Epicuraneism tends to change not only the contents of spiritual exercises, but even the very concept of philosophical askèsis. The « sober reasoning », which by computing selects the steady pleasures deprived of any painful consequences, can be considered as grounding the whole Epicurean « ascetic » practice. Its main purpose is to avoid pain. In applying this strategy, it fully relies on Epicurean physics, mainly the theory of thought and simulacra. A confirmation of this is to be found in Lucretius’analysis of love passion, at the end of the fourth canto of Dererum natura.
CLIL theme: 4127 -- SCIENCES HUMAINES ET SOCIALES, LETTRES -- Philosophie -- Philosophie éthique et politique