Epicuros Critique of the Phenomena of Self Rewardand Pay Later in Indonesia

Abstract

This study explores the phenomenon of the digital consumerist
lifestyle in Indonesia specifically, the culture of self-reward and the
use of “pay-later” features through the lens of Epicurean ethics.
Amid the rapid development of financial technology and the
influence of social media, Generation Z often finds itself trapped in
patterns of impulsive consumption that are justified as self-reward
but ultimately lead to financial anxiety. This study is a qualitative
research project employing a library research approach that utilizes
primary texts by Epicurus, such as Letter to Menoeceus and
Principal Doctrines, as a philosophical analytical framework. The
findings indicate that contemporary self-reward practices tend to be
trapped in “vain and empty desires” that do not contribute to peace
of mind. The use of “paylater” services is also deemed to fail in
applying the “calculus of pleasure” because it prioritizes instant
gratification that leads to long-term suffering in the form of debt.
This study concludes that the relevance of Epicurus’s thought lies in
his proposal of a simple life and inner independence as the path to
true happiness, or ataraxia. A shift from materialistic consumption
toward moderation of desires is a fundamental solution for
Indonesia’s digital society to achieve a more stable and peaceful
quality of life.