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Questions tagged [epicurus]

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Questions related to the ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus (341–270 BC), who founded a school of philosophy known as Epicureanism.

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22
votes
11answers
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What are some criticisms of Epicurus' “death is nothing to us”?

Epicurus famously asserted that death should not be feared, with roughly the following argument: When we die, we no longer exist; Since we no longer exist, we can feel neither pain nor pleasure. ...
12
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1answer
2k views

What are the main points of criticism of the ancient Stoic school vis-a-vis the system of philosophy of the Epicureans?

What was the main criticism of the ancient Stoic school of philosophy with respect to the system of philosophy of the Epicureans?
12
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1answer
1k views

Why did Epicureanism become “the main opponent” of Stoicism?

I was reading about Epicureanism on Wikipedia, and there I saw that, apparently, Epicureanism was in conflict with Stoicism and Platonism. I then read up on those two philosophies, and well, they do ...
11
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2answers
374 views

Are Hellenistic schools of philosophy also therapeutic regimes?

Martha C. Nussbaum argues in The Therapy of Desire: Theory and Practice in Hellenistic Ethics that all three major Hellenistic schools (Epicureanism, Stoicism, Skeptics) shared a practical, ...
8
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1answer
501 views

Are there more modern schools that follow Epicurean philosophy?

As Wikipedia says in its article, Epicureanism in short means: pleasure is the highest good, thus gain it through living virtuous life and expecting less. Based on this definition, is there a ...
7
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1answer
2k views

what are the differences of existentialism to epicurianism?

Although not an expert, I do see many similarities on both these currents' focus on man himself, aboloshing all idols and taking control of his fate. Are there any real differences between these two ...
7
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2answers
1k views

Where can I find material on Epicureanism?

I'm looking for books by Epicurus, but I haven't been able to find any. Can anyone suggest one, or another reference book that deals with Epicureanism? I don't have any context by which to judge ...
5
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1answer
712 views

What are some examples of individualism in ancient Greek philosophy?

When people speak about disrupting action, an action that often goes against the commonly accepted moral laws, the pople that comes to my mind are Nietzsche, D'Annunzio, Marinetti and the Italian ...
5
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2answers
5k views

Is Epicureanism a form of Hedonism?

Epicureanism can be argued to be a form of Hedonism, holding the belief that pleasure is the only source of what is intrinsically good. The distinction between the two, as Hedonism seeks to maximise ...
4
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1answer
18k views

“I was not; I was; I am not; I do not care”

From Wikipedia's page on Epicurus: He also believed (contra Aristotle) that death was not to be feared. When a man dies, he does not feel the pain of death because he no longer is and he therefore ...
4
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2answers
1k views

Reasons to fear death

Epicurus said that fearing nonexistence is not only stupid, it even gets in the way of enjoying life. I agree with Epicurus and I am trying to stop fearing death by thinking about it logically. I now ...
3
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1answer
237 views

Epicureanism and speed of light

I have heard that Epicurus stated that light has the speed of thought. What did he mean by this? My hypothesis is he intended to say, in a way, that the speed of light is infinite. But then, why was ...
3
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2answers
508 views

Confusing name-dropping — Is Socrates known to have walked in a garden with his “pupils”?

Source: In an episode on education of the philosophical documentary The advantage of the doubt, which I displayed here (search for "documentary") for pedagogical consultation; Veerle Jochems (an ...
3
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1answer
377 views

How does Democritus account for eidola in terms of his atomic theory, if in fact he does?

'Eidola' is the peeling away of images from an object that then enters the eye, in Democritus' theory of optics. However, given his atomic theory, it seems puzzling that he doesn't attempt to explain ...
3
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1answer
797 views

Death and Epictetus

In the Enchiridion, Epictetus seems suggest that goodness and badness are not “in” the world. They are “in” our reactions. For example he says that, “Death, for instance, is not terrible, else it ...
3
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3answers
182 views

Why does imagining absence at a funeral cause you to imagine being there?

Source: p 22, Chapter 4 entitled 'The Garden Path [line break] EPICURUS'A Little History of Philosophy (2011 ed; but Reprint ed, 2012 extant) by Nigel Warburton PhD in Philosophy (Cambridge) ...
3
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2answers
119 views

What use is the Principle of Plentitude?

I am having trouble wrapping my head around the principle of plentitude. It was explained to me thus: "Everything which could exist does exist". What is the use of this untestable notion?
3
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1answer
94 views

Sources for Epicurus and the history of medicine

I am researching the history of medical philosophy (nursing in particular). A professor recommended the writings of Epicurus. I cannot find any sources directly related to this relationship. The ...
3
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2answers
329 views

Theories of rationality/emotions which make Epicurus' death argument work?

I've read restatements of Epicurus' famous argument which attempt to prove that the fear of death is irrational (I don't know if Epicurus himself ever used a word like this. From what I've read, he ...
2
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1answer
193 views

Did anyone in Zeno time, use the idea of discrete space/time to propose a solution to his paradoxes?

Zeno famously stated a number of paradoxes of space, time & motion to argue for parmenides unity & changelessness of being. Infinite divisiblity of space & time seemed to be a commonly ...
2
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1answer
83 views

Epicurus's claim that the mind is in the heart

I'm looking for a reference to back the claim made on SEP: The mind, which is located at the heart, is a center that controls the other soul-parts as well as the body, and that receives and ...
2
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1answer
576 views

What are Epicurean Virtues?

Epicurus, Letter to Menoeceus, Live Wisely: The greatest virtue and the basis for all virtues is prudence. Prudence, the art of practical wisdom, is something even more valuable than philosophy, ...
2
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0answers
112 views

What is the difference between Epicurean sense-perception and Qualia?

In the SEP, on its discussion of ancient theories of the soul, they say: Epicurus is an atomist, and in accordance with his atomism he takes the soul, like everything else that there is except for ...
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2answers
474 views

Is Epicureanism more like egoism or utilitarianism

Epicureans put a focus on pleasure, but it is unclear from any material I've seen whether this the goal is one's own pleasure, the pleasure of everyone equally, or some more complicated interaction. ...
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2answers
2k views

Epicurus categorization of natural desires

Usually, it is often believed that desires for food and sex are based on natural (biological) needs. Epicurus too call them "natural" but claims that the fulfillment of the desire for food is "...
1
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1answer
137 views

How does the doctrine of substantial forms differ from atomism?

Liebniz was an early admirer of Epicurean atomism; but later devoted himself to the doctrine of substantial forms as outlined in his Monadology. On the face of it, atoms are substantial forms - they ...
1
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1answer
366 views

Was Newtons corpuscular theory of light influenced by that of Democritus?

Democritus theory of perception hypothesised that eidola were atom-thin images of an object carried into the eye. Of course Newton was a prominent defender of a corpuscular theory of light, as first ...
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1answer
132 views

Modern Epicureanism

I heard people talking about Epicureanism on the radio this morning and it struck me that I am an Epicurean. Apparently it was a popular philosophy in the Ptolemaic era, as Greece and Rome coexisted ...
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4answers
358 views

Is it rationally possible to believe in a sensationless soul after death?

Epicurus's thoughts on death were: -Death is the cessation of sensation -Good and evil only make sense in terms of sensation Therefore: Death is neither good nor evil My (sort of related) question ...
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1answer
350 views

The no harm thesis about death and comparativism

I was reading about the harm thesis and comparativism, when: To decide whether a person's death is bad for that person, we must compare her actual welfare level to the welfare level she would ...
0
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1answer
334 views

Epicurus: the greatest thinker of all time? [closed]

I have read somewhere that Epicurus introduced (English author, I can provide the full details), among others: A moral code of values of integrity, serenity and peaceful acceptance to life Acceptance ...