Action Points and Summary

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The following workout is related to the ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus.

Workout 2 comes from the Cave’s

Epicurus Workbook & Journal.

You can read about Epicurus and Epicureanism in the Cave’s

The Best of Epicurus: The Life, Writings & Teachings of Epicurus the Greek Philosopher.

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3 Action Points

• Observe each desire you have—its origin, cause, nature, impact.

• Analyze desire itself. Know the different kinds of desire—natural, necessary, unnecessary, and groundless.

• Examine your desires. Question them. Practice talking to your desires, staying with the ones that are beneficial and breaking up with the ones that are not.

Desire – Observing & Evaluating the Various Kinds of Desire

Workout Summary

Workout 2 turns our attention to desire—our desires.

We begin by observing a desire. How we first noticed it. Its origin. What it’s for. Whether it is natural or influenced by others. How necessary it is to satisfy.

Next, we analyze our desires according to Epicurus’ own way of categorization. Are our desires natural? Groundless? Necessary? Unnecessary? We further analyze them according to whether they are “necessary for happiness, … for freeing the body from disturbance, … for living itself.”

Next, we examine three desires with the help of two questions Epicurus recommends: What will happen to us if the desire we wish to satisfy is fulfilled? What about if it remains unfulfilled?

We conclude the workout with a dialogue between us and, one, the most bothersome desire we experience, and, two, a noble desire, asking them various questions.

To see Workout 1 in whole, click on the PDF, “Workout 1 – Desire – Observing & Evaluating the Various Kinds of Desire.”

Best of benefits in practicing!

The Cave.