![]() The Epicureans believed that atoms were unchanging because the world was ordered and that changes had to have specific and consistent sources, e.g. Matter is made up of atoms, which are tiny bodies that have only the unchanging qualities of shape, size, and weight. With growing dominance of Neoplatonism and Peripateticism, and later, Christianity, Epicureanism declined.Įpicurean physics held that the entire universe consisted of two things: matter and void. In the 2nd century CE, comedian Lucian of Samosata and wealthy promoter of philosophy Diogenes of Oenoanda were prominent Epicureans.īy the late third century CE, however, there was little trace of its existence. His father-in-law, Lucius Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus, was also an adept of the school. ![]() Julius Caesar also leaned considerably toward Epicureanism, which led to his plea against the death sentence during the trial against Catiline, during the Catiline conspiracy where he spoke out against the Stoic Cato. Deciphered carbonized scrolls obtained from the library at the Villa of the Papyri in Herculaneum contain a large number of works by Philodemus, a late Hellenistic Epicurean, and Epicurus himself, attesting to the school's enduring popularity. The school's popularity grew and it became, along with Stoicism, Platonism, Peripateticism, and Pyrrhonism, one of the dominant schools of Hellenistic philosophy, lasting strongly through the later Roman Empire. Some members were also vegetarians as, from slender evidence, Epicurus did not eat meat, although no prohibition against eating meat was made. Community activities held some importance, particularly the observance of Eikas, a monthly social gathering. They were fairly cosmopolitan by Athenian standards, including women and slaves. Epicurus emphasized friendship as an important ingredient of happiness, and the school seems to have been a moderately ascetic community which rejected the political limelight of Athenian philosophy. Its members included Hermarchus, Idomeneus, Colotes, Polyaenus, and Metrodorus. In Athens, Epicurus bought a property for his school called "Garden", which later became the name of Epicurus' school. In Mytilene, the capital of the island Lesbos, and then in Lampsacus, Epicurus taught and gained followers. ![]() ![]() Interest in Epicureanism was resurrected in the Age of Enlightenment and continues in the modern era. 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).Įpicureanism 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Although Epicureanism is a form of hedonism insofar as it declares pleasure to be its sole intrinsic goal, 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. Originally a challenge to Platonism, its main opponent later became Stoicism. His materialism led him to religious skepticism and a general attack on superstition and divine intervention. Epicurus was an atomist and materialist, following in the steps of Democritus. For other uses, see Epicurean (disambiguation).Įpicureanism is a system of philosophy founded around 307 BCE based upon the teachings of Epicurus, an ancient Greek philosopher.
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