Final answer:
Nietzsche viewed suffering as an opportunity for personal growth and the exercise of the 'will to power,' while Epicureans sought to minimize suffering to achieve a tranquil life focused on simple pleasures, viewing death as a non-fearful state of peace.
Step-by-step explanation:
The difference between Nietzsche's view on suffering and the Epicurean view lies in their conceptions of the role and value of suffering in life. Nietzsche saw suffering as a necessary component of growth for the 'noble soul,' allowing individuals to confront life and acquire more power and stature. In contrast, the Epicureans, following the teachings of Epicurus, sought a life that minimized pain and fear.
They aimed for pleasure, which they associated with tranquility and the absence of both physical pain and mental distress. Epicureans advocated for a self-sufficient lifestyle, away from societal turmoil, where pleasure derived from measured indulgence in life's finer aspects without overindulgence.
A fundamental element of Nietzsche's philosophy is the 'will to power' and the growth that comes through overcoming suffering. For the Epicureans, however, the goal was to live a content life by avoiding unnecessary suffering and understanding that death was not to be feared, as it signified peace and release. These contrasting views illustrate profound differences in how these philosophers approached the meaning and value of life, suffering, and pleasure.