This at least is the indispensable condition or groundwork of happiness. According to Stoicism, man's proper nature is thought, reason, the spirit, and a life conformable to what these prescribe is a life of nature and of virtue. According to Epicurism, man's proper nature is feeling, sensation, the flesh; and a life conformable to these, not recklessly, but prudently conformable to these, is a life of nature. Again, according to Stoicism, the virtuous life is coincident with the natural life when it is identical with the life according to thought, to reason, and to the spirit; while, according to Epicurism, the virtuous life is coincident with the natural life when it is in prudent and properly regulated conformity with feeling, sensation, and the flesh. Thus Stoicism inculcates that rational happiness, the happiness of reason, spiritual felicity, is the great end of man; their happiness is, perfection; that the life of reason, the life according to the spirit, being the life of nature, is the means to this end, and that the rational life is the virtuous life. On the other hand, Epicurism inculcates that sensational happiness, the happiness of the feelings, the satisfaction of the passions, bodily felicity, is the great end of man; that the life of agreeable sensations being the life according to nature, is the means by which this end is attained; and that thus the life of prudent pleasure is the virtuous life. The whole difference between them thus hinges ultimately upon the distinction between thought and feeling, reason and sensation, the spirit and the flesh.
