Single Idea 22733

[catalogued under 1. Philosophy / B. History of Ideas / 2. Ancient Thought]

Full Idea

Epicurus in his popular exposition allows the existence of God, but in expounding the real nature of things he does not allow it.

Gist of Idea

Epicurus accepted God in his popular works, but not in his writings on nature

Source

report of Epicurus (fragments/reports [c.289 BCE]) by Sextus Empiricus - Against the Physicists (two books) I.58

Book Reference

Sextus Empiricus: 'Against the Physicists/Against the Ethicists', ed/tr. Bury,R.G. [Harvard Loeb 1997], p.35


A Reaction

Plato and Aristotle also distinguished their esoteric from their exoteric writings, but this is an indication that thei popular works may always have presented safer doctrines.