EPICURUS - UBC Blogsblogs.ubc.ca/phil102/files/2013/08/Epicurus-PHIL102-F131.pdfEpicurus on the gods & death ¥ The gods do not control the universe; it works on its own through principles

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PHIL 102Christina Hendricks

Fall 2013

EPICURUS341-271 BCE

Socrates: 469-399 BCEPlato: 427-348 BCE

Wednesday, 2 October, 13

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Macedonia & Greece, 336 BCE

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Athens conquered by Philip of Macedon, 338 BCE


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Macedonian empire under Alexander the Great, 334-323 BCE

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Epicurus: epistemology

• Empiricist• the ultimate source of all knowledge is

information from the senses (see, e.g., http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/rationalism-empiricism/#1.2)

• sensation occurs through “films” of atoms coming off material bodies and entering our bodies


http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/rationalism-empiricism/#1.2http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/rationalism-empiricism/#1.2http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/rationalism-empiricism/#1.2http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/rationalism-empiricism/#1.2

Epicurus: physics• Reality is made up only of matter and void--nothing

immaterial (see http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/epicurus/#3)

• universe is eternal--nothing can emerge from nothing (see http://www.iep.utm.edu/epicur/#H3

• Some material must be eternal, but it’s not large bodies; must be smaller parts

• There are “atoms” as smallest parts of matter, indivisible (or else could dissolve into nothing)

• Atoms exist eternally


http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/epicurus/#3http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/epicurus/#3http://www.iep.utm.edu/epicur/%23H3http://www.iep.utm.edu/epicur/%23H3

Epicurus on the gods & death

• The gods do not control the universe; it works on its own through principles of physics

• There is no such thing as an immaterial, immortal soul

• We should not fear death (“Letter to Menoeceus” para. 125; Principal Doctrines (2))


All of this info about physics, gods, death is to help people live the best life

• Best life has the “greatest good”: pleasure (for oneself)

• ultimate end/goal of all action--everything we do is for the sake of reaching this

• sought as intrinsic good--good in itself, not just as instrumental good (as means to something else good)

• serves as the “standard for judging the goodness of everything” (“Ltr to M,” para 129)


Most pleasurable state: ataraxia• Ataraxia: Lack of physical or mental pain, not

having unfulfilled desires, sense of peace and tranquility (see, e.g., “Letter to M,” para. 128, 132)

• This is a “static” pleasure, as opposed to a “kinetic” one

• “kinetic” pleasures: pleasure gotten while in the act of fulfilling desires

• kinetic pleasures require that one also has pain (desire being fulfilled), and it may take significant work & trouble to keep getting them


How to have the best life

Natural desires

Cultivate and fulfill mainly certain types of desires

Vain desires come from “baseless

opinion” (Pr Doct #29)

UnnecessaryAlways

unnecessary; insatiable;

troublesome to fulfill

(LM, para 131, Pr Doc #15) (e.g., power, wealth,

fame, immortality)

Necessary

Need not bring pain if not fulfilled, b/c can get rid of desire fairly easily; can be troublesome to fulfill (Pr

Doc #26) (e.g., luxurious food & clothing, (sometimes) sex)

Bring pain if not fulfilled; necessary for happiness,

health or life itself; naturally limited & easy to fulfill (LM para 128, Pr Doc #15, 21) (e.g., food, shelter, rest, friendship)



• Aim to fulfill (mostly) natural and necessary desires

• Enjoy plain meals & simple lifestyle (Letter to M, para. 131)

• Fulfill natural and unnecessary desires when it is easy to do so, but don’t cultivate such desires in self (Letter to M, para. 131)

• Don’t fulfill vain desires at all


How to have the best life• Be sure to cultivate and preserve friendships (Princ

Doctrines #27-28, 39-40)

• Why would having friends be so important to happiness?

• Note that the value of friendship, like anything else, is for one’s own pleasure

• But it’s possible to get pleasure from really caring about others for themselves, not just b/c having friends is good for you (& genuine care for others is probably necessary for preserving friendship)



• Live “prudently, honorably, and justly”; “the virtues are inseparable from a happy life” (Letter to M, para 132; also Princ Doctrines #5)

• Justice: living according to agreements in a society (e.g., laws) that actually lead to mutual benefit (Princ Doctr #31-33, 36-38)

• Why can’t one be unjust and happy? (Princ Doctr #34-35)


How can philosophy help us live the best life?

• Not just providing arguments for how to reduce pain/increase pleasure, but also encouraging people to guide their lives by these

• The “principal doctrines” appear to be short sayings that people might be able to remember--keep these things in mind as much as possible so can live by them

• Groups of friends could support/encourage each other to put these ideas into action in their lives


Documents

EPICURUS - UBC Blogsblogs.ubc.ca/phil102/files/2013/08/Epicurus-PHIL102-F131.pdfEpicurus on the gods & death ¥ The gods do not control the universe; it works on its own through principles