Hedonism – is it a universal human trait or a sign of moral turpitude? A classic dilemma. An old but still valuable opinion puts forth the possibility that hedonism is actually connected to the good, virtuous life. The Ancient philosopher Epicurus thought that the goal of ethics is pleasure: that the criteria for deciding what is good and bad, or what we should seek to do and what we should avoid – pleasure and pain. Despite its thorough and careful elaboration, this view has historically been poorly understood, banalized and denigrated. Nature, Soul, and Happiness: The Fundamentals of Epicurean Ethics focuses on presenting and analyzing the elements of Epicurus’ philosophy on which he built his ethics. First among these elements are physics (study of nature), epistemology (acquisition of knowledge), and the study of the soul. Considering these elements each individually as necessary, and together as sufficient for a good, happy, and worthy life, Epicurus grounded his practical philosophy – his ethics – on these theoretical considerations. Thus, in providing a closer look at the Epicurean understanding of pleasure, the book also offers a kind of apology for a life led in this way.