more from Epicurus

Single Idea 14049

[catalogued under 26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 8. Scientific Essentialism / a. Scientific essentialism]

Full Idea

Blessedness lies in knowing the natures which are observed in meteorological phenomena.

Clarification

'Meteorology' includes astronomy in this text

Gist of Idea

We aim to know the natures which are observed in natural phenomena

Source

Epicurus (Letter to Herodotus [c.293 BCE], 78)

Book Reference

Epicurus: 'The Epicurus Reader', ed/tr. Inwood,B. /Gerson,L. [Hackett 1994], p.17


A Reaction

This pursuit of 'natures' seems to be at the heart of scientific essentialism. Epicurus demonstrates his proposal, by offering speculations about the natures of all sorts of phenomena (esp. in 'Letter to Pythocles').