Ideas of Epicurus, by Theme

[Greek, 341 - 271 BCE, Born on Samos. Taught by Nausiphanes. Founded own school, at 'The Garden', near the Academy in Athens. Died in Athens.]

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1. Philosophy / A. Wisdom / 2. Wise People
14519 It is a great good to show reverence for a wise man
1. Philosophy / B. History of Ideas / 2. Ancient Thought
22733 Epicurus accepted God in his popular works, but not in his writings on nature [Sext.Empiricus]
1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 2. Invocation to Philosophy
14052 Begin philosophy when you are young, and keep going when you are old
14518 In the study of philosophy, pleasure and knowledge arrive simultaneously
13291 Slavery to philosophy brings true freedom
1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 5. Aims of Philosophy / a. Philosophy as worldly
22758 Philosophy aims at a happy life, through argument and discussion
1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 5. Aims of Philosophy / b. Philosophy as transcendent
14523 We should come to philosophy free from any taint of culture
1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 5. Aims of Philosophy / f. Philosophy as healing
22240 The aim of medicine is removal of sickness, and philosophy similarly removes our affections
1. Philosophy / F. Analytic Philosophy / 2. Analysis by Division
1484 We should say nothing of the whole if our contact is with the parts [Plutarch]
1. Philosophy / F. Analytic Philosophy / 5. Linguistic Analysis
14027 If we are to use words in enquiry, we need their main, unambiguous and uncontested meanings
2. Reason / C. Styles of Reason / 1. Dialectic
2670 Epicurus despises and laughs at the whole of dialectic [Cicero]
3. Truth / A. Truth Problems / 8. Subjective Truth
14040 Observation and applied thought are always true
5. Theory of Logic / D. Assumptions for Logic / 2. Excluded Middle
21668 Epicurus rejected excluded middle, because accepting it for events is fatalistic [Cicero]
5. Theory of Logic / E. Structures of Logic / 2. Logical Connectives / e. or
21676 Epicureans say disjunctions can be true whiile the disjuncts are not true [Cicero]
7. Existence / A. Nature of Existence / 1. Nature of Existence
14028 Nothing comes to be from what doesn't exist
14029 If disappearing things went to nothingness, nothing could return, and it would all be gone by now
7. Existence / B. Change in Existence / 1. Nature of Change
14030 The totality is complete, so there is no room for it to change, and nothing extraneous to change it
7. Existence / D. Theories of Reality / 6. Physicalism
14048 Astronomical movements are blessed, but they don't need the help of the gods
8. Modes of Existence / B. Properties / 8. Properties as Modes
14044 The perceived accidental properties of bodies cannot be conceived of as independent natures
14045 Accidental properties give a body its nature, but are not themselves bodies or parts of bodies
9. Objects / A. Existence of Objects / 5. Individuation / b. Individuation by properties
14524 Bodies are combinations of shape, size, resistance and weight
9. Objects / B. Unity of Objects / 1. Unifying an Object / b. Unifying aggregates
14046 A 'body' is a conception of an aggregate, with properties defined by application conditions
9. Objects / D. Essence of Objects / 9. Essence and Properties
14047 Bodies have impermanent properties, and permanent ones which define its conceived nature
10. Modality / D. Knowledge of Modality / 4. Conceivable as Possible / c. Possible but inconceivable
14039 Above and below us will never appear to be the same, because it is inconceivable
11. Knowledge Aims / A. Knowledge / 4. Belief / c. Aim of beliefs
14050 We aim to dissolve our fears, by understanding their causes
12. Knowledge Sources / A. A Priori Knowledge / 3. Innate Knowledge / b. Recollection doctrine
1823 We can't seek for things if we have no idea of them [Diog. Laertius]
12. Knowledge Sources / A. A Priori Knowledge / 9. A Priori from Concepts
1824 To name something, you must already have an idea of what it is [Diog. Laertius]
12. Knowledge Sources / B. Perception / 2. Qualities in Perception / c. Primary qualities
14037 Atoms only have shape, weight and size, and the properties which accompany shape
12. Knowledge Sources / B. Perception / 2. Qualities in Perception / d. Secondary qualities
5949 Epicurus says colours are relative to the eye, not intrinsic to bodies [Plutarch]
12. Knowledge Sources / B. Perception / 5. Interpretation
1821 Sensations cannot be judged, because similar sensations have equal value, and different ones have nothing in common [Diog. Laertius]
12. Knowledge Sources / D. Empiricism / 1. Empiricism
1820 The criteria of truth are senses, preconceptions and passions [Diog. Laertius]
12. Knowledge Sources / D. Empiricism / 4. Pro-Empiricism
1822 Reason can't judge senses, as it is based on them [Diog. Laertius]
13. Knowledge Criteria / D. Scepticism / 1. Scepticism
4549 Epicurus denied knowledge in order to retain morality or hedonism as the highest values [Nietzsche]
13. Knowledge Criteria / D. Scepticism / 3. Illusion Scepticism
6010 Illusions are not false perceptions, as we accurately perceive the pattern of atoms [Modrak]
2668 Epicurus says if one of a man's senses ever lies, none of his senses should ever be believed [Cicero]
13. Knowledge Criteria / E. Relativism / 1. Relativism
1482 If two people disagree over taste, who is right? [Plutarch]
1483 Bath water is too hot for some, too cold for others [Plutarch]
1487 When entering a dark room it is colourless, but colour gradually appears
14. Science / D. Explanation / 3. Best Explanation / c. Against best explanation
21386 We should accept as explanations all the plausible ways in which something could come about
15. Nature of Minds / A. Nature of Mind / 2. Psuche
14041 The soul is fine parts distributed through the body, resembling hot breath
6035 Soul is made of four stuffs, giving warmth, rest, motion and perception [Aetius]
14526 The rational soul is in the chest, and the non-rational soul is spread through the body
16. Persons / F. Free Will / 1. Nature of Free Will
6018 Epicurus was the first to see the free will problem, and he was a libertarian [Long/Sedley]
16. Persons / F. Free Will / 2. Sources of Free Will
20922 Epicurus showed that the swerve can give free motion in the atoms [Diogenes of Oen.]
16. Persons / F. Free Will / 4. For Free Will
14516 There is no necessity to live with necessity
16. Persons / F. Free Will / 6. Determinism / a. Determinism
14521 If everything is by necessity, then even denials of necessity are by necessity
16. Persons / F. Free Will / 6. Determinism / b. Fate
14062 Sooner follow mythology, than accept the 'fate' of natural philosophers
16. Persons / F. Free Will / 7. Compatibilism
1837 We should not refer things to irresponsible necessity, but either to fortune or to our own will
17. Mind and Body / E. Mind as Physical / 5. Causal Argument
14042 The soul cannot be incorporeal, because then it could neither act nor be acted upon
17. Mind and Body / E. Mind as Physical / 7. Anti-Physicalism / a. Physicalism critique
1909 How can pleasure or judgement occur in a heap of atoms? [Sext.Empiricus]
20. Action / C. Motives for Action / 3. Acting on Reason / a. Practical reason
1836 Prudence is more valuable than philosophy, because it avoids confusions of the soul
20. Action / C. Motives for Action / 4. Responsibility for Actions
14061 Our own choices are autonomous, and the basis for praise and blame
22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 1. Nature of Ethics / g. Moral responsibility
7814 It was Epicurus who made the question of the will's freedom central to ethics [Grayling]
22. Metaethics / B. Value / 2. Values / e. Death
14053 It is absurd to fear the pain of death when you are not even facing it
14055 The wisdom that produces a good life also produces a good death
14054 Fearing death is absurd, because we are not present when it occurs
22. Metaethics / B. Value / 2. Values / h. Fine deeds
3562 Fine things are worthless if they give no pleasure
22. Metaethics / C. The Good / 1. Goodness / f. Good as pleasure
14058 Pleasure is the goal, but as lack of pain and calm mind, not as depraved or greedy pleasure
1833 Pleasure is the first good in life
14057 All pleasures are good, but it is not always right to choose them
1840 Pleasure is the chief good because it is the most natural, especially for animals [Diog. Laertius]
22. Metaethics / C. The Good / 1. Goodness / i. Moral luck
14063 Sooner a good decision going wrong, than a bad one turning out for the good
22. Metaethics / C. The Good / 2. Happiness / c. Value of happiness
14522 What happens to me if I obtain all my desires, and what if I fail?
22. Metaethics / C. The Good / 2. Happiness / d. Routes to happiness
14059 The best life is not sensuality, but rational choice and healthy opinion
22. Metaethics / C. The Good / 3. Pleasure / a. Nature of pleasure
1835 True pleasure is not debauchery, but freedom from physical and mental pain
22. Metaethics / C. The Good / 3. Pleasure / b. Types of pleasure
1839 Pains of the soul are worse than pains of the body, because it feels the past and future [Diog. Laertius]
1842 Pleasures only differ in their duration and the part of the body affected
3557 The end for Epicurus is static pleasure [Annas]
22. Metaethics / C. The Good / 3. Pleasure / c. Value of pleasure
14056 We only need pleasure when we have the pain of desire
22. Metaethics / C. The Good / 3. Pleasure / e. Role of pleasure
3563 Pleasure and virtue entail one another
23. Ethics / B. Contract Ethics / 1. Contractarianism
3560 Justice is merely a contract about not harming or being harmed
1845 Justice has no independent existence, but arises entirely from keeping contracts
23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 1. Virtue Theory / b. Basis of virtue
14060 Prudence is the greatest good, and more valuable than philosophy, because it produces virtue
23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 2. Elements of Virtue Theory / c. Motivation for virtue
1841 We choose virtue because of pleasure, not for its own sake [Diog. Laertius]
23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 2. Elements of Virtue Theory / e. Character
14517 We value our own character, whatever it is, and we should respect the characters of others
23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 3. Virtues / c. Justice
14513 Justice is a pledge of mutual protection
23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 4. External Goods / a. External goods
1829 A wise man would be happy even under torture [Diog. Laertius]
23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 4. External Goods / d. Friendship
1843 Friendship is by far the most important ingredient of a complete and happy life
24. Political Theory / B. Nature of a State / 2. State Legitimacy / c. Social contract
14515 A law is not just if it is not useful in mutual associations
25. Social Practice / F. Life Issues / 4. Suicide
14520 It is small-minded to find many good reasons for suicide
1831 Wise men should partake of life even if they go blind [Diog. Laertius]
26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 2. Natural Purpose / c. Purpose denied
12044 Only Epicurus denied purpose in nature, for the whole world, or for its parts [Annas]
26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 5. Infinite in Nature
14032 Totality has no edge; an edge implies a contrast beyond the edge, and there can't be one
14033 Bodies are unlimited as well as void, since the two necessarily go together
26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 6. Early Matter Theories / g. Atomism
14034 There exists an infinity of each shape of atom, but the number of shapes is beyond our knowledge
14035 Atoms just have shape, size and weight; colour results from their arrangement
14038 There cannot be unlimited division, because it would reduce things to non-existence
20907 Democritus says atoms have size and shape, and Epicurus added weight [Ps-Plutarch]
21669 Atoms don't swerve by being struck, because they move in parallel, so the swerve is uncaused [Cicero]
21680 What causes atomic swerves? Do they draw lots? What decides the size or number of swerves? [Cicero]
26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 8. Scientific Essentialism / a. Scientific essentialism
14049 We aim to know the natures which are observed in natural phenomena
27. Natural Reality / C. Space / 1. Void
14043 The void cannot interact, but just gives the possibility of motion
27. Natural Reality / C. Space / 4. Substantival Space
14031 Space must exist, since movement is obvious, and there must be somewhere to move in
27. Natural Reality / D. Time / 1. Nature of Time / a. Absolute time
14525 Stoics say time is incorporeal and self-sufficient; Epicurus says it is a property of properties of things
27. Natural Reality / E. Cosmology / 1. Cosmology
14051 A cosmos is a collection of stars and an earth, with some sort of boundary, movement and shape
27. Natural Reality / E. Cosmology / 10. Multiverse
14036 There are endless cosmoi, some like and some unlike this one
28. God / A. Divine Nature / 2. Divine Nature
2637 For Epicureans gods are made of atoms, and are not eternal [Cicero]
28. God / B. Proving God / 2. Proofs of Reason / a. Ontological Proof
2633 Epicurus saw that gods must exist, because nature has imprinted them on human minds [Cicero]
28. God / C. Attitudes to God / 3. Deism
1828 God does not intervene in heavenly movements, but is beyond all action and perfectly happy
28. God / C. Attitudes to God / 5. Atheism
2639 Some say Epicurus only pretended to believe in the gods, so as not to offend Athenians [Cicero]
29. Religion / D. Religious Issues / 1. Religious Commitment / a. Religious Belief
14527 If god answered prayers we would be destroyed, because we pray for others to suffer