CARPE DIEM by Stanley Othello

Carpe Diem

The phrase, “carpe diem” comes from “Odes Book I,” a series of famous poems written by Horace, a roman poet who lived in 23 BC. This phrase is, however, as widely used as it is misunderstood in everyday conversation. In terms of its English translation, there is a lack of consensus. The complete Latin phrase is “carpe diem quam minimum credula postero,” which means pluck the day, trusting as little as possible in the next one. Pluck the day while it is ripe, or embrace the day instead of simply believing that all will work out in the future.

Most people associate this approach with a hedonistic view point that favors the pursuit of sensually self-indulged pleasure (preferably physical). The hedonist belief is to maximize pleasure even if it can hurt, If that were to be the case, we have to look back at the translation “Pluck the day while it is ripe, or embrace the day instead of simply believing that it will all work out in the future”. Then the translation would not make any sense from a hedonistic. If someone were to focus on maximizing mostly physical pleasure, then the original translation does not make sense with this point of view because the pleasure of a hedonist view is achieved at maximizing. Notice that pleasure was never mentioned in the translation.

On the other hand, from the view point of an ancient Greek philosopher known as Epicurus "ally, comrade" one needs to seek pleasure that is sustainable and modest. In that sense, pleasure equals the state of tranquility, absence of fear, pain and harm. In other words, pleasure should bring happiness.

The difference between the hedonistic approach and the epicurean one is: for the hedonist, gaining knowledge is associated with feeling and immediate sensation, while for the Epicurean puts emphasis in gaining knowledge about the world and its limits, as well as a modest lifestyle.