Epicurean & Stoics

8/14/2019 Epicurean & Stoics

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Epicureanism & Stoicism

Honors 2101, Fall 2006

Bryan Benham


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Outline

From Hellenism to Rome

Epicureanism

Stoicism

Comparisons


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From Hellenism to Rome

Classical Athens: Rational Humanism Power and stability of democratic city-state

Critical assessment of individual & community

Individual defined by capacity to reason

Aim at good society, good life via reason

Hellenistic Society: Cosmopolitanism Political instability, monarchy, cultural expansion

Value of individual & community put into question

Issues related to alienation, fatalism, and virtue


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Hellenistic Age (c. 323-30 BCE)

Decline of Athens (c. 404)

Rise of Macedon:

Philip (d. 336) & Alexander

Death of Alexander (323)

[Aristotle dies 322]

Hellenism

Alexandria cultural center

Fusion of peoples

Stoicism & Epicureanism

Mystery Religions

Roman Ascension

Roman Republic (509-133)

Collapse of Republic (133-30)

Roman Empire (30 BCE- 180 CE)


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Alexander the Great (r. 336-323) Succeeded his father, Philip II at age 20

Philip II unites Macedonia

Philip II defeats Athens and Thebes

Plans to invade Persia, assassinated on eve of campaign

Invaded Asia Minor with 37,000 in 334

Defeated Persian fleet on Asia Minor coast, without a navy.

Advanced to Egypt, made Pharaoh, founded Alexandria Pursued Darius III (Persians) into Mesopotamia

Victory at Tigris when outnumbered by Persians

Bablyon surrenders

Reached northern India, defeated King Porus

Alexanders army resisted further advance

Returned to Babylon, planned next campaign (China?) Died of a fever May 29, 323 BCE (left one son, Alexander IV)

Alexanders generals carve up empire

Ptolemy in Egypt

Seleucus in Near East/Asia Minor

Antigonus in Macedonia and Greece


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Epicureanism

Epicurus (341-271 BCE)

A life devoted to worldly happiness

based on materialist account ofnature.

Encouraged withdrawal from politicallife into communities of like-mindedindividuals (Gardens in Athens)

Rational humanism, influence onRomans, revived in 16th/17thcentury with rise of science andrenaissance humanism.


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Epicureanism

Materialism (Atomism)

All things are atoms & void; shape & size

Atoms are eternal (nothing from nothing), universe is

boundless

Ethics

Aim: eudaimonia= happiness is a mind free from

disturbance (ataraxia) and a body free from pain. Means: fear and ignorance cause disturbances in mind and

body, so ataraxiaachievable by understanding the true

nature of things; removal of source of fear and disturbance.


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Body free from pain

Pleasure and pain natural and necessary sensations Can reduce pain by avoiding painful things

Increase pleasure by pursuing pleasurable things.

But, a prudent life (virtuous) tells us not all pleasure isgood, nor all pain bad. Moderation in pursuit of pleasure and avoidance of pain

Friendship and other social/intellectual pleasures included.

Moderate Hedonism


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What causes fear? The gods

Fear punishment and arbitrary interference a type of superstitious belief

But, gods are immortal and blessed, Not celestial bodies aiming to pass judgment;

Not vengeful;

Only concerned with their own domain, nothumans.

So, no need to fear gods


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What causes fear? Death

Fear the pain and misery of life after death. Either the punishment or dreary life of death

But, death is nothing but cessation of life. Atomism (death is separation of body and soul;

only through body is sensation possible;dissolution of material components, including soul.

So, in life there is no death; in death there isno life to be concerned with.


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Lucretius (98- 55 BCE)

Roman expositor of Epicurean

philosophy

Not much known about his life,

other than he was a poet andphilosopher

De Rerum Natura:

Influential as exposition Also poetic style and form


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In this life

The banquet Lucretius pp. 598-99

Death is nothing Lucretius, pp. 596-98

Hell is in our lives

Lucretius, pp. 600-01 (Hell is in our lives)

And, knowledge of the nature of things Lucretius, p. 602


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Stoicism

Origins

Zeno of Citium (333-264 BCE)

Chrysippus (280-270 BCE)

Epictetus* (~130-50 BCE)

Seneca (3-65 CE) Marcus Aurelius* (121-180 CE)

A life resigned to fate, acknowledginglimits of self-control and obligations ofduty. Aiming for a tranquility of mind and

evenness of emotional life.

Extremely influential in Roman era, aswell as in early Church doctrine.


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Stoicism

Aim: to achieve a tranquility of mind (ataraxia) andemotional stability (apathe)

Means: to understand the nature of things Understand what is or isnt under ones control

No control over the events of life, but ones reaction to thoseevents

So, reason-guided life in accord with the nature of things

Precepts: Fatalism: world determined by divine providence

Conventionalism in moral action and social responsibility,including modesty

Cosmopolitanism: reason is divine spark that unites

individuals


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Marcus Aurelius (121-180 CE)

Roman military and political leader

Reigned 161-180 CE

last of the Five Good Emperorswhogoverned the Roman Empire from 96 to

180, and is also considered one of themost important stoic philosophers.

Meditationsare stoic maxims to himself, adiary of a ruler

written on campaign between 170-180, isstill revered as a literary monument to agovernment of service and duty and hasbeen praised for its "exquisite accent andits infinite tenderness."


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Meditations

Ideal Man (Antonius Pius) pp. 827-28: what are the qualities of his father that

Aurelius holds in esteem?

Fatalism p. 831 (VI.1); p. 832 (X.2); p. 833 (XII.)

Death

p. 829 (II.2); p. 830 (IV.); pp. 831-32 (VII.) Duty and Virtue

pp. 828-29 (II.1); pp. 829-30 (III.1); o, 830-31(V.1); p. 832 (X.1 & .3)


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Archer Simile

(apathe) A wise man is like an archer who cares less about actually

hitting the target than about doing his best to hit it; wisdomincludes understanding the difference. (apath)

So, if a perfectly wise man saw his child in danger of drowninghe would try to save the child; but if he failed (or succeeded) hewould accept this without feeling distress or pity (or pride orrelief), and withouthis happiness being diminished (orenhanced).

Moral virtue is the only good, wickedness the only evil: childsdeath or survival is not a good or an evil; so long as the wiseman tried his best, he has nothing to regret.


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Philosophy Comparisons

Aim Means Comments

Plato

A just or well-order

soul

Each part of the soul

doing its part well;

reason rules

Knowledge of the

good is paramount;

wisdom

Aristotle

Eudaimonia:

happiness as a well

ordered life as a

whole

Virtues: character

traits that are means

between extremes

Hierarchy of goods

and necessities of

good life; a whole life

Epicureanism

Eudaimonia:

Ataraxiaor mind and

body free from

disturbance

Moderate Hedonism:

Prudent action and

understanding of

nature; avoid pain,

moderate pleasure

Materialism and

removal of irrational

fear as cause of

distrubances

Stocisim

Eudaimonia:

Ataraxiaorpathe:

rational constancy in

accord with nature

Moderate Fatalism:

Knowing what is/is not

within ones control;

adjusting desires to

nature of things.

Pantheistic, fatalistic,

moral

conventionalism,

modesty;

cosmopolitanism


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Thoughts

We have looked at four different views of thegood or virtuous life: Plato, Aristotle,Epicureanism, Stoicism.

If you had to pick one of the four, which wouldyou favor? Why?

Are there any contemporary parallels withany of these four views?


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Some Paper Topics

Both Epicureans and Stoics think fear of death is irrational andcontrary to a good life. Pick one and describe how that schoolview death and its relation to a good life. Compare this view withanother view we have discussed in the course? Are there any

interesting contemporary parallels or alternatives? Epicureanism has been accused of being a materialistic and

thus hedonistic view of life. Is this true? Evaluate the virtues of ahedonistic life. Is it all good or all bad? Explain.

Stoicism emphasizes a resignation to fate, but they dont believe

everything is up to fate. Explain what is not under control of fateand why this is important for the Stoic view of the good life. Doyou agree with the Stoics? How do they compare to other viewsof fate we have come across in our readings?

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Epicurean & Stoics