Ideas of Philodemus, by Theme

[Greek, 110 - 38 BCE, Born at Gadara. Died at Naples. Many works found at Herculaneum.]

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14. Science / C. Induction / 3. Limits of Induction
From the fact that some men die, we cannot infer that they all do
     Full Idea: There is no necessary inference, from the fact that men familiar to us die when pierced through the heart, that all men do.
     From: Philodemus (On Signs (damaged) [c.50 BCE], 1.3)
     A reaction: This is scepticism about the logic of induction, long before David Hume. This is said to be a Stoic argument against Epicureans - though on the whole Stoics are not keen on scepticism.
23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 3. Virtues / a. Virtues
Don't fear god or worry about death; the good is easily got and the terrible easily cured
     Full Idea: Don't fear god, Don't worry about death; What is good is easy to get, What is terrible is easy to cure.
     From: Philodemus (Herculaneum Papyrus [c.50 BCE], 1005,4.9-14)
     A reaction: This is known as the Four-Part Cure, and is an epicurean prayer, probably formulated by Epicurus.