Combining the pleasure-seeking teachings of Aristippus and the atom theory of Democritus, Epicurus" philosophy answers the questions of how best to live one's life and approach death.
Epicurus" Principle Doctrines emphasize the school of thought that the natural pursuit of please does not make one an intrinsically evil, corrupt person. However, though many today misconstrue his message as an approval of sensory overindulgence, his texts advocate the merits of restraint: "No pleasure is a bad thing in itself, but the things which produce certain pleasures entail disturbances many times greater than the pleasures themselves"(Gill). The teachings of Epicurus state that the fulfillment of one's basic needs unlock the door to a life of pleasure. To spend one's life in a state of anxiety due to the pursuit of excessive merriment will have an inverse effect, wasting one's life in an unpleasant state instead of enjoying simple pleasures (The Philosophy Garden). Indeed, the original writings that shape the epicurianistic philosophy repeatedly sing the praises of intangible pleasures such as wisdom and the peace of mind one derives from living a just life. In response to the question of how one should make the moral decisions to live a respectable life, Epicurus advocates situational truth over universal truth, as his statement that "There never was such a thing as absolute justice, but only agreements made in mutual dealings among men in whatever places at various times providing against the infliction or suffering of harm." illustrates (Cook). As with most philosophies, the Epicureans have guidelines regarding death and eternity as well as life.
According to the Epicurean philosophy, one need not worry about gods or an afterlife. Embracing the atomic theory, Epicurus believes that while alive, people have soul atoms as well as physical atoms. Upon death, however, the frail soul atoms would disperse in all directions (Gaarder).
lead to a useful solution to this problem, Epicureanism does the job best. ... Epicureanism seeks as its ultimate goal ataraxia, a state of non-disturbance. Epicureans view nature as one of the best agents for this. ... For this reason Epicureanism is the best philosophy for living harmoniously with nature. Epicureanism allows to make judgments concerning right and wrong, while giving us the freedom to act on them. ...
Epicureans believe the highest good in life is pleasure: a peace of mind, or freedom from anxiety. ... Epicureans believed to achieve happiness you only need the basics, food, water, and clothing. ... I completely agree with what the Epicureans believed. ... While on the other hand Epicureans believe that the universe is made of atoms. ... Epicureanism and Stoicism were the two most popular theories back in Rome....
Death means nothing to an Epicurean. ... In "Dido the Epicurean,"" Dyson highlights specific Epicurean concepts portrayed in Dido, from the Aeneid. ... In "Mezentius the Epicurean, " the Kronenberg argues that Mezentius displays Epicurean values. ... Dyson's article Dido the Epicurean should instead be titled "Dido the Epicurean? ... Virgil was aware of Epicureans and followed the philosophy under the Epicurean Siro. ...
Epicureans & Epicurus Epicurus was the founder of the Epicureans. ... The Epicureans, like the Stoics, distinguish valid only that knowledge which originates and stops in the senses. ... To explain how sensations originate in the senses, the Epicureans had recourse to the theory of "eidola," small images which are distinct from the object of the sensation and are made present to our perceptive organs and through them to the soul. Still there is a difference between Stoics and Epicureans, concerning the principle of true and false sensations. ... But according to the Epicureans, the judgmen...
Epicureans & Epicurus Epicurus was the founder of the Epicureans. ... The Epicureans, like the Stoics, distinguish valid only that knowledge which originates and stops in the senses. ... To explain how sensations originate in the senses, the Epicureans had recourse to the theory of "eidola," small images which are distinct from the object of the sensation and are made present to our perceptive organs and through them to the soul. Still there is a difference between Stoics and Epicureans, concerning the principle of true and false sensations. ... But according to the Epicureans, the judgmen...
Two schools affected Rome, Epicureanism, and Stoicism, which were both from Greece. Epicureanism could not gain many followers with its belief that the correct goal and principle of human actions is pleasure. Epicureanism stresses the moderation of the pursuit of pleasure, the Romans thought of this philosophy as a typically Greek enthusiasm for self-indulgence and debauchery. ... The Epicurean theory of matter says that everything is made of small particles of mass and empty space and these particles can neither be split nor destroyed. ...
Undoubtedly one of the most influential thinkers of all time, Plato produces a radically contrasting approach to life from Lucretius, the first of the Epicureans. ... Man could have burst from ocean, from dry land the bearers of scales, and from thin air the birds; Thus everything cannot spring from anything, for things are unique.(5)" Instead of pointing to some supernatural force as the source of the universe, the Epicurean explains the presence of our universe as the "right atoms in right season" that have "streamed together to build each thing we see.(5)" More accurately, "our world ...
One branch of philosophy, Epicureanism, focused specifically on the individual, as opposed to traditional religion which was for the greater good. ... Epicureanism sought a life of pleasure, revolving around the senses, through the absence of pain. ...