The following post-event report was sent to Cassius from Christos Yapijakis:
14th PANHELLENIC SYMPOSIUM OF EPICUREAN PHILOSOPHY
17-18 February 2024 - Cultural Center of Pallini, Athens, Greece
Co-Organization: Friends of Epicurean Philosophy
"Garden of Athens", "Garden of Thessalonica"
and Municipality of Pallini Under the Auspices of the Prefecture of Attica
Report on the 14th Panhellenic Symposium of Epicurean Philosophy
Information: http://www.epicuros.gr
A short report
In today's age of ongoing socio-economic crisis, brutal wars, intense religious fanaticism and imminent environmental threats, a top-of-the-world cultural event, the 14th Panhellenic Symposium of Epicurean Philosophy took place on the weekend of 17-18 February 2024 with the participation of about five hundred Greeks inspired by the enlightening and humanistic philosophy of Epicurus. This is a unique philosophical conference, as it is the only one organized worldwide dedicated exclusively to Epicurean philosophy. It is also the largest national philosophical conference and the only one in Greece that has been established since 2011 as an institution from the people rather than from the university philosophers. It is organized annually with free entrance for the public by the Municipality of Pallini and the Friends of Epicurean Philosophy "Garden of Athens" and "Garden of Thessalonica" at the Cultural Center of Gerakas, located within the ancient area of Gargettus, from which the philosopher Epicurus originated from.
This year's holding of the Panhellenic Symposium of Epicurean Philosophy is an anniversary, as it coincides with the 2330 years since the founding of the school of Epicurus, the Garden of Athens, in 306 BCE. The Hellenistic era, in which Epicurus lived, has many features in common with the modern age of globalization. As at that time Hellenic culture had spread in three continents throughout the Ecumene, the theatrical behavior of kings and their courtiers became a component of public life with the aim of impressing the crowds, there was an abundance of subjective opinions and rhetorical chatter, a great deal of commercial activity that created unnecessary desires, many philosophical views including skepticism about everything, many religious and mythological beliefs, as well as intense political and military confrontations. Epicurus faced all the conflicting trends of his time with extraordinary sobriety. He realized that life does not need empty beliefs but tranquility, so an empirical methodology of knowledge with criteria of truth, based on the objective observation of Nature and free thinking, was needed. The enlightener Epicurus generously imparted his way of thinking and knowledge to many, offering each man the opportunity to choose to live a blissful life by freeing his mind from foolish verbiage, supernatural fictions, irrational superstition, empty ideologies and mental imbalance.
For the fourteenth consecutive year, the Greek society will be given the opportunity to come into contact with the scientific humanism of the philosophy of Epicurus, which offers a timeless mental shield against psychological, social and cultural deadlocks, in the simplest yet most appropriate way of approach of a blissful life, with prudence, virtue, friendship and solidarity, even in difficult times. The organization of the Panhellenic Symposium with free admission for the public is our own contribution to the search for the psychophysical health and well-being of every human being.
With a friendly disposition
The Friends of Epicurean Philosophy
Program
Saturday, February 17, 2024
THE TIMELESS MESSAGE OF EPIKOUROS
15.30-16.30 Attendance – Optional Registrations
16.30-17.00 OPENING
Opening Proclamation Christos Aidonis, Mayor of Pallini
Regards Evangelia Pitsikali, Representative of "Garden of Athens"
Nikos Grekousis, Representative of "Garden of Thessalonica"
Representatives of "Gardens" of Greece and Cyprus
International Friends of Epicurean Philosophy
Message from Hiram Crespo (USA),
Message from Michele Pinto (Italy)
True Glory and the Garden of Epicurus Dramatic reading
(Seneca, Letter to Lucilius XXI – Translated by Leonidas Alexandridis)
Theodora Siarkou, Actress, Appointed Advisor for Culture, Historical Promotion and Tourism
Development of the Municipality of Pallini
17.00-17.45 A. 2330 YEARS SINCE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF EPICURUS’ GARDEN
Presidium: Leonidas Alexandridis – Dimitris Liarmakopoulos
The Garden of Epicurus in antiquity
Panagiotis Panagiotopoulos
Contemporary Garden of Thessalonica
Antonis Bilisis
Contemporary Garden of Athens
Christos Yapijakis
17.45-18.10 Break – Poster presentations
18.10-18.30 "Death does not concern us" Theatrical event
(From the work "A Happy Greek" by Christos Yapijakis)
Director: Giorgos Stavrianidis
Actors: Giorgos Stavrianidis, Yiannis Monos
18.30-20.00 B. ETHICS AND LIFESTYLE ADVICE
Chair: Christos Yapijakis – Antonis Bilisis
The human brain and the Epicurean Canon
George Chrousos
Epicurean Ethics today
Dimitris Liarmakopoulos
Epicurean Philosophy and modern Positive Psychology
Anna Pagoropoulou
The relationship between moral code and nature from Epicurus to the
present day
Dimitris Christakis
Lucretius, Advocate of Art, Philosophy and Science
Theodoros Papagelis
20.00-20.30 DISCUSSION
Chair: Christos Yapijakis – Antonis Bilisis
21.00 Banquet in a Tavern
Sunday, February 18, 2024
EPICUREAN PHILOSOPHY FROM ANCIENT TIMES TO THE PRESENT
10.00-10.30 C. SUPPORTING INFLUENCES ON THE ENLIGHTENMENT
Chair: Panagiotis Giavis – Nikos Grekousis
Helvetius – Holbach
Evangelia Pitsikalis
La Mettrie
Leonidas Alexandridis
10.30-11.30 D. EPICUREAN APPROACHES OF THE MODERN ERA
Chair: Panagiotis Panagiotopoulos - Dimitris Liarmakopoulos
The role of team and cooperation in Epicurean philosophy and in
modern times
Stratis Katakos
Epicurean view of human nature and condition
George Gonis
The empty speech of that philosopher, which no human passion cures:
The philosophical origins of modern Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Konstantinos Marios Zafeiropoulos
Epicurean approach to Education
Antonis Bilisis
The Atoms in the Letter to Herodotus - Correlations with Modern Physics
Anastasios Liolios
11.30-12.00 Break – Poster presentations
12.00-12.15 Musical Pleasure Francesco Bertels
12.15-13.00 E. EPICUREAN LIFESTYLE
Chair: Christos Yapijakis – Antonis Bilisis
The theological elements of Epicurean Philosophy
Ioannis Avaris Kosmogiannis
Friendship as alternative politics according to Epicurus
George Iliopoulos
PA9. Epicurean cure for the fear of death
Konstantina Gavala
14.00-14.30 DISCUSSION
POSTER PRESENTATIONS
EA1. Criticism of idealist misinterpretations of Epicurean philosophy: Examples of an
eclectic and a neoplatonic book
Christos Yapijakis
EA2. Death in Epicurean philosophy
Ioannis Avaris Kosmogiannis
EA3. Comparison of Cynic and Epicurean philosophy
Efthimios Koliokotsis
