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.
Our normal schedule consists of Translation Tuesday, in which I 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. Sign up here to receive these posts free by email or via the Substack app each week.
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.
