τούτων γὰρ ἀπλανὴς θεωρία πᾶσαν αἵρεσιν καὶ φυγὴν ἐπανάγειν οἶδεν ἐπὶ τὴν τοῦ σώματος ὑγίειαν καὶ τὴν τῆς ψυχῆς ἀταραξίαν, ἐπεὶ τοῦτο τοῦ μακαρίως ζῆν ἐστι τέλος.
“Keeping these facts in unwavering focus allows us to refer every choice and avoidance to the health of the body and the tranquility of the soul, for these states comprise the goal of a blessed life.”—Epicurus, Letter to Menoeceus
Untroubled is a newsletter about Epicurean ethics, the ancient system that teaches how humans can approach a greater state of ataraxia, which could be translated as tranquility or untroubledness. Epicurus was born around 341 BCE, but his teachings—and those of his many followers—continue to be relevant and applicable today.
We typically publish twice a week, with one post reserved for paid subscribers and one open to the public (during our first two months of posting, through May 2026, all articles will be free). Our normal schedule consists of Translation Tuesday, in which we discuss a new translation and commentary on a classical Epicurean text, and a Friday essay. Sometimes these essays consist of more serious philosophical argument, while sometimes they are lighter pieces containing actionable suggestions for practicing Epicureanism in the modern world.
Why subscribe?
Subscribers to the free edition receive a weekly post. Some weeks it will be the translation and commentary, some weeks it will be the essay.
Subscribers to the paid edition receive an additional post each week, as well as access to all previous members-only posts. Paid subscribers can also participate in the comments section of all posts. Paid subscriptions are $5 a month, while annual subscribers are $50. We intend to keep subscriptions affordable—we’re Epicureans, after all!—and hope you find our content worth the 17 cents a day.
Who is Jack?
Jack Gedney is a California-based writer who studied Greek, Latin, and modern literature at UC Berkeley and UC Davis. He’s also written about birds—feel free to check out his books on birds if you’d like to engage in the highly Epicurean pursuit of enjoying the natural world.
Affiliate Links
I regularly recommend books. When available, I link to Bookshop.org, an online bookstore that financially supports independent bookstores through every purchase. I earn a small commission if you buy through my links, but the price you pay is unaffected and I only link to books I sincerely recommend.
