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How did Epicurean and Stoic ideas differ in the Hellenistic Age?

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Painting by Joseph Aubert of Saint Thomas Aquinas seated with a book, wearing a halo and black and white robes, surrounded by ornate patterns in St. Stephens Church, Jerusalem. — Western philosophy Painting of scholastic philosopher St. Thomas of Aquinas by Joseph Aubert, 1900.

In the Hellenistic Age, Epicureanism and Stoicism emerged as competing philosophies, each offering a distinct approach to navigating a changing world. While both sought to provide individuals with serenity and a way to avoid anxiety, they differed fundamentally in their ethical goals, social engagement, and views on the cosmos.123

Key Differences

Ethics and the Goal of Life: For the Stoic, the supreme good is virtue, and one must live in accordance with reason and the fated order of the world. Conversely, Epicurus identified the supreme good with pleasure, defined specifically as the absence of pain from the body and soul.213
Public vs. Private Life: Stoics believed humans are world citizens with a duty to participate in public affairs and contribute to the greater good of the "world city". Epicureans advocated for a withdrawn life, favoring the retirement of a private "garden" to cultivate intimate friendships while avoiding the stresses of politics.213
Cosmology and Providence: Stoics believed in a rational, ordered universe governed by divine providence and fate. Epicureans viewed the universe through atomism, positing that gods exist but are beatified, immortal beings who are entirely indifferent to human affairs.231

Despite these contrasts, both schools ultimately encouraged a life of temperance and self-control, demonstrating that different philosophical paths could lead to similar outcomes in personal conduct.13