Best of Week: Which Hellenistic Class Do You Agree With?

        On Tuesday, we talked about all the different Hellenistic classes of thought. There were five main philosophies, all of them very interesting. There were the Cynics, the Stoics, the Epicureans, the Neoplatonists and the Mystics. Each group in class was given a Hellenistic group to research and then would have to return to the class and report on their specific groups and their philosophy. After each group had presented, each individual in class was told to choose which Hellenistic school of thought they thought their beliefs best fit under.
        I really liked this assignment because it was interactive and interesting and people got a chance to really search themselves and I think that helped everyone understand the philosophies better. It was also interesting to see who I agreed with and who didn't. I also like hearing my classmate's explanations of why they chose the group they did.
        The overall class results were approximately this:
Cynics: 2
Stoics: 1
Epicureans: 6
Neoplatonists: 2
Mystics: 3
None of the Above: 6
      I was in the epicureans. I probably could have gone in the none of the above as I don't feel too strongly about any of the philosophies, but I decided to choose one and Epicureans was the one I thought I could believe in most. Here's a breakdown of my thoughts on each group ending with why I chose the Epicureans.
Cynics: I like the Cynics ideas. They believe that material things are not necessary for happiness. I totally wish I agreed with that, but I don't. I wish I could just go out in the woods and live off the land, but I know I won't. Desire is human nature. People always want things and including me. Especially in this material world we live in now, and being an American teenager I honestly don't think I would be happy.
Stoics: They basically reject emotion and I would find it hard to live a life without pain and suffering or without love, happiness and joy.
Neoplatonists and Mystics: I am not really a religous person and just find it hard to buy into either of these philosophies which both involve a higher being. Of all the philosophies I wish I could be a mystic because I like the idea of strongly believing in a God and coming so close to your God that he almost takes you over. It would be perfection to meet God.
Epicureans: The epicureans are all about indulging in pleasures. Sure they believe that to much of something at once can be bad, but they believe, contrary to cynics and stoics, that emotion and material things are good if they bring pleasure and happiness. I believe, on Earth, our goal should just be to obtain true happiness and have fun. We should love and do what we love. They also believe that after death there is nothing, so we don't have to worry about punishment in a next life. I would like their to be an after-life, that's how I feel about death. I'm not worried about dying because I know if there isn't after life I won't know it cause there will be literal nothingness.
        So, I guess as far as in class Hellenism goes, I guess you can call me an Epicurean.