Week 2 - The Nature of Things and How We Can Have Knowledge of Them (Foundations of the Philosophy of Epicurus: Physics and Canonics).
The posts in this thread are work-in-progress for the development of a self-guided seven week course: "Introduction to the Philosophy of Epicurus." (To go back to Week 1, click here).
Course Overview: Join us for a seven week study course on the philosophy of Epicurus. This program will introduce you to the basics of the classical Epicurean philosophy and provide opportunities for contemplation and guidance for practical applications of the philosophy to modern life. Epicurus presents a worldview which answers existential questions such as: What is the nature of the world? What is the nature of the soul? How do we make choices in our lives when a creator god is not involved in the world?
The philosophy of Epicurus shows how pleasure is the guide of life and gives guidance for living the most complete life possible. By understanding the limits of both pleasure and pain, and how to overcome the fear of death, the mind becomes clear and open to living fully. Through the understanding of what is natural and necessary, what is natural and but not necessarily needed, and what is merely empty opinion, the proper prudence to make wise choices and avoidances result in more pleasure and less pain. The philosophy of Epicurus leads us to live the best life - a healthy mind in a health body - surrounded by friends and supported by sufficiency.
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Week 2: The Nature of Things and How We Can Have Knowledge of Them
Epicurean physics and canonics are at the foundation of Epicurean philosophy, and we can find the source of these within Lucretius' De Rerum Natura and Epicurus' Letter to Herodotus & Letter to Pythocles.
Below you will find useful links for a self-guided study program. (Additional links and material will be added to this thread soon).
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Physics - The Nature of the Universe
Canonics - The Tests of Truth: The Five Senses, Anticipations, and Feelings of Pleasure and Pain
Atoms and Void - Properties, Qualities, And Emergence
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Click here to see "Week 1 - Introduction to Epicurus and the Extant Texts"
