According to Epicurus, right and wrong are judged by one standard: does it lead to pleasure or pain?
But not just any pleasure—stable, long-term pleasure, which means physical health, mental peace, and freedom from fear. His ethics are hedonistic in foundation, but rational and restrained in practice.
Here’s how Epicurus breaks it down:
✅What’s Right?
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Whatever promotes lasting pleasure and reduces pain.
This includes:-
Living modestly
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Avoiding excess
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Cultivating friendships
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Practicing self-control
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Being just and fair (because injustice brings fear and conflict)
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"It is impossible to live a pleasant life without living wisely and well and justly."
In short, right actions lead to peace of body and mind.
❌ What’s Wrong?
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Whatever causes unnecessary pain, anxiety, or disturbance.
This includes:-
Pursuing endless wealth, fame, or power
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Indulging in excess that leads to long-term harm
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Acting unjustly (because guilt and social backlash destroy peace)
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Fearing death or the gods (both are irrelevant to our experience)
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"Empty is the argument of the philosopher which does not relieve any human suffering."
Epicurus' Morality in One Line:
Good = what brings peace.
Bad = what brings disturbance.
So, wrong actions are those that disrupt tranquility—even if they seem pleasurable in the moment.
Right and wrong according to religions
Most religions define right and wrong in terms of obedience to divine law, moral duty, and the well-being of others—but the foundation varies depending on the belief system.
Here's a concise comparison of how major religions approach ethics:
1. Christianity
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Right: Loving God and others, following Jesus' teachings, living by the Bible
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Wrong: Sin—anything that disobeys God (e.g., lying, stealing, hatred, pride)
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Moral basis: God's will and commandments (e.g., Ten Commandments, Sermon on the Mount)
2. Islam
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Right: Obeying Allah, practicing the Five Pillars, acting justly and with compassion
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Wrong: Disobeying divine law (haram acts like theft, dishonesty, injustice)
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Moral basis: The Qur’an and Hadith (sayings of Muhammad), Sharia law
3. Judaism
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Right: Following the Torah, performing mitzvot (commandments), pursuing justice and kindness
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Wrong: Violating God’s commandments or harming others
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Moral basis: Torah, Talmud, and rabbinic tradition
4. Hinduism
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Right: Fulfilling one’s dharma (duty), living truthfully, practicing nonviolence (ahimsa)
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Wrong: Violating dharma, harming others, acting selfishly
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Moral basis: Sacred texts (Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita), karma doctrine
5. Buddhism
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Right: Reducing suffering, following the Eightfold Path, cultivating compassion and wisdom
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Wrong: Causing harm, acting out of greed, hatred, or ignorance
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Moral basis: Four Noble Truths, ethical discipline (sīla), karma
6. Sikhism
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Right: Remembering God, living honestly, sharing with others, doing good
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Wrong: Selfishness, dishonesty, forgetting God
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Moral basis: Guru Granth Sahib, teachings of the Gurus
Shared Moral Threads Across Religions:
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Do not harm others
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Be honest
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Treat others as you want to be treated
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Honor something greater than yourself (God, Dharma, or truth)
Religious ethics often aim for moral harmony with the divine and society, not just individual peace. Unlike Epicurus, who says good = pleasure, most religions say good = alignment with divine or moral law, regardless of pleasure.
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