As Prof. Dara Fogel of the University of Central Oklahoma says, “philosophy is the means by which disturbances of the soul are cast out. You can never escape your own existential self”. Epicureanism, she says, is the answer. She quotes Professor Nussbaum, Ernst Freund Distinguished Service Professor of Law and Ethics, University of Chicago Law School: human misery is caused by the endless demands of uncontrolled desire. As most desires are based on false belief, the removal of the false belief can also remove the desire, and hence the misery of dissatisfaction.

These modern philosophers, under the heading of ‘therapeutic philosophy’ want to restore the human being to moral health through rigorous examination of beliefs, judgements and desires. They propose the Four-fold remedy advocated by Epicurus that brings peace of mind and reduces anger, fear, and erotic obsession:

1. Don’t fear the gods
2. Don’t worry about death or immortality. Just enjoy the life you have.
3. What is good is easy to get
4. What is terrible is of short duration and easy to endure

Treatment is individualized, aimed at the individual, and follows the following principles:

1. Students must recognize which desires are empty and which good, and adopt the latter.

2. Peace of mind is achieved by rational thought, which is only a means to an end.

3. Consistency, logic, validity and clarity are only valuable in so far as they result in establishing healthy beliefs. The arguments have to be owned by the student.

4. The student has to implicitly trust the philosophic practitioner.

5. Just as Epicurus retired to the garden to avoid being tainted by corruption,so it is wise for the student to remove himself from the world as much as possible.

This form of cognitive therapy pre-supposes a supportive group which will keep the student up to the mark and hold him accountable for maintaining the new values he has adopted.

The program does not suit everyone. Indeed, many people who admire Epicureanism are contrarians, loners and independent thinkers. The idea of an actual community of like people living cheek by jowl would not appeal. But you can still espouse peace of mind and the ideas of Epicurus and live in the real world. Those with moral strength will find a way.