Epicurus, The father of Epicureanism

The philosophy originated by Epicurus flourished for seven centuries. It propounded an ethic of individual pleasure as the sole or chief good in life.

Hence, Epicurus advocated living in such a way as to derive the greatest amount of pleasure possible during one’s lifetime, yet doing so moderately in order to avoid the suffering incurred by overindulgence in such pleasure.

The emphasis was placed on pleasures of the mind rather than on physical pleasures. According to Epicurus, with whom a person eats is of greater importance than what is eaten.

Unnecessary and artificially produced desires were to be suppressed. Learning, culture and civilisation as well as social and political involvements could give rise to many desires.

These desires were difficult to be satisfied and they would disturb one’s peace of mind. So they were discouraged.

Knowledge was sought only to rid oneself of religious fears and superstitions. The two primary fears to be eliminated were the fear of the gods and of death.

Viewing marriage and what attends it as a threat to one’s peace of mind, Epicurus lived a celibate life but did not impose this restriction on his followers.

The philosophy was characterised by an absence of divine principle. Lawbreaking was counselled against because of both the shame associated with detection and the punishment it might bring.

Living in fear of being found out or punished would take away from pleasure, and this made even secret wrongdoing inadvisable.

To the Epicureans, virtue in itself had no value and was beneficial only when it served as a means to gain happiness.

Reciprocity was recommended, not because it was divinely ordered or innately noble, but because it was personally beneficial.

Friendships rested on the same mutual basis, that is, the pleasure resulting to the possessors. Epicurus laid great emphasis on developing friendships as the basis of a satisfying life.

While the pursuit of pleasure formed the focal point of the philosophy, this was largely directed to the “static pleasures” of minimising pain, anxiety and suffering.

In fact Epicurus referred to life as a “bitter gift”.
“When we say…that pleasure is the end and aim, we do not mean the pleasures of the prodigal or the pleasures of sensuality, as we are understood to do by some through ignorance, prejudice or wilful misrepresentation.

By pleasure we mean the absence of pain in the body and of trouble in the soul. It is not by an unbroken succession of drinking bouts and of revelry, not by sexual lust, nor the enjoyment of fish and other delicacies of a luxurious table, which produce a pleasant life;

it is sober reasoning, searching out the grounds of every choice and avoidance, and banishing those beliefs through which the greatest tumults take possession of the soul.”

The Epicureans believed in the existence of the gods, but believed that the gods were made of atoms just like everything else.

It was thought that the gods were too far away from the earth to have any interest in what man was doing; so it did not do any good to pray or to sacrifice to them.

The gods, they believed, did not create the universe, nor did they inflict punishment or bestow blessings on anyone, but they were supremely happy; this was the goal to strive for during one’s own human life.

“Live unknown” was one of key maxims. This was completely at odds with all previous ideas of seeking fame and glory, or even wanting something so apparently decent as honour.”
Epicurean ism rejects immortality and mysticism; it believes in the soul, but suggests that the soul is as mortal as the body. Epicurus rejected any possibility of an afterlife, while still contending that one need not fear death:

Death is nothing to us; for that which is dissolved, is without sensation, and that which lacks sensation is nothing to us.