Hello friends,
I recorded this podcast in March 2025. So, about a year ago!
I don’t know why this recording stayed in the vault for such a long time, but here we go.
It is free for everyone to listen to, but paid subscribers will get the full transcript, summary and a reading list below the paywall.
I hope you will enjoy this episode.
~ Vashik Armenikus
Philosophy as medicine
Epicurus on How to Clear Your Mind
In this episode of Genius & Ink 🖌, we explore the ancient Greek thinker Epicurus, who viewed philosophy not as a cold profession, but as a daily healing practice for the soul.
Epicurus teaches us that clarity, not consumption, is the true key to happiness.
He suggests that freedom from fear: fear of the divine, of death, and of unbridled desire is more nourishing than any feast. By inviting us to examine what we believe, what we want, and what we dread, he offers a philosophy of simplicity, courage, and tranquility. It is, in essence, a quiet revolution in how we live.
We follow Epicurus through his most powerful teachings, including:
Lifelong Learning: Why philosophy should be studied at any age.
Inner Peace: How superstitious beliefs can corrupt our mental state.
Mortality: Why death is truly nothing to fear.
Desire: How to categorise our needs for greater mental clarity.
Pleasure: Redefining its true nature.
Virtue: Why sound judgment is the root of a good life.
This episode is based on Epicurus’ Letter to Menoeceus, a foundational text that redefines what it means to live wisely and peacefully.
Four Ideas of Epicurus to Keep in Your mind:
Epicurus does not deny the divine but rejects the "angry/jealous" versions created by the masses. He literally says:
"The irreligious man is not the one who destroys the gods of the masses, but the one who imposes the ideas of the masses on the gods".
