History of Philosophy

Ancient Philosophy

Epicureanism

The founder of Epicureanism was Epicurus (341-271 BCE). Epicurus left reflections on various philosophical issues, including the criterion of truth, which he addressed in the Stoic spirit: true judgments are those formed based on the activities of the senses and reason, provided there are no doubts about the adequacy and correctness of their functioning. In the realm of physics, Epicurus made no effort to develop his own concept; his primary concern was ethics, to which he subordinated all other areas of philosophy. For his ethical framework, Epicurus adopted the atomic theory, as it aligned well with his own views. The world is composed of atoms and the void between them.

The central theme of Epicurus's philosophy is ethics. Like the Stoics, Epicurus considered the morality of actions, but unlike the Stoics, who advocated a high moral ideal, Epicurus proposed a different path to moral development. He defined happiness as the absence of suffering. Epicurus's ethics can be seen as a continuation of the hedonistic ethics of the Cyrenaics, but whereas the Cyrenaics regarded pleasure as the ultimate goal of moral life, Epicurus refined this doctrine. According to him, the goal of morality is not pleasure itself, but the absence of suffering. To avoid suffering, one must limit desires and passions, achieving a state of ataraxia, for suffering stems from the realization of one's inability to fulfill desires. The greatest suffering arises from the fear of death. Epicurus urged the abandonment of this fear, arguing that as long as fear of death persists, one cannot achieve happiness. He wrote that one should not fear death because it does not intersect with life: when there is a person, there is no death, and when there is death, there is no person. The state of ataraxia is essential for establishing good social relationships, especially friendship, as true friendship is possible only with those who are selflessly devoted to others. Avoiding suffering allows a person to immerse themselves in their inner world and achieve spiritual growth.