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Epicurean Philosophy
A Navigation Chart
Epicurean Philosophy...
ATOMICS
Nothing Except Atoms And Void Have Eternal and Unchanging Properties. The Atoms Are Constantly In Motion, But Not So Fast That We Cannot Comprehend Truth As To The Nature Of The Universe, Knowledge, and How To Live
ATOMICS...
PHYSICS
Nature of The Universe
PHYSICS...
Nothing From Nothing Or To Nothing
Nothing From N...
Atomic Swerve and Rejection of Determinism
Atomic Swerve...
CANONICS
Nature of Knowledge
CANONICS...
Senses, Feelings, and Anticipations, Are Criteria of Knowledge
Senses, Feelin...
Priority of Nature Over Reason
Priority of Na...
Eternal and Boundless Universe
Eternal and Bo...
All Sensations Are "True"
All Sensations...
Embrace of Practical Reason
Embrace of Practical Reason
Nothing Is Supernatural - No Gods Over Nature
Nothing Is Supernatural - No G...
Nothing But Atoms Are Eternal - No Immortal Soul
Nothing But At...
Knowledge Is Possible
Knowledge Is P...
Rejection of Platonic Idealism and Aristotelian Essences
Rejection of Platonic Idealism...
Rejection of Dialectical Logic and Skepticism
Rejection of Dialectical Logic...
Pain Is Manageable - It Is Short If Intense, Endurable If Long, And Terminable By Death.
Pain Is Managea...
Mental Pleasures And Pains Can Be More Significant Than Bodily Pleasures And Pains
Mental Pleasure...
Pain is Undesirable - But Pain Should Be Chosen When Greater Pleasure Or Lesser Pain Results
Pain is Undesira...
Pleasure Is Desirable - Pleasure Is The Alpha and Omega And Guide Of Life
Pleasure Is Desi...
Pleasure Includes All Bodily And Mental Experiences Which Are Not Painful - There Is No Pain Where Pleasure Is Present - and Thus Pleasure Is Present Where Pain Is Absent
Pleasure Includes All...
There Are Only Two Categories of Feelings - Pleasure and Pain - And Nature Gives Nothing Else By Which To Determine What to Choose and What to Avoid
There Are Only Two Ca...
Pleasure Has A Limit In Quantity That Can Be Experienced, And That Limit Is Reached When All Bodily And Mental Experiences Are Filled With Pleasure And No Pain Is Present
Pleasure Has A Limit In...
Rejection Of Absolute Virtue, But Embrace Of Practical Virtue As Instrumental For Achieving A Life of Pleasure
Rejection Of Absolute Virtue, But Embrace Of Practical Virtue As Inst...
Personal Freedom, Responsibility, And Proper Attitude Toward "The Gods" and "Fate"
Personal Freedom, Responsibility,...
Only This Life And This World - No Other World Or Reward Or Punishment After Death
Only This Life And This World - N...
Friendship
Friendship
Prudence
Prudence
Justice
Justice
Courage
Courage
Confidence
Confidence
Honesty
Honesty
Temperance
Temperance
Beneficence
Beneficence
Hope
Hope
Considerateness
Considerateness
Living In Present
Living In Present
Gratitude
Gratitude
ETHICS - Nature of How To Live
ETHICS - Nature of How To Live
Rejection of Reductionist Atomism
Rejection of...
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What Is Epicurean Philosophy All About?

Epicurean philosophy is a full worldview based on fundamental conclusions about the nature of the universe, the nature of knowledge, and the nature of human life. This worldview provides guidance for living more fully, joyfully, and fearlessly, and stands in opposition to supernatural religion and virtue-based philosophies. Epicurus taught that it is good to use outlines to organize our thoughts, because we frequently have need of the major principles, but only rarely do we need to recall every small detail. Thomas Jefferson's outline of Epicurean philosophy can be found here, and in the chart below you will find a similar outline of the key principles as we discuss them here at EpicureanFriends:

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For one of the best and quickest ways to orient yourself to Epicurean Ethics, especially as to the central role of "Pleasure" (and not "tranquility") as the goal and guide of life, be sure to check out our recording of the longest and most detailed presentation of Epicurean Ethics left to us from the ancient world: the "Torquatus" presentation from Book One of Cicero's "On Ends." One of our regular participants here (Joshua) has graciously recorded this for us, and we think you'll see why this is a great introduction to the big picture of Epicurean Ethics. See the following thread for the latest version and discussion:



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In January of 2023 Dr. Emily Austin allowed the LucretiusToday podcast team to interview her about her new book "Living For Pleasure - An Epicurean Guide For Life." This interview is a great introduction to the non-ascetic interpretation of Epicurean Philosophy which we promote here at Epicureanfriends.com. For more detail on the interview check here.

The Full Cup / Fullness of Pleasure Non-Ascetic Model of Epicurean Pleasure

Nate's Allegory of the Oasis

Read about Nate's "Allegory of the Oasis" graphic and make suggestions or comments here.

Foundations of Epicurean Philosophy

For a detailed summary of Epicurean Philosophy assembled from the passages of the ancient texts, see the video below. For discussion of this video please go here.

(Another version of the text is available here.)


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