapter 26: Decision-Making. 404

Chapter 27: The Pursuit of Happiness In Modern Life. 437

Epilogue. 453

PART 7:  ANNEXES—LIST OF NAMES AND TERMS—BIBLIOGRAPHY   461

ANNEX 1: THE PRINCIPAL DOCTRINES OF EPICURUS. 463

ANNEX 2: THE VATICAN SAYINGS. 468

ANNEX 3: THE LETTER OF EPICURUS TO MENOECEUS. 476

ANNEX 4: THE BIOGRAPHY OF EPICURUS. 481

ANNEX 5: THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND.. 484

ANNEX 6: THOMAS JEFFERSON: I AM EPICUREAN.. 487

LIST OF NAMES. 491

LIST OF TERMS. 500

BIBLIOGRAPHY.. 506

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE.. 577