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__NOTOC__[[File:Px-Epikouros BM 1843.jpg|thumbnail|275px|left|Figure 1. Bust of Epicurus.]]Epicurus is often associated as with one of the Greek philosophers more interested in pleasure or its pursuit than other ideals. While at times this led to a negative view of his philosophy, the reality is his thinking was very advanced and developed, leading to his ideas becoming highly influential in modern thought in many regions of the world today. He was one of the first Greek philosophers to develop a strong tradition that avoid superstition as a core ideal. His simple philosophy of avoiding pain, leading a simple life, and attaining knowledge have made his philosophy both attractive and influential to many.

==Background==Relatively few works written by Epicurus still survive, as most He was one of what we known derive from later writings from his followers and his philosophical school that he started. We know the first Greek philosophers to develop a strong tradition that Epicureanism began avoids superstition as a core ideal. His simple philosophy at around 307/306 BCE. Like so many other philosophersof avoiding pain, he established himself at Athensleading a simple life, although he was from Samos. He was influenced by the teaching of Democritus and he studied under Nausiphanes of Teos, but had a later falling out as he pursued attaining knowledge has made his own new school of thoughtphilosophy both attractive and influential to many.

The core philosophy we know Epicurus to have believed in was that one should pursue simple pleasure in life. In fact, through the pursuit of simple pleasure and meaningful friendship====Background====[[File:Lucretius, then pain can be better accepted or tolerated when it comes_De_rerum_natura. This is demonstrated in his own life, where he claimed to a friendjpg|thumbnail|250px|left|Poem by Lucretius entitled <i>De rerum natura</i> that explains Epicureanism]] Relatively few works were written by Epicurus (Figure 1) still survive, as he was dying, that his state most of mind was very happy despite the pain he felt what we knew derives from kidney stones. His ideas, therefore, differ greatly later writings from modern understanding of hedonism, which is often associated with the pursuit of please at all costs. While many focus on his ideas of pleasure, it is also his scientific ideas that, along with those of Aristotle and other Greek philosophers, have greatly influenced our modern world. During the lifetime of Epicurus he had relatively few followers and they would meet at his house. However, evidence of his enduring philosophy in the centuries to come are evident, as when the Apostle Paul went to Athens philosophical school that he encountered followers of Epicureanismstarted. He was one of the first philosophers to clearly state We know that good and bad actions do not derive from the gods, but these derive from the presence or absence of pain and suffering. He stated that one should never fear death, Epicureanism began as death simply means the end of what one can feel and not something that would be painful. Moderation was critical to all of his philosophical ideas of pleasure, as he warned against pursuits of love or other pleasures to the point where one becomes so enchanted by them that these pursuits could ultimately lead to paina philosophy at around 307/306 BCE.

Because In fact, Epicurus' ideas have been misunderstood, it is important to delineate the key ideas he developed and what he intended by them. His core ideals can be described as atomistic materialism, which held s main problem with other philosophers was that all things are made up of atoms and that voids separated these atomsthey were too narrow in their beliefs. Because gods do Their schools did not control pain allow freedom of expression or pleasurequestioning of the main philosopher teachers. Epicurus' strong ego, and that they are likely unable or uninterested in causing pain or pleasure essence, led to peoplerifts with other schools of thought, one should pursue pleasure as a key goal in lifeforcing him to create his own school. However, this ultimately gave him the danger that Epicurus realized is that this simple pursuit can lead freedom to indulgence that then leads back develop his ideas, which emerged over many years and likely evolved before coming to paina mature state. Therefore<ref>For more on how Epicurus' philosophy evolved, moderation is key so that one does not become over zealoussee: DeWitt, or essentially addicted, to the pursuit of pleasure where they are unable to function and pursue a balanced lifeNorman Wentworth. 1954. Minimizing pain Epicurus and suffering are critical to thisHis Philosophy. Thus it is not pursuit Minneapolis: University of lusts or desires so much but it is seeking knowledgeMinnesota Press, good friendships, and banishing ideas that bring difficulty and problems to our lifepg. 27.</ref>

==Key Influences Epicurus's core philosophy was that one should pursue simple pleasures in life. Friendship was also key to forming happiness.<ref>For more on Our World==the foundations of Epicurus' philosophy, see: Bales, Eugene F. 2008. Philosophy in the West: Men, Women, Religion, Science. Philadelphia, Pa.: Xlibris, pg. 68.</ref> While his falling out with other philosophers may seem a slight contradiction in his beliefs of seeking friendship and pleasure, he did try to live up to his ideals. This is demonstrated when he claimed to a friend in a letter, as he was dying, that his state of mind was delighted despite the pain he felt from kidney stones. So, even if physically, one cannot escape pain, mentally, one can pursue happiness such that it becomes a state not bound by death or sickness. Therefore, his ideas differ greatly from the modern understanding of hedonism, which is often associated with the pursuit of please at all costs. While many focus on his ideas of pleasure, his scientific ideas, along with those of Aristotle and other Greek philosophers, have greatly influenced our modern world.

The impacts of the philosophy are many During Epicurus's lifetime, he had relatively few followers and, in many ways, Epicurus held many thoughts that have turned out to at least have met at least some truths, despite his inability to fully observe themhouse's garden. For instanceIn fact, the garden in his ideas that house becomes the universe is infinite are more realistic than philosophers who had a very narrow idea of where the universe and its extent lies. He also believed no truth should be accepted as given without some form of proof, an idea that is now foundational to modern sciencename with which they associated their school. He also believed that life must have basic building blocksHowever, a concept evidence of atoms that was only proven his enduring philosophy in the 19th century. A key development centuries that Epicurus indicated in his writings followed is evident, as when the concept Apostle Paul went to Athens, he encountered followers of divorcing Epicureanism, demonstrating the pursuit success of knowledge from religious pursuitsthe philosophy as it began to develop.<ref>For more on how Epicureanism developed during and after Epicurus, see: O’Keefe, something that became popular by the RenascenceTim. 2010. Epicureanism. Ancient Philosophies 7. Berkeley: University of California Press.</ref> Nevertheless, as thinkers from that era because later thought began to realize the importance confound Epicureanism with hedonism and other philosophies of pleasure-seeking, many of separating their work from religious zeal that may have hindered some advances in knowledgeEpicurus' ideas were frowned upon and became less acceptable. A key example is Galileo’s advocacy that the Earth It was not only in the center of the universeRenaissance that his ideas once again blossomed.

While Epicurus’ ====Epicureanism====Because Epicurus' ideas in science proved have been misunderstood, it is important to delineate the key ideas he developed and what he intended by them. His core ideas can be influential to later generations and modern sciencedescribed as atomistic materialism, his philosophy which held that all things are made up of atoms. That voids separated these atoms.<ref>For more on happiness underwent different understanding in various periodsatomistic materialism, see: O’Connor, Daniel John. 1964. A Critical History of Western Philosophy. New York etc., London: The Free press etc. , Collier Macmillan, pg. 127. </ref>. While his teachings on happiness were often conflated with later understanding Atoms themselves are made up of hedonisma few basic types, later thinkers began which can be combined to see make all things present in the practicality of his philosophy on universe. Because gods do not control pain or pleasure as one , and that avoids they are likely unable to or uninterested in causing pain and pursues simple pleasures and avoids indulgenceor pleasure to people, one should, therefore, pursue pleasure as a key goal in life.

The Epicureans believed in the gods' existence but did not see them as central to living or being happy, which made them different from many other philosophers. However, Epicurus's danger is that this pursuit can lead to indulgence that then leads back to pain. While satisfying oneself may seem harmless enough, its pursuit could become an obsession that leads to pain. Therefore, moderation is key so that one does not become overzealous, or essentially addicted, to the pursuit of pleasure where they cannot function and pursue a balanced life.  <dh-ad/> Interest in simple pleasures is key, as interest in goals such as conquest or wealth could potentially lead to ruin. Minimizing pain and suffering is critical to maximizing pleasure. It is also not the pursuits of lusts or desires so much, but seeking knowledge, developing good friendships, and banishing ideas that bring difficulty and problems to our lives is how one attains pleasure. The tranquility of the mind is what Epicurus would see as the greatest pleasure. He stated that one should never fear death, as death means the end of what one can feel and not something that would be painful.  Epicurus also warned against being involved in politics, as that also could lead to the diminishment of happiness, something that Epicurus noticed in his own life during the tumultuous politics of Athens after the death of Alexander the Great.<ref>For details of what pleasure means in the Epicurus' philosophy, see: Johnston, Derek. 2006. A Brief History of Philosophy: From Socrates to Derrida. London ; New York: Continuum.</ref> ====Key Influences on Our World====The philosophy's impacts are many, and Epicurus held various thoughts that have turned out to at least have at least some truth, despite his inability to observe them fully. For instance, his ideas that the universe is infinite are more realistic than philosophers who had a very narrow idea of where the universe and its extent can be found.<ref>For more on Epicurus' ideas of the universe, see DeWitt, Norman Wentworth. 1954. St. Paul and Epicurus. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, pg. 13.</ref> He also believed no truth should be accepted as given without some form of proof, an idea that is now foundational to modern science.  His belief that life and all matters must have basic building blocks are akin to our modern concept of atoms that was only proven in the 19th century. A key development that Epicurus indicated in his writings is the concept of divorcing the pursuit of knowledge from religious pursuits, something that became popular by the Renaissance, as thinkers from that era began to realize the importance of separating their work from a religious zeal that may have hindered some advances in knowledge.<ref>For more on Epicurus' influence on later thinkers and scientists, see: Wyatt, Michael, ed. 2014. The Cambridge Companion to the Italian Renaissance. Cambridge Companions to Culture. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pg. 272.</ref> A key example is Galileo’s advocacy that the Earth was not the center of the universe, whereas the Catholic church at the time held the belief the Earth was the center of the universe.  While Epicurus’ ideas in science proved to be influential to later generations and modern science, his philosophy on happiness underwent different understanding in various periods. Although his teachings on happiness were often conflated with a later understanding of hedonism, later thinkers began to see his philosophy's practicality on pleasure as one that avoids pain and pursues simple pleasures as it avoids indulgence. Some impacts of this philosophy include what is now called ethical hedonism, where measured pleasure is taught and pursued as part of mental health treatment to addiction and other problems faced by patients.<ref>For more on ethical hedonism, see: Ford, Gary George. 2006. Ethical Reasoning for Mental Health Professionals. Thousand Oaks, Calif: SAGE Publications, pg. 54. </ref> In effect, the Epicurean philosophy is still alive and well in our society and not in a way that advocates the unbridled pursuit of pleasure. ====Conclusion====Epicurus has been a misunderstood philosopher, yet his influence has been profound and can be considered one of the founders of modern philosophy. His ideas continue to influence our world, and then the longevity of his thinking shows that it held influence through many major shifts in history. In many respects, Epicurus was ahead of his time, as he understood life composed of basic building blocks that can be reconfigured to make different things. This, to some extent, is true, while his philosophy of avoiding harmful things and pursue simple pursuits that give pleasure, such as friendship, are sensible, and many would likely agree with these ideas. <youtube>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kg_47J6sy3A</youtube> <div class="portal" style="width:85%;">====Related DailyHistory.org Articles====*[[What was Plato's academy and why did it influence Western thought?]]*[[Alexander the Great Top Ten Booklist]]*[[Why was Alexander the Great So Successful In His Conquests?]]*[[What Factors Led to the Creation of the First Cities?]]</div> ====References====<references/> [[Category:Wikis]] [[Category:Ancient History]] [[Category:Greek History]] [[Category:Near East History]][[Category:Ancient Greek History]]{{Contributors}}