SecondLife as an Epicurean Paradise
Epicurus. I know what you’re thinking. Epicurus was a Greek philosopher who encouraged folks to eat, drink, and be merry. That’s not really true. He’s been given a bad rap in modern times.
Certainly, if you think of Epicurean philosophy as hedonistic then applying it to SecondLife seems pretty easy. Everyone is beautiful; they can eat all they want and never gain a pound; you can down glass after glass of champagne and never even get the hiccups. But let’s look at the truth.
Epicurus was fundamentally concerned with ways to be happy. Not shopping, eating and drinking, or “lotus eating.” Epicurus gave us three rules for happiness:
1. Have good friends and spend lots of time with them. Live with them if possible.
2. Be free. Loosen as many ties to business and politics as possible. Be self-sufficient.
3. Reflect. A well-lived life is one that is thought about, reflected on, and lived thoughtfully.
Pretty simple, huh? It’s easy to see how in the years after Epicurus there were many communal living arrangements conceived in his name. It seems to me that SecondLife could be an Epicurean paradise if we let it be. Forget all the shopping, the endless additions of “bling” to one’s avatar, and the seemingly limitless consumerism and acquisition of items. Instead, focus on ol’ Epicurus’s suggestions.
Find friends. Meet people. Talk to folks you might never have met in real life. SecondLife offers a unique opportunity to “live” closely with your friends, to see them often, and to have great chats and share experiences.
Live free. Fly around. Explore. Start a business if you want but remember that this is SecondLife and you should only take it as seriously as you enjoy.
Reflect. Remember that when living in SecondLife you’re living on the frontier of a new world. Stop and think now and then about what you’re experiencing and what it means to you and to the future of technology and communication.
But most of all, be happy. It’s what Epicurus would have wanted.
August 2nd, 2006 at 8:08 am
I had forgotten about Epicurus. But I do try to live his philosophy. And SL is a great way to do all those things. His rules of life are so simple and fun.
Don’t worry, be happy.