This article has been posted by Elli here: "Epicurean influences on Enlightenment", by Dimitris Altas, Cardiologist, member of Epicurean Philosophy Friends of Thessaloniki. Discussion of the article can be here in this thread or in the comments underneath the article.
"Epicurean Influences On the Enlightenment" - An Article by Dimitris Atlas of the Garden of Thessaloniki
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Cassius
Moved the thread from forum Identification of Epicurean Figures of the Past to forum Other Non-Epicureans. -
Cassius
Moved the thread from forum Other Non-Epicureans to forum General. -
Again, this is another example of a modern philosophy that is sitting on the shoulder of a giant most notable of which is the concept of social contract which many people believe to be the product of the Enlightenment where in fact it was Epicurus who first introduced it which is evident in the PD "33. Justice does not exist in itself; instead, it is always a compact to not harm one another or be harmed, which is agreed upon by those who gather together at some time and place."
Therefore, it is not Rousseau nor Hobbes who invented it. The problem with this version of social contract is that it stood on the ground of absolute universal laws while that of Epicurus is more relative and practical.