Epicurus
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+ | Don't [[fear god]],<br> | ||
+ | Don't [[Death anxiety (psychology)|worry about death]];<br> | ||
+ | What is good is easy to get, and<br> | ||
+ | What is terrible is easy to endure<br> | ||
+ | (''[[Tetrapharmakos]]''). <br> | ||
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'''Epicurus''' ([[341 BC]], [[Samos Island|Samos]] – [[270 BC]], [[Athens]]) was an [[Greek philosophy|ancient Greek philosopher]], the founder of [[Epicureanism]] (adj.: [[Epicurean]]), one of the most popular schools of thought in [[Greek philosophy]]. He taught that [[pleasure]] and [[pain]] are the measures of what is [[good]] and [[bad]], that [[death]] is the end of existence and not to be [[fear]]ed, that the [[god]]s do not reward or [[punish]] humans, and that events in the world are ultimately based on the motions and interactions of atoms moving in empty space. | '''Epicurus''' ([[341 BC]], [[Samos Island|Samos]] – [[270 BC]], [[Athens]]) was an [[Greek philosophy|ancient Greek philosopher]], the founder of [[Epicureanism]] (adj.: [[Epicurean]]), one of the most popular schools of thought in [[Greek philosophy]]. He taught that [[pleasure]] and [[pain]] are the measures of what is [[good]] and [[bad]], that [[death]] is the end of existence and not to be [[fear]]ed, that the [[god]]s do not reward or [[punish]] humans, and that events in the world are ultimately based on the motions and interactions of atoms moving in empty space. | ||
+ | ==Works== | ||
+ | |||
+ | The only surviving complete works by Epicurus are three letters, which are to be found in book X of [[Diogenes Laërtius]]' ''[[Lives of Eminent Philosophers]]'', and two groups of quotes: the ''Principal Doctrines'' (Κύριαι Δόξαι), reported as well in Diogenes' book X, and the ''Vatican Sayings'', preserved in a manuscript from the [[Vatican Library]]. | ||
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+ | Numerous fragments of his thirty-seven volume treatise ''[[On Nature (Epicurus)|On Nature]]'' have been found among the charred [[Papyri from Herculaneum|papyrus fragments]] at the [[Villa of the Papyri]] at [[Herculaneum]]. In addition, other Epicurean writings found at Herculaneum contain important quotations from his other works. Moreover, numerous fragments and testimonies are found throughout ancient Greek and Roman literature, a collection of which can be found in [[Hermann Usener|Usener]]'s ''[[Epicurea]]''. | ||
+ | == In literature == | ||
+ | In Canto X Circle 6 ("Where the heretics lie") of [[Dante Alighieri|Dante]]'s [[Divine Comedy|Inferno]], Epicurus and his followers are criticized for supporting a materialistic ideal. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ''[[Epicurus the Sage]]'' was a comic book by [[William Messner-Loebs]] and [[Sam Kieth]], portraying Epicurus as "the only sane philosopher." | ||
+ | ==See also== | ||
+ | *[[Clinamen]] | ||
+ | *[[Epikoros (Judaism)]] | ||
+ | *[[Philosophy of happiness]] | ||
+ | *[[Separation of church and state]] | ||
+ | *[[Tetrapharmakos]] | ||
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Epicurus (341 BC, Samos – 270 BC, Athens) was an ancient Greek philosopher, the founder of Epicureanism (adj.: Epicurean), one of the most popular schools of thought in Greek philosophy. He taught that pleasure and pain are the measures of what is good and bad, that death is the end of existence and not to be feared, that the gods do not reward or punish humans, and that events in the world are ultimately based on the motions and interactions of atoms moving in empty space.
Works
The only surviving complete works by Epicurus are three letters, which are to be found in book X of Diogenes Laërtius' Lives of Eminent Philosophers, and two groups of quotes: the Principal Doctrines (Κύριαι Δόξαι), reported as well in Diogenes' book X, and the Vatican Sayings, preserved in a manuscript from the Vatican Library.
Numerous fragments of his thirty-seven volume treatise On Nature have been found among the charred papyrus fragments at the Villa of the Papyri at Herculaneum. In addition, other Epicurean writings found at Herculaneum contain important quotations from his other works. Moreover, numerous fragments and testimonies are found throughout ancient Greek and Roman literature, a collection of which can be found in Usener's Epicurea.
In literature
In Canto X Circle 6 ("Where the heretics lie") of Dante's Inferno, Epicurus and his followers are criticized for supporting a materialistic ideal.
Epicurus the Sage was a comic book by William Messner-Loebs and Sam Kieth, portraying Epicurus as "the only sane philosopher."
See also