Ancient Greek and Roman Philosophy > Hellenistic and Later Ancient Philosophy > Epicureans

Epicureans

Edited by Tim O'Keefe (Georgia State University)
About this topic
Summary Epicureanism is the philosophical system formulated by Epicurus (341-271 BCE). It was one of the most influential and popular philosophical schools in the Hellenistic era. Epicureanism revives the atomism of Democritus and rejects the teleology of Aristotle and the immaterial soul and forms of Plato. All events are the result of indivisible bodies (atoms) interacting in the void, and the gods have no role in the workings of the world. Epicurean ethics is a form of ascetic egoistic hedonism. Only one's own pleasure is intrinsically valuable, but the limit of pleasure is freedom from bodily distress and (especially) peace of mind, and the way to acquire peace of mind is by limiting your desires. The Epicurean arguments against the fear of death have been especially influential: death is annihilation, and so your death is bad for you neither when you are alive (as you are not dead) nor when you are dead (as you no longer exist).
Key works Most of Epicurus' writings are lost, but book ten of Diogenes Laertius' Lives of Eminent Philosophers, in its summary of Epicurus' life and teachings, contains three letters by Epicurus that summarize his physics, views on celestial and meteorological phenomena, and ethics. It also includes the "Principal Doctrines," short sayings mainly on ethics. The Roman poet and fervent Epicurean Lucretius (c. 94-55 BCE) composed "On the Nature of Things," a massive 6-book summary of Epicurean physics. The Roman statesmen Cicero (106–43 BCE) includes important summaries of Epicurean arguments in his philosophical works. Long & Sedley 1987 and Inwood & Gerson 1994 are compendiums of many of the crucial texts, with Long & Sedley 1987 including extensive commentary.
Introductions Konstan 2008 is a good encyclopedia entry on Epicurus. O'Keefe 2010 is an accessible book-length overview of the Epicurean philosophical system, while Warren 2009 contains chapters that deal more extensively with the current scholarly literature.
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Epicurus (733)
Lucretius (1,029)
Philodemus (142)
Epicureans, Misc (154)
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  6. MOREY, Mosaics of Antioch. [REVIEW]Agard Agard - 1939 - Classical World: A Quarterly Journal on Antiquity 32 (14):159.
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  11. Sed Tamen in Pretio Est. Alban - 1942 - Classical World: A Quarterly Journal on Antiquity 36:235-237.
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  27. Mater Ecclesia.R. Arbesmann - 1943 - Classical World: A Quarterly Journal on Antiquity 37:198-200.
  28. Coorti Pretorie.E. F. D' Arms - 1940 - Classical World: A Quarterly Journal on Antiquity 34:220-221.
  29. Not Always to the Swift.Armstrong Armstrong - 1942 - Classical World: A Quarterly Journal on Antiquity 36:68-69.
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  32. Hekate Is Not the Daughter of Koios and Phoibe.Apostolos N. Athanassakis - 1977 - Classical World: A Quarterly Journal on Antiquity 71 (2):125.
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  40. Further Observations on the Correspondence of Gilbert Highet and Cyril Bailey.Robert J. Ball - 2005 - Classical World: A Quarterly Journal on Antiquity 98 (4).
  41. The Correspondence of Gilbert Highet and Cyril Bailey.Robert J. Ball - 2004 - Classical World: A Quarterly Journal on Antiquity 98 (1).
  42. Hacia una lectura unitaria de la obra doxográfica de Diógenes Laercio: S. Grau Guijarro: La imatge del filòsof i de l'activitat filosòfica a la Grècia antiga, Anàlisi dels tòpics biogràfics presents a les "Vides i doctrines dels filòsofs més il·lustres" de Diògenes Laerci , Barcelona, PPU, 2009.Rafael Ramis Barceló - 2009 - Astrolabio: Revista Internacional de Filosofía 9:241-245.
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  44. Euclide. L'Optique Et la Catoptrique.F. Barry - 1940 - Classical World: A Quarterly Journal on Antiquity 34:187-189.
  45. WEILL, Phénicie Et l'Asie Occidentale. [REVIEW]Barton Barton - 1940 - Classical World: A Quarterly Journal on Antiquity 33 (21):249.
  46. Auly-Wissowa-Kroll 38. [REVIEW]Barton Barton - 1939 - Classical World: A Quarterly Journal on Antiquity 32 (16):188.
  47. CAPELLE, Das Alte Germanien. [REVIEW]Barton Barton - 1939 - Classical World: A Quarterly Journal on Antiquity 32 (19):225.
  48. The Caesura-A Modern Chimaera.Samuel E. Bassett - 1924 - Classical World: A Quarterly Journal on Antiquity 18:121-122.
  49. The Muse, The Poet, and the Grammarian.Samuel E. Bassett - 1924 - Classical World: A Quarterly Journal on Antiquity 18:193-199.
  50. The Talmudic View of Epicureanism.S. J. Bastomsky - 1973 - Apeiron 7 (1):17 - 19.
1 — 50 / 3929
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