Happiness is Pleasure; all things are to be done for the sake of the pleasant feelings associated with them.

Although the primary focus here was how advertisement were being misused to sell us a feeling of false and temporary happiness – Alain de Botton also went on to show us how Epicuras followers had gone on to use advertisements to educate people on his philosophy’s. For example, Diogenes of Oenoanda, an Epicurean Greek from the 2nd century, created a wall in the centre of his city with the carvings of the Epicurus’s philosophy’s summary. This was put up right next to the cities shopping area and is thought to of acted a warning to the pedestrians that, essentially, you cannot buy happiness.

Bringing this line of thought into today, there have been other Epicureans that have attempted to use advertisements in shopping malls to do the same kind of concept, however they have been few and far between to actually make that much of an impact. But imagine if it became the norm to have these kinds of messages within our everyday space, friendly reminders in between the flashy chaos of advertisements, telling you that there are more sustainable ways to achieve a feeling of happiness?

 Joy is free.

Slowing Minds Down