epicurus born february 4 th 341 b.c. on the island of samos (off the west coast of what is now...
TRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: Epicurus Born February 4 th 341 B.C. on the island of Samos (off the west coast of what is now Turkey) Studied philosophy under Democritus and Plato](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022070403/56649f295503460f94c4337f/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
![Page 2: Epicurus Born February 4 th 341 B.C. on the island of Samos (off the west coast of what is now Turkey) Studied philosophy under Democritus and Plato](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022070403/56649f295503460f94c4337f/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Epicurus
• Born February 4th 341 B.C. on the island of Samos (off the west coast of what is now Turkey)
• Studied philosophy under Democritus and Plato.
• Often charged with being a godless philosopher.
• Believed happiness was one of the highest goods.
![Page 3: Epicurus Born February 4 th 341 B.C. on the island of Samos (off the west coast of what is now Turkey) Studied philosophy under Democritus and Plato](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022070403/56649f295503460f94c4337f/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
The Garden
• Epicurus purchased a house and a garden to house his circle of friends.
• His school later became known “The Garden”
• Here they produced manuscripts and letters.• Because of this environment, Epicurus
became known for having close friendships.• He even allowed women and slaves in his
circle.
![Page 4: Epicurus Born February 4 th 341 B.C. on the island of Samos (off the west coast of what is now Turkey) Studied philosophy under Democritus and Plato](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022070403/56649f295503460f94c4337f/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Stranger, here you will do well to tarry; here our
highest good is pleasure. The caretaker of that
abode, a kindly host, will be read for you; he will
welcome you with bread, and serve you water also in
abundance, with these words,
‘Have you not been well entertained? This garden
does not whet your appetite; but quenches it.’”
![Page 5: Epicurus Born February 4 th 341 B.C. on the island of Samos (off the west coast of what is now Turkey) Studied philosophy under Democritus and Plato](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022070403/56649f295503460f94c4337f/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Influence of Democritus
• Like Democritus, Epicurus believed that everything in the world was made of atoms that were moving in the void. – Atoms exist because
• We see that there are bodies in motion.• Nothing can just come into existence.
![Page 6: Epicurus Born February 4 th 341 B.C. on the island of Samos (off the west coast of what is now Turkey) Studied philosophy under Democritus and Plato](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022070403/56649f295503460f94c4337f/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Universe
• Believed that atoms were just basic building blocks and do not have the capabilities to just come into existence, but actually have always existed.
• This led him to believe that the universe has always existed and will always exist.
• Believed the universe was limitless in size.
![Page 7: Epicurus Born February 4 th 341 B.C. on the island of Samos (off the west coast of what is now Turkey) Studied philosophy under Democritus and Plato](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022070403/56649f295503460f94c4337f/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Differences From Democritus
• Weight– Believed atoms had weight which result
in the downward movement which led to collision and inertia.
• The Swerve– If atoms could not swerve, they would fall
straight down and never be able to create atomic collisions.
• Sensible Qualities– Believed atoms could have qualities like
sweetness. Thought the bodies could give us certain types of experiences.
![Page 8: Epicurus Born February 4 th 341 B.C. on the island of Samos (off the west coast of what is now Turkey) Studied philosophy under Democritus and Plato](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022070403/56649f295503460f94c4337f/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Gods
• Epicureans were often accused of not believing in a god.
• They disagreed with the conception of Gods being supremely blessed beings. They believed that the Gods were unaware of our existence and lived in a space between the cosmoi.
• Therefore, we have no reason to fear them.
![Page 9: Epicurus Born February 4 th 341 B.C. on the island of Samos (off the west coast of what is now Turkey) Studied philosophy under Democritus and Plato](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022070403/56649f295503460f94c4337f/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
The Mind
• Epicurus was one of the first philosophers to put forward the Theory of the Mind.
• Believed the mind was an organ that was located somewhere in the chest.
• The mind was composed of fire, air, wind and the “nameless”.
• Also said that the “spirit” was spread throughout the rest of the body.
![Page 10: Epicurus Born February 4 th 341 B.C. on the island of Samos (off the west coast of what is now Turkey) Studied philosophy under Democritus and Plato](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022070403/56649f295503460f94c4337f/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Egoistic Hedonism
• Which basically means that an action is right if and only if it results in the greatest pleasure for himself.
• Agreed with Aristotle; that happiness is the highest form of good.
• However disagreed that happiness was the same as pleasure.
• The best way to be happy in life was to want nothing.
• If you are always wanting more, than you will never be satisfied with the things that you have in life.
![Page 11: Epicurus Born February 4 th 341 B.C. on the island of Samos (off the west coast of what is now Turkey) Studied philosophy under Democritus and Plato](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022070403/56649f295503460f94c4337f/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Types of Pleasure
• Tied closely to one’s desires.
• 2 Types:– Moving-involve the act
of satisfying a desire.– Static- the state of no
longer wanting or needing because your desire has be fulfilled.
• There is also a distinction between physical and mental pleasures.
• Physical- deals with the present.
• Mental- deals with the pains and pleasures of the past, or fear for the future.
![Page 12: Epicurus Born February 4 th 341 B.C. on the island of Samos (off the west coast of what is now Turkey) Studied philosophy under Democritus and Plato](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022070403/56649f295503460f94c4337f/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Death
• Epicureans believed that people feared death because of the anxiety of an unpleasant afterlife.
• However, epicureans believed that when the body (which was composed of atoms) would disperse along with the mind. Therefore death should not be feared.