The Four-Part Remedy

Epicurus On The Cure To Anxiety

The Greek philosopher Epicurus wrote:

“Let no one delay the study of philosophy while young nor weary of it when old. For no one is either too young or too old for the health of the soul. He who says either that the time for philosophy has not yet come or that it has passed is like someone who says that the time for happiness has not yet come or that it has passed”

(Epicurus, Letter to Menoeceus)

Epicurus believed that by studying philosophy we can learn how to live a happy, contented life. The primary concern of philosophy is what he calls here the “health of the soul”. Epicurus believed that a healthy soul is one that is free from anxiety, and an unhealthy soul is one that is continuously worried and distressed.

If we understand philosophy as concerned with the health of the soul, then it is something that matters to everyone, regardless of age. Epicurus believed it was never too early, or too late, to reap the benefits that philosophy can bring. But, how did he think philosophy can benefit us and make our souls more healthy?

The primary aim of Epicureanism was to identify the primary sources of anxiety in human life, and develop solutions to overcome them. In order to ensure that these solutions were accessible to anyone, at any point in their life, Epicurus condensed his entire system of thought into four simple sayings (called the “Tetrapharmakos”, or “four-part remedy”, in Ancient Greek). They were:

1) Don’t fear the Gods (Ἄφοβον ὁ θεός)

2) Don’t worry about Death (ἀνύποπτον ὁ θάνατος)

3) What is good is easy to get (καὶ τἀγαθὸν μὲν εὔκτητον)

4) What is terrible is easy to endure (τὸ δὲ δεινὸν εὐεκκαρτέρητον)