Brad's Outline of Epicureanism 3-2019

    Nature of the Universe

    1. Atoms and Void, eternally existent.

    2. Nothing comes from Nothing

    3. Atomic Swerve accounts for universes and planets and life getting started.

    4. Many Worlds and Many galaxies exist.

    Nature of Knowledge

    1. Senses

    2. Perception of Pleasure and Pain

    Ethics

    1. No "Ideals"

    2. So called "good traits" or "virtue" are means to pleasure. Not ideals to strive for.

    3. Free will

    4. Because of Free will engage in hedonic calculus.

    Well, here it is. Elementary at best.

    Elementary but a very good start! It's interesting to see what people think of to list at the very beginning of their thought processes about an outline.

    I relate this in my mind to discussions I see when people talk about other philosophers and say that they were "essentially Epicurean." The question of "what is essential" and what is not is a very interesting one.

    One aspect i don't see mentioned is the death is nothing to us / death is the end of our consciousness aspect. Something on that would be good to add.

    And then perhaps some further explanation of what is meant by "pleasure...."

    Those two -- death and the meaning of pleasure -- are among the most contentious areas.

Unread Threads

    1. Title
    2. Replies
    3. Last Reply

    2. Evidence of Survivors of Pompeii and Herculaneum 1

      • kochiekoch
      • November 20, 2024 at 8:17 PM
    3. Replies
      1
      Views
      91
      1

    4. Don

      November 20, 2024 at 8:17 PM

    2. “Better to lose the money because of me than to lose me because of the money.” 3

      • TauPhi
      • November 19, 2024 at 9:30 PM
    3. Replies
      3
      Views
      214
      3

    4. Don

      November 19, 2024 at 9:30 PM

    2. An Anti-Epicurean Article - "The Meaning of Life Is Not Happiness" (For Future Reference) 12

      • Cassius
      • November 19, 2024 at 12:17 PM
    3. Replies
      12
      Views
      896
      12

    4. Pacatus

      November 19, 2024 at 12:17 PM

    2. Was De Rerum Natura intended as satire? A lecture by THM Gellar-Goad. 14

      • Julia
      • November 11, 2024 at 4:09 PM
    3. Replies
      14
      Views
      1.1k
      14

    4. Julia

      November 11, 2024 at 4:09 PM

    2. New Slideshow: Nothing Comes From Nothing

      • Cassius
      • November 10, 2024 at 3:51 PM
    3. Replies
      0
      Views
      535