My Epicurean Outline
1. The universe is material. Nothing supernatural occurs in it.
- Matter consists of arrangements of particles and these particles move in space
- Gods do not exist as the many believe them to exist
Gods do not create, hate, love, punish, feel jealous, feel angry etc.
- The soul/spirit/consciousness does not survive after death
2. Knowledge consists of sensation, anticipation and feeling. A tripod of truth
- sensation being the external data gathered by our senses
- anticipation being the inborn data that exists before experience (something akin to a natural cultural consciousness)
- feeling being the impetus behind choice and avoidance (pleasure and pain)
3. The goal of life is to live pleasurably. Both Physically and Mentally. (aponia and ataraxia)
-the things which lead to pleasure are good and easy to acquire
-where there is no disturbance, (mental or physical) we are in pleasure
-one should moderate expectations and measure out a path to maximize pleasure, neither too much, nor too little. Not all pleasures are equal, not all pains to be avoided.
-friendship is crucial to a pleasurable life
-honesty and frankness are essential in friendship and in general interactions
