Epicurus
Who was Epicurus?
Ancient Greek philosopher
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Epicurus (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Epicurus (341-270 BC) was a Greek philosopher who founded Epicureanism, a major philosophical school of the ancient world. Born on Samos to Athenian parents, he started his school, 'The Garden,' in Athens around 307 BC. This school was centered on finding happiness through pleasure, not in indulging, but in being free from pain and worry. Unlike most schools at the time, The Garden welcomed women and slaves as students along with free men. Epicurus taught that the key to life was ataraxia, or calm pleasure and freedom from fear. He valued friendship as the greatest pleasure and promoted a simple, self-sufficient way of living. He created the Tetrapharmakos, or four-part remedy: the gods aren't to be feared, death isn't to be feared, good things are easy to get, and bad things are easy to endure. His philosophy provided practical advice for a happy life. Epicurus wrote over 300 works on topics like ethics, physics, mathematics, and music, though only fragments remain today, including three letters and a set of maxims called the Principal Doctrines. His atomic theory, influenced by Democritus, suggested all matter is made of tiny particles in empty space, introducing the idea of an atomic 'swerve' for free will. He believed the gods lived in perfect happiness without being involved in human concerns, removing fears of divine punishment. Epicurus passed away in Athens in 270 BC, reportedly from kidney stones, keeping his philosophical outlook even in his last, painful days.
Before Fame
Epicurus was born to an Athenian family living on Samos at a time when the island was under Athenian control. His early years matched the chaotic period after Alexander the Great's death in 323 BC, a time when the Greek world was breaking into rival kingdoms and the values of traditional city-states were being questioned. He probably got a standard Greek education and may have been influenced by the atomist ideas of Democritus and the Cyrenaic school's focus on pleasure. After teaching for a short time in Mytilene and Lampsacus, where he gathered his first followers, Epicurus moved to Athens and bought land for his philosophical group. The political instability and uncertainty of the Hellenistic period made people more open to his teachings about finding personal peace and happiness regardless of outside circumstances.
Key Achievements
- Founded Epicureanism, a major philosophical school that influenced Roman thought and later European philosophy
- Established The Garden in Athens, an innovative philosophical community that operated for over 600 years
- Developed the atomic theory of matter, proposing the concept of atomic swerve to reconcile determinism with free will
- Created the Tetrapharmakos, a practical four-part guide for achieving happiness and eliminating fear
- Wrote over 300 philosophical works covering ethics, physics, and other subjects
Did You Know?
- 01.The Garden included living quarters where Epicurus and his followers lived communally, making it both a school and a residential community
- 02.He suffered from kidney stones and other painful ailments throughout his life but used his own experience of pain to develop his philosophical teachings about pleasure and suffering
- 03.Epicurus allegedly wrote his will on a bronze tablet to ensure its preservation, and it included provisions for the continued operation of The Garden after his death
- 04.His school was one of the first in ancient Greece to admit women as equals, including his student Leontion who became a noted philosopher in her own right
- 05.He recommended that his followers avoid politics entirely, coining the phrase 'live unknown' to advocate for a private life focused on philosophical contemplation