The central theme of Epicureanism is the neutrality of gods. In Epicureanism, all things are made of atoms, and while gods have souls which adhere to their bodies, human souls are held together by the forces that bind atoms together. The atomist theories that the Epicureans advocated helped to defend free will, since they believed that thoughts are merely random swerves of atoms.
Ataraxia
Ataraxia in Epicurean philosophy is a term that derives from the Greek word ataraxos, which means “to be calm.” This concept of tranquility embodies the notion of being free from wrong value judgment. It entails being above the vicissitudes of fortune. Its negative connotation is not surprising. The Stoics would have us believe that the absence of wrong value judgment places an individual in a state of tranquility, beyond the vicissitudes of fortune.
The highest good, according to Epicurean philosophy, is the absence of pain and desire. Absence of these negative emotions, including hunger, creates a state of tranquility. The Stoics believed that ataraxia was not a goal to be pursued, but the natural outcome of virtue. Epicurean philosophers viewed ataraxia as a mystical state of mind that is free of pain and anxiety. Epicureanism is an idealized version of Greek philosophy, which seeks to be moderate in all aspects.
Ataraxia in Epicurean philosophy is a very useful concept to consider when analyzing your life and its meaning. As a philosopher, you should learn how to be happy no matter what your circumstances are. The only way to achieve this is to be free of fear and worry. Fear of the future, death, and the gods robs a person of their happiness. Instead of worrying about these things, we should focus on the present.
Inconceivability
Epicurus argued that matter is infinity. According to Epicurus, this means that matter is indeterminate and therefore, cannot be explained by a single naturalistic theory. Epicureans also believed in the existence of multiple explanations for what we experience. This indeterminacy is a fundamental feature of nature and, therefore, Epicurean philosophy. But does this indeterminacy mean that the world is not a complete place? Or is it?
Epicurean atomism is another example of an incomprehensible idea. This idea is analogous to an early “barbaric” account of differential calculus. The problematic idea is determined by a mechanism of reciprocal determination, rather than an extrinsic paradigm. This account is best illustrated by the famous atomic swerve. However, Epicurus modified Democritus’ ideas regarding atomism.
In other words, Epicurus believed that all matter exists as atoms. Ordinary bodies are composed of atoms. These atoms can be further divided to form smaller objects. However, this division cannot continue indefinitely. As a result, Epicurus argued that there are basic building blocks of matter – which he called atoms – which are uncuttable. Thus, only bodies per se are real.
Epicurus’ arguments regarding incomprehensibility are also a fundamental feature of his philosophy. In his Letter to Herodotus, he reiterates this argument, which is possibly related to the Stoic view of incomprehensibility. Lucretius’ counter-arguments, however, seem to be unfounded and implicitly endorses the Stoic view. Ultimately, the Epicurean argument is a major challenge to the concept of infinity, which cannot be answered without an incomprehensible, physical theory.
Choice
Epicurus was a Greek philosopher who merged democracy and rationality. His work, the De rerum natura, is an epicurean philosophical poem of over 7,400 lines. The book, written 250 years after Lucretius, was circulated among a few people of letters and radically challenged Christianity by the fifteenth century. But what was the philosophy of Epicureanism? Let’s explore a few basic tenets of the Epicurean philosophy.
First, Epicurus believes that the purpose of language is to explain things in the most basic possible way. For example, words evoke images and can suggest things that are unreal. Thus, words must be understood in their basic sense, so that they do not conjure up illegitimate thoughts. The same is true for empty sounds and film-like images. But Epicurus does not deny that the thought of centaurs corresponds to a real stimulus, so long as the image is true in its basic form.
While it is true that the Epicurean philosophers believed that pleasures are essential for the good life, they did not believe that pleasures themselves are intrinsically bad. In fact, they believed that pleasures may cause greater annoyances in the long run than they bring pleasures in the short run. Therefore, the Epicureans believed that we must make choices in our lives in order to achieve happiness. We must also remember that the Epicureans were able to distinguish between good and evil, since they argued that we must choose the latter.
Atomism
The Epicurean philosophy was founded by a Greek philosopher named Leucippus in 480 B.C. He was also known as Democritus of Abdera. He wrote about the nature of atoms and their ability to combine to produce any object that exists in nature. The atomists were influential in developing cosmology, ethics, and epistemology. In the later years of their lives, Epicurean philosophers also influenced political thought.
Lucretius’ De rerum natura (De rerum natura) outlines the Epicurean philosophy and atomism. According to Epicurus, matter, human souls, and gods are all made up of atoms. They also believe that all human suffering comes from the fear of deities and that the only way to attain happiness is to stop worshiping these deities. This philosophy explains many aspects of the universe, including the origin of the senses and the nature of the human soul.
The atomist thesis is a fundamental element of Epicurean physics. It rests on two fundamental theorems: that all bodies are composed of indivisible small bodies and that change implies the creation of something from nothing. As a result, no other object can exist. The Greek word ‘atomos’ means “indivisible”, and the word atomos is used in this concept.
Hedonism
The concept of hedonism was introduced into classical Greek and Roman philosophy around three thousand years ago, and it is most often associated with the individualist philosophy Egoism. Egoism states that individuals should pursue only their own good, while epicureanism advocates a moderate approach, in which happiness is defined as a state of tranquility and contentment. The idea of hedonism is also linked to utilitarianism, an approach to philosophy that determines utility by maximizing happiness and contentment.
The Epicureans considered pleasure the ultimate goal of life and promoted restraint, but he was also critical of the idea of kinetic pleasure, which they argued minimizes happiness and overindulges. They emphasized a moderate life, including philosophical discussions and spending time with friends and family. Epicurean philosophers also warned against excessive self-indulgence, which they felt undermined the value of happiness.
Hedonists also believed that maximizing pleasure is the only way to live a meaningful life. The philosophy of pleasure was so influential that it inspired the creation of the first novel – “Ecclesiastes” – in the 16th century. While Epicureanism had a great influence on the philosophy of the Ancients, Cyrenaic’s hedonistic ideals were still highly influential.
Morality
Epicurean philosophy was a philosophy of life in which pleasure was the end of human existence and all activity was directed towards that end. Morality was, therefore, a pursuit of pleasure. But this approach to morality is problematic, as it often confuses duty and fact. According to Epicurus, morality should be based on the pursuit of happiness. After all, it makes no sense to renounce short-term pleasure for the sake of longer-term bliss, does it?
The Epicureans also emphasize the value of friendship and the chosen communities of Epicurean friends. However, they are critical of their own morality, especially when it comes to avoiding crime. While it may seem more rational to abstain from crime and slander, Epicurean morality is rooted in cowardice. The following are three examples of Epicurean morality:
The first principle of Epicurean morality is to avoid foolish egoism. Moreover, they believe that pleasure and pain go hand in hand. In Epicurean ethics, a man may shun pleasure when it is associated with inconvenience. On the other hand, he might choose pain over pleasure if he thinks it will bring him pleasure. Nonetheless, it may be counterintuitive that an Epicurean could be so ruthless.
In addition to avoiding the pitfalls of immorality, Epicurus also emphasizes the importance of being self-aware and free from guilt and anxiety. This attitude results in a virtuous and moral life, and is a result of the philosopher’s efforts to identify and eliminate the sources of distress. A wise man is aware of his limits and can live within them. But the wise man must never let his desires overwhelm him.