Epicurus

• Born February 4th 341 B.C. on the island of Samos (off the west coast of what is now Turkey)

• Studied philosophy under Democritus and Plato.

• Often charged with being a godless philosopher.

• Believed happiness was one of the highest goods.

The Garden

• Epicurus purchased a house and a garden to house his circle of friends.

• His school later became known “The Garden”

• Here they produced manuscripts and letters.• Because of this environment, Epicurus

became known for having close friendships.• He even allowed women and slaves in his

circle.

Stranger, here you will do well to tarry; here our

highest good is pleasure. The caretaker of that

abode, a kindly host, will be read for you; he will

welcome you with bread, and serve you water also in

abundance, with these words,

‘Have you not been well entertained? This garden

does not whet your appetite; but quenches it.’”

Influence of Democritus

• Like Democritus, Epicurus believed that everything in the world was made of atoms that were moving in the void. – Atoms exist because

• We see that there are bodies in motion.• Nothing can just come into existence.

Universe

• Believed that atoms were just basic building blocks and do not have the capabilities to just come into existence, but actually have always existed.

• This led him to believe that the universe has always existed and will always exist.

• Believed the universe was limitless in size.

Differences From Democritus

• Weight– Believed atoms had weight which result

in the downward movement which led to collision and inertia.

• The Swerve– If atoms could not swerve, they would fall

straight down and never be able to create atomic collisions.

• Sensible Qualities– Believed atoms could have qualities like

sweetness. Thought the bodies could give us certain types of experiences.

Gods

• Epicureans were often accused of not believing in a god.

• They disagreed with the conception of Gods being supremely blessed beings. They believed that the Gods were unaware of our existence and lived in a space between the cosmoi.

• Therefore, we have no reason to fear them.

The Mind

• Epicurus was one of the first philosophers to put forward the Theory of the Mind.

• Believed the mind was an organ that was located somewhere in the chest.

• The mind was composed of fire, air, wind and the “nameless”.

• Also said that the “spirit” was spread throughout the rest of the body.

Egoistic Hedonism

• Which basically means that an action is right if and only if it results in the greatest pleasure for himself.

• Agreed with Aristotle; that happiness is the highest form of good.

• However disagreed that happiness was the same as pleasure.

• The best way to be happy in life was to want nothing.

• If you are always wanting more, than you will never be satisfied with the things that you have in life.

Types of Pleasure

• Tied closely to one’s desires.

• 2 Types:– Moving-involve the act

of satisfying a desire.– Static- the state of no

longer wanting or needing because your desire has be fulfilled.

• There is also a distinction between physical and mental pleasures.

• Physical- deals with the present.

• Mental- deals with the pains and pleasures of the past, or fear for the future.

Death

• Epicureans believed that people feared death because of the anxiety of an unpleasant afterlife.

• However, epicureans believed that when the body (which was composed of atoms) would disperse along with the mind. Therefore death should not be feared.