Neo-Epicurean Life Hacks

[Mequa]

That's pretty non-specific. Basically, you are saying something like "Right thinking and right action leads to happiness, which is a sensible goal for thoughts and actions."

More precisely, I am not defining "right" in this context in terms of traditional morality, but more as expedience towards personal well-being and happiness (defined in a rather nuanced manner).

This is rather like the premise of modern Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) which has Epicurean [as well as Stoic] influences. Albert Ellis described himself as Epicurean. The underlying philosophy has ancient roots.

Would you say that Machiavelli and LaVey are both Epicureans? How about Ayn Rand? How about Buddha?

To ask whether Machiavelli was Epicurean, in this case the Machiavellian concept of "virtu" corresponds closely here to the definition of "right" I gave above. But Machiavelli was far more concerned with political power over others than Epicurus would consider healthy. To the Epicurean, this kind of power is only of value in terms of its utility towards personal security, it is not to be pursued for its own sake which is considered rather neurotic, and from an Epicurean perspective behaving too "Machiavellian" can lead to a lot of political power over others, but few friends and many enemies. Not the ideal in terms of personal happiness given the importance of friendship towards that end.

Anton LaVey was an egoistic hedonist (and quasi-occultist), he didn't really promote the kind of self-discipline Epicurus had in mind though, and LaVeyan philosophy is perhaps more crassly selfish as well as Machiavellian (see above) than an Epicurean would consider healthy.

Ayn Rand's ethics combined Epicurean with Aristotelian and Nietzschean influences in addition to classical liberalism. It differs in practice from Epicureanism, I'm not sure the life of a billionaire entrepreneur is what Epicurus would have had in mind. LaVey (above) was strongly influenced by Ayn Rand but also more Machiavellian (considerably less committed to the non-aggression principle in terms of both force and fraud).

Epicurus had some things in common with Buddha, including aiming for the cessation of (personal) suffering, cessation of desire (nirvana), achievement of peace of mind, mindfulness in the here and now, and so forth. In terms of Indian schools though Epicurus' materialism is closer to Carvaka.

I prefer "Neoepicurean" (or "Neo-Epicurean") over "Epicurean" myself to define my personal form of individualist hedonism and eudaimonism, given I have no kind of reverence for Epicurus as any kind of guru or master, nor do I assign any particular authority to his dogmas.

Following my Christian background I find this kind of concept quite an empowering counterweight to both the crushing burden of Christian morality, and the despair of existential and moral nihilism. Others might not need anything like it.