"Epicurean" redirects here. For other uses, see Epicurean (disambiguation).
Roman Epicurus bust
Epicureanism is a system of philosophy founded around 307 BCE based upon the teachings of Epicurus, an ancient Greek philosopher. Epicurus was an atomist and materialist, following in the steps of Democritus. His materialism led him to religious skepticism and a general attack on superstition and divine intervention. Epicureanism was originally a challenge to Platonism, and its main opponent later became Stoicism. It is a form of hedonism insofar as it declares pleasure to be its sole intrinsic goal. However, the concept that the absence of pain and fear constitutes the greatest pleasure, and its advocacy of a simple life, make it very different from hedonism as colloquially understood.
Following the Cyrenaic philosopher Aristippus, Epicurus believed that the greatest good was to seek modest, sustainable pleasure in the form of a state of ataraxia (tranquility and freedom from fear) and aponia (the absence of bodily pain) through knowledge of the workings of the world and limiting desires. Correspondingly, Epicurus and his followers generally withdrew from politics because it could lead to frustrations and ambitions that would conflict with their pursuit of virtue and peace of mind.[1]
Few writings by Epicurus have survived. Diogenes Laërtius preserves three letters written by Epicurus, as well as a list of the Principal Doctrines of Epicureanism; however, there are independent attestations of his ideas from his later disciples. The epic poem De rerum natura (Latin for "On the Nature of Things") by Lucretius presents the core arguments and theories of Epicureanism in one unified work. Many Epicurean texts have also been found on scrolls unearthed at the Villa of the Papyri in Herculaneum, mostly works written by the Epicurean philosopher Philodemus or his teacher Zeno of Sidon along with fragments of works by Epicurus himself. Diogenes of Oenoanda, a wealthy Epicurean in the 2nd century CE, had a portico wall inscribed with tenets of the philosophy erected in Oenoanda, Lycia (present day Turkey).
Epicureanism flourished in the Late Hellenistic era and during the Roman era, and many Epicurean communities were established in places such as Antioch, Alexandria, Rhodes, and Herculaneum; by the late 3rd century CE, Epicureanism all but died out, being opposed by other philosophies (mainly Neoplatonism) that were then in the ascent. Interest in Epicureanism was resurrected in the Age of Enlightenment and continues in the modern era.
CE, Epicureanism all but died out, being opposed by other philosophies (mainly Neoplatonism) that were then in the ascent. Interest in Epicureanism was...
rejected the idea of a god concerned with human affairs; followers of Epicureanism denied the idea that there was no god. While the conception of a supreme...
In spite of this, DeWitt argues that Epicureanism and Christianity share much common language, calling Epicureanism "the first missionary philosophy" and...
The Bookman, Pater had disapproved of Wilde's distortion of Epicureanism: "A true Epicureanism aims at a complete though harmonious development of man's...
The Epicurean is a novel by Thomas Moore, published in 1827. It relates the story of Alciphron, leader of the Epicurean sect in Athens in the 3rd century...
called Cassius' conversion a "conspicuous date in the history of Roman Epicureanism," a choice made not to enjoy the pleasures of the Garden, but to provide...
This is a list of Epicurean philosophers, ordered (roughly) by date. See also Category:Epicurean philosophers. List of ancient Greek philosophers List...
arguments and theories of Epicureanism. Many of the papyrus scrolls unearthed at the Villa of the Papyri at Herculaneum are Epicurean texts. At least some...
5840/ancientphil200626141. O'Keefe, Tim (2010). Epicureanism. University of California Press. Sharples, R. W. (1996). Stoics, Epicureans, and Sceptics: An Introduction...
together with epicureanism as equally inferior to Christianity. Valla's defense, or adaptation, of Epicureanism was later taken up in The Epicurean by Erasmus...
Βασιλείδης; c. 250 – c. 175 BC) was an Epicurean philosopher, who succeeded Dionysius of Lamptrai as the head of the Epicurean school at Athens. c. 205 CE. It...
fl. 3rd century BC) ; died 219/18 BCE) was an Epicurean philosopher, and head (scholarch) of the Epicurean school in Athens. He succeeded Hermarchus as...
The New Epicurean: The Delights of Sex, Facetiously and Philosophically Considered, in Graphic Letters Addressed to Young Ladies of Quality is a Victorian...
Patro (Greek: Πάτρων) was an Epicurean philosopher. He lived for some time in Rome, where he became acquainted, among others, with Cicero, and with the...
experiences an uplift in the soul—joy (chara). Epicureanism was founded by Epicurus in the 3rd century BC. Epicurean physics held that the entire universe consisted...
Apollodorus (Greek: Ἀπολλόδωρος; fl. 2nd century BC) was an Epicurean philosopher, and head of the Epicurean school in Athens. According to Diogenes Laërtius, he...
over five books, in which Cicero discusses the philosophical views of Epicureanism, Stoicism, and the Platonism of Antiochus of Ascalon (whose hybrid system...
techniques used in Epicureanism involve challenging false beliefs and attaining beliefs that are aligned with nature. In this, Epicureanism posits an entirely...
ˈfɛdrəs/; Greek: Φαῖδρος; 138 – 70/69 BC) was an Epicurean philosopher. He was the head (scholarch) of the Epicurean school in Athens after the death of Zeno...
Siro (also Syro, Siron, or Syron; fl. c. 50 BC) was an Epicurean philosopher who lived in Naples. He was a teacher of Virgil, and taught at his school...
Philodēmos, "love of the people"; c. 110 – prob. c. 40 or 35 BC) was an Epicurean philosopher and poet. He studied under Zeno of Sidon in Athens, before...
ideogenetic question was long ago put forward in Greek philosophy (Stoicism, Epicureanism) and further developed to the full by the British Sensualists (John Locke...
flourished List of ancient Platonists List of Cynic philosophers List of Epicurean philosophers List of Stoic philosophers Aristotle, Metaphysics Alpha,...
"Collins: Apolitical". Retrieved 10 Nov 2012. Wilson, Catherine (2015). Epicureanism: a very short introduction. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199688326...
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