If you want to work with an experienced study coach teaching maths, philosophy, and study skills then book your session at josephfolleytutoring@gmail.com. Previous clients include students at the University of Cambridge and the LSE. Sign up to my email list for more philosophy to improve your life: forms.gle/YYfaCaiQw9r6YfkN7

I fear not death. I fear what my death will mean for those around me; the economic hardship for my household, the heartache for my loved ones, the lack of my guidance for my children, the absolute lonliness of my widowed wife. It is good to be so needed. But it takes the otherwise simple and peaceful concpet of my demise and makes it quite stressful.

I swear something must be going around. I found Epicurus two months ago after becoming sort of disillusioned with Stoicism. Immediately, it was like the hidden philosophy I'd searched for my entire life was set forth in the Principal Doctrines, buried away like a secret book and now revealed. I'm not alone it seems. Several others I've known are re-discovering Epicurus in the wake of this Stoicism boom and the result is he has gained a new resurgence it seems. Death is nothing to us!

@adamproductions4529

4 ай бұрын

You might also like aspects of Utilitarianism.

@daanschone1548

Ай бұрын

Stoicism was my start of a long and extended philosophical journey. I think it was Seneca that recommended learning about other philosophies, naming Epicurus as an example. And Epictetus said philosophy and learning is never done.

I discovered Epicurus about 6 months ago and I've never felt so much at peace with myself! I had to let go of soo much! And sometimes I feel like I'm letting go of things that were a part of me, but I love who I've become. When I first discovered it, life itself felt like a high! I could notice when I was sated again! No longer did I feel like I had to do everything; BE everything and achieve all that there is to achieve. And I am only just starting on my journey! I can imagine this is what Lucretius felt when he gave away his wealth to live simply. Anxiety is now a thing of the past, and I plan to live like this going forward. I also think the Hedonic Adaptation theory can be applied the other way around, especially when Epicureanism is concerned: If we can adapt to any pleasure, we can most certainly cope with any pain! Epicurus figured out SO much that modern psychology is only now beginning to prove and still grappling with! He was truly a genius ahead of his time.

@unsolicitedadvice9198

6 ай бұрын

That’s fantastic! I’m so glad his philosophy helped you so much

@christopherl4611

5 ай бұрын

I am with you my, Friend! Non fui, fui, non sum, non curo!

I think another reason people fear death is because there not afraid of not existing but whst will happen to those around them when they don't exist people have kids family's and whatnot who rely on them if a parent dies it has a huge impact on the child and sometimes they go down a dark path as a result so really death isn't the issue here its what happens when your not around.

@unsolicitedadvice9198

6 ай бұрын

Yes I think that is another interesting aspect of the fear

@christopherl4611

5 ай бұрын

Epicureanism says that we 1) may have delayed our pleasure and have not lived Blessèdly with our friends and family; and/or 2) and that we have vain and false unnatural and unnecessary desires for infinite or innumerable amounts of time to know the good. 3) Friendships i.e. social solodarity is how we protect ourselves from vagaries of life and other men, so tending to Friendships is the chief activitt of an Epicurean. If we but understand the true Nature of reality, that Man is Mortal, and celebrate this life; then death, the greatest Evil, is nothing to the dead and a cause for celebration of a life for the still living.

With such talent for speaking and conveying these not so simple matters to an audience you would make an excellent teacher.

@unsolicitedadvice9198

6 ай бұрын

Thank you! That’s very kind!

I had an urge to listen to this again. You may have no idea how much you positively impact people.

Many years ago, I spent a couple of days writing down my needs and wants. When I was done, the "wants" page of my legal pad was crammed full. There were 5 things on my "needs" page. I thought about this for a while and concluded I really only had five needs. I can't tell you just how much this discovery simplified and de-stressed my life.

Regarding your point about the Epicurean argument against the fear of death - I’ve always had this view (before I knew it was the Epicurean view) and have always been struck by peoples response when I bring it up in discussion. Usually I get more of a “but how do you know that” (which typically makes me think it’s more about the fear of not knowing what comes next that makes people scared). However, one argument I like to make is that “I don’t think not existing is scary. Technically I’ve not existed for 13.8 billion years and things seem to have been fine”. Not a perfect challenge, but pithy enough to strike a chord

@lider3061

4 ай бұрын

There's also another interesting argument against the fear of death, made by a Roman philosopher Lucretius who said that: If we don't mourn the fact that we missed out on the events since the beginning of the world, then we shouldn't be sad about not living long enough to witness the future

Very good content and impressive wisdom at such a young age. I’m almost 40 now and recently started reading philosophy. I have a lot to learn from you so thanks for making the effort :)

I definitely relate more to the second type when you talked about death, I fear the pain before the death but what I fear more is not being able to experience anything-I dont have any more chances for anything, I will be nothing.

@unsolicitedadvice9198

6 ай бұрын

Yeah, I think this is the sort of existential FOMO aspect I was getting at. Not being itself is scary

@user-tq8vt8jn8e

6 ай бұрын

You won't be nothing man Death is a natural phenomenon so the reality/nature/God took care of it not being a painful or scary (or whatever youre afraid of ) experience (I mean "being" dead and not dying itself - you won't "be" nothing because there will be no you so you won't be coscious of it) Think of it this way: Were you afraid of being nothing before you were born? Nature/God (depending on your religion [and I'm saying religion deliberately as I think faith contrary to what most angry-with-the-world-and-society atheists would like to believe{believe get it?} Faith is a crucial component of being human) Nature/God will take care of you my man There's really nothing to be worried about There was a reason that people of the past uttered words like "rest in peace" Now go live your life dude (As a Christian I'm also obliged to tell you that Jesus Christ died for your sins and there IS afterlife) Cheers!🎉

@user-tq8vt8jn8e

6 ай бұрын

​@@unsolicitedadvice9198 Sorry haven't watched the video before writing that comment so I don't know if I wrote something that was already in it

@user-tq8vt8jn8e

6 ай бұрын

​@@unsolicitedadvice9198 and Im saying I dont know because I still havent warched it

@christopherl4611

5 ай бұрын

Epicurus solves this by relating the want for infinite time, either here alive or in an afterlife, as another unnatural and unnecessary desire. Maybe even the most fundamentally maladaptive of all of man's maladaptations. We rid ourselves of this desire by realizing that the quality of our lives matters more than the quantity. The Good is easily had, says the Tetrapharmikos and we need not have infinite or innumerable time to know the Good. Read Epicurus' Letter to Menoceus.

I like the Stoic read on death, that you can't miss out on life that wasn't yours to begin with: If you make the most of each day then you won't be aggrieved if you don't see tomorrow.

FOMO was my original fear of death, and it was quite an intense experience. But Epicurus’s concept of “enough” applies to lifespan as well as other desires.

Your videos are brilliant! I recently discovered your channel and it quickly became my favorite KZread channel. Your video on "Notes from the Underground" and your analysis on how the narrator destroyed his life for no reason thanks to his own thinking pattern definitely had a big impact on me.

@unsolicitedadvice9198

6 ай бұрын

Thank you! I’m glad you are enjoying the videos

This is awesome! Thank you!

Awesome video bro, you have a really interesting channel and I believe it is only a matter of time before your channel grows

I freaking love this channel! The channel name was what let me in at first since I love giving unsolicited advice lol. But you raise good ideas and present amazing content about them so that's what made me stay!

@unsolicitedadvice9198

6 ай бұрын

Thank you so much! And welcome aboard!

Excellent video bro.

seeing you upload in the morning makes for a good day, cheers!

@unsolicitedadvice9198

6 ай бұрын

Thank you! I am grateful for your vote of confidence

I subscribed to your news letter, just wanted to say thank you so much for your videos, they’ve been personally really helpful this winter. Keep up the amazing work mate

@unsolicitedadvice9198

6 ай бұрын

Thank you! I’m really glad you like the videos!

It was difficult for me to understand the western philosophy as English is not my native language but i always had a interest in western philosophy. Thanks to you i can understand it now

@unsolicitedadvice9198

6 ай бұрын

Thank you for watching. I am really glad the videos are helpful!

damn this is thought provoking. i have a lot of stoic values that i live alongside of, but felt there was something lacking. that it needed a counterweight. most people misinterpret hedonism, myself included at the beginning of this video - i always assumed it was closer to dorian grey’s version of it but instead learned it is a look into the self governance of pleasure, and the taking on of the responsibility that not every pleasure should be pursued. still taking baby steps in my opinions and understanding of it but this was a great introduction into what i think will be the balance i was searching for

I 100% agree with the statement about friendship. And I also have that "existencial FOMO". I wish I could live until I choose not to anymore. I really want to see what is going to help with the world and experience more games. Also, british beer.

Excellent video! Thank you

@unsolicitedadvice9198

6 ай бұрын

Thank you for watching! I’m really glad you liked it!

@greefee1852

5 ай бұрын

Yo y’all should do a collab

My philosophical journey started with stoicism. But Epictetus said to never stop learning. So my to read list grows faster than I can read. (For a big part thanks to this channel) Epicurus is added. :)

great video

Thx for making us wiser everyday Keep up the good work👍

@unsolicitedadvice9198

6 ай бұрын

Thank you for watching! I’m really glad you like the videos

A response that Epicurus would have had twords those who lust for more life is that it is selfish to do so, that we should essentially accept it as how it is, we should appreciate the life that we have and that if we where to live longer then allotted to us then it is selfishly holding on the the atoms that build us and that are needed to build more things in thr future. He was the most famous atomist of ancient greece.

epicurus is onto something imo. I want to stop existing sometimes. The dying part of that equation is not so scary. Its why do I wish to not exist despite not having a "valid" reason. Im grateful to have been born, yet on many occasions i find myself just wishing to not be as to not forever being a part of everything

Thanks!

Check out the Vesuvius challenge, they're rereading scrolls. We may have "new" Greek philosophy, the first extract was that stocism says nothing about pleasure and therefore is an incomplete philosophy.

9:50 World and civilisation existed for thousands and years before my existence. They will keep existing without me. There is no problem.

Yes, the power of friendship! What good is things if we can't share it with our friends?

I have been calling myself an epicurean for a couple years and its nice to see him get some recognition

The importance of hedonism in our daily life should never be underestimated. 💗💗💗

Love your videos... really helpful in my daily life! Have you done or considered making a video about ancient Indian philosophy (Upanishads, etc)? Another topic worth exploring might be Western Logic. Keep up the great work! 🙏🏽 Cheers

@unsolicitedadvice9198

6 ай бұрын

Thank you! And I am thinking of doing some videos on early Buddhist philosophy, but I’m not familiar enough with a lot of Indian philosophy to make too much content on it, unfortunately. Once I’ve had some time to read about it I’ll be in a better place to make some

Epicurus is a good place to start philosophy

The moment of death feels natural and soothing. You also realize you’ve done this many times before. Then you are embraced in love and forgiveness as you move towards the light where you will lose all sense of personal identity and be one tiny speck of energy among billions until you are once again plunged into the material world. At least that was my experience. Yours may differ.😊

I like this Epicurean perspective toward happiness. In regards to the subject of existential FOMO, I recall someone asking me years ago if I mourned the inability to experience the past. If not, then why fear the future that I will inevitably miss? None of us will make it out of this alive, so why not accept that reality and get to making the most of it? Perhaps maximizing the happiness of those around you, and, in turn, your own happiness… Of course, this emphasis on rationalization entirely dismisses the other side of human existence that is comprised of emotion and social connections. Despite all awareness of life’s absurdity, we are far from rational beings. I would also like to highlight the parallels between this and Lacanian psychoanalysis, particularly in regards to desire and lack.

@unsolicitedadvice9198

6 ай бұрын

This is a really good point! Perhaps it is because the future seems somehow "open" in a way the past seems less so

@mohaniya15

6 ай бұрын

Since I am reading Seneca again, I think one of his insights can be helpful. He says that Past is the greatest gift that has been given to us, that it separates us from other animals. The past is very useful because it is the only part of our life that is out of Fortune's control and is our most precious commodity. Thats why, instead of being anxious of your past, which has 0 point, the only thing you can do is learn from it.

(my regard for and my grasp on grammar has never been strong but i promise to make this somewhat worth reading) the epicurean death is quite interesting for me as i’ve partially blended the two styles of thinking. considering how each person is a unique combination of dna developed into a mass of minerals, meat, goop, and electricity; ive come to think of dying as a kind of multi-level process. our brains run in separate symbiotic ways; our consciousness making decisions that affect the physical form and processing those experiences then our physical brain maintaining the functions of the body and reporting how experiences feel and change us. as energy can not be created or destroyed but only transferred, i believe death separates our consciousness from our physical body: the consciousness formed by the electricity no longer pushing the physical form or experiencing things in the earthly condition and the material that housed the soul remaining on earth to continue fueling the creation process. my mother had cancer and she eventually died when i was 9. in trying to explain what happens to the person we know, the person we’ve been; i came to the conclusion that we ultimately decide that. our soul, just like our dna, is the only version of us that will ever exist and in deciding our beliefs we also decide our fate. the physical form is tied to the place it was created on and will naturally be reformed; its form changed but it’s previous existence an innate fact. our consciousness, on the other hand, is only our perception of what happened in our time as a physical being. i will admit this is probably also birthed from a desire to not be wrong about the answer to existence but nobody else can truly prove to another that their viewpoint is the correct one; not one us have that experience yet as we are still cataloging our experiences in the form of existence. this has also led me to believe that that afterlife allows us access to the things we needed or missed on earth, a side effect of our existence joining the innate history of the universe. the other fuel to that thought being my discomfort in thinking of the knowledge ill never obtain in my lifetime, books ill never read, and questions i cant answer with what i know now.

I would class myself under the second fear of Death. Not existing. Whilst Epicurus approach to death does not elivate my fears entirely, to do so, one would have to believe in an afterlife and as such remove the fear of non existence. Unfortunately, there is no logical reason to support the afterlife and you are left to confront your fears.

For me, death really happens when you, meaning by that your physical being and all your accomplishments, works, children and the values you identify yourself with, don't exist anymore. Viewed that way, it's only with the end of humanity, something placed in an undefined time in the future, that we really "die". Sure, I might think differently when the end will come, but at the moment I think this is my way of seeing life. It links with the importance of friends, actually. Your friends are the extension of yourself.

Please talk about Hanna Arendt. Thank you sweetheart.

The power of friendship isn't a trope. It is very real.

Nice Content

@unsolicitedadvice9198

6 ай бұрын

Thank you!

Look into regenerative medicine, leading edge work, they are look into some sort of energy coordinating cell activity and this kind of energy can theoretically include consciousness. If true our consciousness might be linked to an ongoing field with awareness. It is impossible to rule this out. How we know, feel, have awareness in an energy field is not understood and this does not mean it not exist.

I wonder if the word degreed is actually de-greed stemming from a great need. 🤔

It seems to me that the book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible has a very similar vibe to Epicurus. It doesn't dwell much on an afterlife. The first part is about the uselessness of most human pursuits, and at the end it says we should enjoy friendship, our partner, and food and drink. Is that a fair comparison?

О, саме філософія Епікура мене дуже цікавить, однак дуже мало інформації. Тому Ваше відео дуже корисне та цікаве для мене. Дякую!

@unsolicitedadvice9198

6 ай бұрын

Thank you for watching! I’m glad it was useful

The unfortunate thing is I cannot find a single soul that doesn't want to abuse drugs or alcohol as their only source of entertainment. It's incredibly hard to find a group of people who's priority's involve working on constructive and healthy goals. I realize that this is ultimately why I am lonely, because I cannot enjoy getting wasted anymore. All of the friends I've made in college are bad for me because of how tempting it is to give into short term pleasures while I'm with them. It seems everyone is on some sort of hedonic treadmill to the point of self destruction.

Have you read any of the Islamic works on philosophy and wisdom. Like works written by Imam Ghazali, Molana Rumi and Ibn Al-Arabi. Life of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) gives the core values to a Muslim's life. You have the ability and insightfulness to understand this religion. An intelligent person has more right on knowledge like yourself. I appreciate your work and your efforts on spreading positivity towards people.

Epicurus Epictetus and Camus the 3 go to.

Very, very nice 😀 you probably know the tetrapharmacum as a condensed form of his philosophy. Death 💀 is nothing to us, were you worried, suffering, or had any angst 🤕 before you were born? Is the same with death. The only problem 🤔 is the death of people close to us, and the epicurean answer has not survived. There is much, much more. His physics in Lucretius for example 💫 Cheers

I don't fear the idea of death, because I don't know what happens after it. I don't hold any beliefs as such, so I couldn't form an opinion on a belief such as we cease to exist upon death. That was also the main argument against suicide that I settled upon - how could you decide that it's better to leave this life without knowing what the alternative is? The scariest version of the afterlife that I thought of was that life enables you to act and participate in the universe, and without it you would return to a state of having some kind of consciousness but the inability to experience anything or perform any kind of action, condemned to an eternity of existence in a void. Anyway, I'm rambling now 😂

@unsolicitedadvice9198

6 ай бұрын

That's a nice argument, and very much in the vein of what Epicurus is saying - but following an epistemological rather than metaphysical line of thinking

@VinOptimaxxx

6 ай бұрын

@@unsolicitedadvice9198 knowledge is truth, and on some level we don't really know anything at all (in a solipsistic sense).

I love your videos and they are great. But i would like a less edited version of your videos with fewer cuts. It would seem calmer and more natural for your style of content to have fewer zooms and cuts. It seems flashy and more fitting for youtube but i think it would fit your style to keep it calm and authentic.

@unsolicitedadvice9198

6 ай бұрын

Thanks! I try to strike a balance between engagement and not making it seem jumpy, but I’ll try out a bit less editing at some point to experiment

The way im done with being around other humans is crazy. Ill sit in my peace alone and if they find my body in a house in the woods 2 months after passing just know i died happy 😂

Yes, the fear of not existing is definitely haunting but that's assuming we won't exist I mean we don't really know what's gonna happen so if it's all left to our imagination then why not think something good rather then scary or sad

@unsolicitedadvice9198

6 ай бұрын

That’s a nice and hopeful take on things

@SkyLorderon

6 ай бұрын

Don't worry the light trap will give you reincarnation

@user-fn7pv3tv5b

6 ай бұрын

@@SkyLorderon I am not hinting reincarnation here there are other ways too

I def needed to hear this, thanks my man!

@unsolicitedadvice9198

6 ай бұрын

Thank you for watching! I’m glad it helped!

Stoicism and Epicureanism are always pitted against each other as if they were an opposite of each other. This is complete SLANDER! Seneca ends many of his early letters with an Epicurean quote. They were competing, not opposites.

@unsolicitedadvice9198

6 ай бұрын

Exactly! I love how many times he says "and we can borrow from Epicurus here" or something like that during his letters

@mohaniya15

6 ай бұрын

@@unsolicitedadvice9198 "and why shouldnt i be able to borrow from epicurus? is it not public property?" I am paraphrasing but the respect towards Epicurus is self evident. Great video by the way!

@unsolicitedadvice9198

6 ай бұрын

Thank you! And it is part of what I really appreciate about Seneca's writings

I never had the opportunity to make close friends 😢 now I'm too old

Nothingness is not copeable, at least for me. Ceasing to exist of course is horrible.

Existential Comics brought me here.

How do I turn off the subtitles?

@zenonpacz

14 күн бұрын

Just look deep into his beautiful eyes

i am definevetebly more of the second type of people, but my take is to not care really, i mean i would like to live a millon years, yeah, and i plan to put myself in cryogenics probably, we have them today its just like an ambulance for time, they freeze you and take you for a time where they can revive you, but even then, supose this time never comes, lets say we never find inmortality or a way to freeze ourselves and be revived, well then following epicuro it doesnt matter either, i lived a happy and meaninful life, if i keep the way i am going i am being an epicurist, and if i die today i would die happy, so it doesnt matter if i lived 100 or 20000 years, i lived the life i wanted and bettered myself in the way i considered good. i lived what the randomness of this cold and unresponsive universe has let me to live, but after all i did it my way

Rene Girard!

@unsolicitedadvice9198

6 ай бұрын

To be fair, I would love to talk about him at some point

Hear, Here! John Adams said, "The purpose of government ought to be to assure the greatest good to the greatest number." Pleasure that only serves our self is often shallow and unsatisfying ultimately in the long term. In modern times, I think we forget that happiness is an extreme. It's laughter, and we can't laugh constantly. Contentment and satisfaction are not enough for many. Moderation in all things, including moderation. There are times when it is prudent, dare I say necessary to be immoderate. Self defense for example. The fear of death has been one of the greatest causes of human misery in all of time {and strange preoccupations with sex, but that's another subject}. If we accept that life is absurd and meaningless, filled with suffering, then isn't death a welcome release? . I think Schopenhauer's brilliance was the realization that we can have empirical knowledge, because other people exist. It would be very egocentric to suppose ours is the only Will in the universe. Therefore, we can “compare notes” and recognize that red and blue may look a bit different to you or me, and those colors exist in a spectrum of electromagnetism that we can all agree on. I think all of my favorite philosophers would understand a concept I learned and love: Ubuntu! It's not all about me

Trying to fight against our groundless needs is denying our humanity; acceptance and management of these urges is a far more effective strategy - not addressing these groundless needs, leaves you with unfulfilled natural needs..

Ok, cool! Now...htf does one make actual friends in a world filled with shortsighted greed and self absorption? 🤔

The Epicurean philosophy has only been lost in western societies; the selfish and individualistic nature that has been brought about by this distrust within western peoples, has only destroyed what was once a thriving communal structure - look at other cultures around the world, you will hardly find one that does not value family and relationships over, wealth, money and power..

@unsolicitedadvice9198

6 ай бұрын

That's very interesting!

@unknowninfinium4353

6 ай бұрын

Nice try. You cannot ease your excuses into Socialism. Check out Cuba, North Korea, Venezuella, plenty of your "Good" values to choose from you woukd fit in there perfectly. Selfishness is often given a bad light because it always is taken as an example in the extremes, outliers. Ones that pride family values is selfish or else would you sacrifice your family for the state comrade? For example how the children were taken away from their parents in Soviet Union? Enjoy hour values comrade. Selfishness is is part of our nature and being so allows us to grow and develop our values and grow as a human. Why else will this guy open a youtube account to to make videos that other people have done better or are more skilled at? It maybe a noble quality or reason and I respect this youtuber, I praise him but he too gets some value from being selfish as he has his own reasons which helps and guides him to do better. Good luck gaslighting comrade.

@unknowninfinium4353

6 ай бұрын

​@@unsolicitedadvice9198Read mine.

@LibertasOrationis

6 ай бұрын

@@unknowninfinium4353 I am not talking about the larger society, or political systems.. I am trying to explain that the destruction of the family unit is being degraded by individualistic hedonism.. in a lot of ways it is because of socialism; the social welfare state is being used to destroy the family unit, by allowing one or both partners to be married to the state, and children grow up having the state as a parent both monetarily and psychologically.. we have already sacrificed our families to the state, and don't even realise it..

@braedanquigley7500

2 ай бұрын

@@unknowninfinium4353the communist Cuba under embargo by the largest economy in the world still retains a larger gdp and has a higher gdp per capita than the Dominican Republic which has been allowed all of those things

Did anyone else come here from Existential Comics?

Regarding death, his point would be valid if there was nothing after death. However, there’s heaven and hell. Therefore, what fear is what follows death not death itself.

Incel sidebar: there are people who feel desperately failed and miserable because they do not have romantic relationships in their lives. But most of them, it turns out, are also friend-less. (Except for online cotteries, which do *not* replace the real thing.) I think the best advice I've seen on how to increase your chances for successful and lasting romance is this: practice non-romantic friendship first. Find people whom you care for for their own sake, not because of what benefits they will bring to your life. Make committments and sacrifices, care, be curious and you will find that some, not all but some, people reciprocate. These are your actual friends. Maintaining a friendship takes work, you have to schedule time for it to live in, you have to invest. You have to learn to be a friend first, without guarantees that the other person will be one back to you. Then you maintain over time. Until you have this kind of relationships in your life, you aren't ready to start a romantic and/or sexual relationship. Some people do anyway, but it doesn't go well, or at least it doesn't last. I'm not saying that romantic love is just friendship with benefits. But I am saying that friendship is an obligatory part, a cornerstone of the foundation, for lasting romantic love.

Thak you for being consistent 😭😭😭

@unsolicitedadvice9198

6 ай бұрын

Thank you for watching!

@Spark_Square

6 ай бұрын

It's a pleasure to watch

@superstav1684

6 ай бұрын

What in the fuck is that profile picture

@superstav1684

6 ай бұрын

I need holy water

@Spark_Square

6 ай бұрын

Lmao