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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.

He was one of the first Greek philosophers to develop a strong tradition that avoids superstition as a core ideal. His simple philosophy of avoiding pain, leading a simple life, and attaining knowledge has made his philosophy both attractive and influential to many. ====Background====

Relatively few works were written by Epicurus (Figure 1) still survive, as most of what we known derive knew derives from later writings from his followers and his philosophical school that he started. We know that Epicureanism began as a philosophy at around 307/306 BCE.  Like so many other philosophers, he established himself at in Athens, although he was from Samos.<ref>For more on Epicurus and his established school, see: Hibler, Richard W. 1984. Happiness through Tranquillity: The School of Epicurus. Lanham, MD: University Press of America.</ref> He was influenced by the Democritus's teaching of Democritus , and he studied under Nausiphanes of Teos, but had a later falling out as he pursued his own new school of thought.  In fact, Epicurus 's main problem with other philosophers was he felt that they were too narrow in their beliefs and their . Their schools did not allow freedom of expression or questioning of the main philosopher teachers. Epicurus' strong ego, in essence, led to rifts with other schools of thought, forcing him to create his own school. This However, this ultimately, however, did give gave him the freedom to develop his ideas, which emerged over a number of many years and likely evolved before coming to a mature state.<ref>For more on how Epicurus' philosophy evolved, see: DeWitt, Norman Wentworth. 1954. Epicurus and His Philosophy. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, pg. 27.</ref> Epicurus's core philosophy was that one should pursue simple pleasures in life. Friendship was also key to forming happiness.<ref>For more on 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 core During Epicurus's lifetime, he had relatively few followers and met at his house's garden. In fact, the garden in his house becomes the name with which they associated their school. However, evidence of his enduring philosophy we know Epicurus to have believed in was the centuries that one should pursue simple pleasures in life. Friendship was also key followed is evident, as when the Apostle Paul went to Athens, he encountered followers of Epicureanism, demonstrating the success of the philosophy as it began to forming happinessdevelop.<ref>For more on the foundations of how Epicureanism developed during and after Epicurus' philosophy, see: BalesO’Keefe, Eugene FTim. 20082010. Philosophy in the West: Men, Women, Religion, ScienceEpicureanism. Philadelphia, PaAncient Philosophies 7.Berkeley: Xlibris, pg. 68University of California Press.</ref> While his falling out Nevertheless, because later thought began to confound Epicureanism with hedonism and other philosophers may seem a slight contradiction in his beliefs philosophies of pleasure-seeking friendship , many of Epicurus' ideas were frowned upon and pleasure, he did try to live up to his idealsbecame less acceptable. This is demonstrated when he claimed to a friend It was only in a letter, as he was dying, that his state of mind was very happy despite the pain he felt from kidney stones. So, even if physically one cannot escape pain, mentally one can pursue happiness such Renaissance that it becomes a state not bound by death or sickness. His ideas, therefore, differ greatly 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 worldonce again blossomed.

During the lifetime of ====Epicureanism====Because Epicurus' ideas have been misunderstood, it is important to delineate the key ideas he had relatively few followers developed and they would meet at his house's gardenwhat he intended by them. In factHis core ideas can be described as atomistic materialism, the garden in his house becomes the name in which they associated their school. However, evidence of his enduring philosophy in the centuries held that followed all things are evident, as when the Apostle Paul went to Athens he encountered followers made up of Epicureanism, demonstrating the success of the philosophy as it began to developatoms. That voids separated these atoms.<ref>For more on how Epicureanism developed during and after Epicurusatomistic materialism, see: O’KeefeO’Connor, TimDaniel John. 20101964. EpicureanismA Critical History of Western Philosophy. Ancient Philosophies 7New York etc. Berkeley, London: University of California PressThe Free press etc. , Collier Macmillan, pg. 127.</ref> Nevertheless. Atoms themselves are made up of a few basic types, because later thought began which can be combined to confound Epicureanism with hedonism make all things present in the universe. Because gods do not control pain or pleasure, and other philosophies of that they are likely unable to or uninterested in causing pain or pleasure seekingto people, many of Epicurus' ideas were frowned upon and became less acceptable. It was only one should, therefore, pursue pleasure as a key goal in the Renaissance that his ideas once again blossomedlife.

Because 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 that all things are made up of atoms and that voids separated these atoms.<ref>For more on atomistic 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. <dh-ad/ref>. Atoms themselves are made up of a few basic types, which together can be combined to make all things present in the universe. Because gods do not control pain or pleasure, and that they are likely unable to or uninterested in causing pain or pleasure to people, one should, therefore, pursue pleasure as a key goal in life.

The Epicureans did believe Interest in the existence of the godssimple pleasures is key, but did not see them as central interest in goals such as conquest or wealth could potentially lead to living or being happy, which made them different from many other philosophersruin. However, the danger that Epicurus realized Minimizing pain and suffering is that this pursuit can lead critical to indulgence that then leads back to painmaximizing pleasure. While satisfying oneself may seem harmless enoughIt is also not the pursuits of lusts or desires so much, it's pursuit could become an obsession but seeking knowledge, developing good friendships, and banishing ideas that leads bring difficulty and problems to painour lives is how one attains pleasure. Therefore, moderation The tranquility of the mind is key so what Epicurus would see as the greatest pleasure. He stated that one does not become over zealousshould never fear death, or essentially addicted, to as death means the pursuit end of pleasure where they are unable to function what one can feel and pursue a balanced lifenot something that would be painful.

Interest in simple pleasures is key, as interest in goals such as conquest or wealth could potentially lead to ruin. Minimizing pain and suffering are critical to maximize pleasure. It is also not the pursuits of lusts or desires so much but it is 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 simply 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 lifetime 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.

The impacts 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 philosophy are many and 19th century. A key development that Epicurus held a variety indicated in his writings is the concept of divorcing the pursuit of thoughts knowledge from religious pursuits, something that have turned out to at least have at least some truthbecame popular by the Renaissance, despite his inability as thinkers from that era began to fully observe them. For instance, his ideas that realize the universe is infinite are more realistic than philosophers who had importance of separating their work from a very narrow idea of where the universe and its extent can be foundreligious zeal that may have hindered some advances in knowledge.<ref>For more on Epicurus' ideas of the universeinfluence on later thinkers and scientists, see: DeWittWyatt, Michael, Norman Wentworthed. 19542014. StThe Cambridge Companion to the Italian Renaissance. Paul and EpicurusCambridge Companions to Culture. MinneapolisCambridge: Cambridge University of Minnesota Press, pg. 13272.</ref> He also believed no truth should be accepted as given without some form A key example is Galileo’s advocacy that the Earth was not the center of proofthe universe, an idea that is now foundational to modern sciencewhereas the Catholic church at the time held the belief the Earth was the center of the universe.

His belief that life While Epicurus’ ideas in science proved to be influential to later generations and all matters must have basic building blocks are akin to our modern concept of atoms that was only proven science, his philosophy on happiness underwent different understanding in the 19th centuryvarious periods. A key development that Epicurus indicated in Although his writings is the concept teachings on happiness were often conflated with a later understanding of divorcing the pursuit of knowledge from religious pursuitshedonism, something later thinkers began to see his philosophy's practicality on pleasure as one that became popular by the Renaissanceavoids 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 thinkers from that era began part of mental health treatment to realize the importance of separating their work from religious zeal that may have hindered some advances in knowledgeaddiction and other problems faced by patients.<ref>For more on Epicurus' influence on later thinkers and scientistsethical hedonism, see: Wyatt, MichaelFord, edGary George. 20142006. The Cambridge Companion to the Italian RenaissanceEthical Reasoning for Mental Health Professionals. Cambridge Companions to Culture. CambridgeThousand Oaks, Calif: Cambridge University PressSAGE Publications, pg. 27254.</ref> A key example In effect, the Epicurean philosophy is Galileo’s advocacy still alive and well in our society and not in a way that advocates the Earth was not the center of the universe, whereas the Catholic church at the time held the belief the Earth was the center unbridled pursuit of the universepleasure.

While Epicurus’ ideas in science proved to ====Conclusion====Epicurus has been a misunderstood philosopher, yet his influence has been profound and can be influential to later generations and considered one of the founders of modern science, his philosophy on happiness underwent different understanding in various periods. Although his teachings on happiness were often conflated with later understanding of hedonismHis ideas continue to influence our world, later thinkers began to see and then the practicality longevity of his philosophy on pleasure as one thinking shows that avoids pain and pursues simple pleasures as it avoids indulgenceheld influence through many major shifts in history. Some impacts In many respects, Epicurus was ahead of this philosophy include what is now called ethical hedonismhis time, where measured pleasure is taught and pursued as part he understood life composed of mental health treatment basic building blocks that can be reconfigured to addiction and other problems faced by patientsmake different things.<ref>For more on ethical hedonismThis, see: Fordto some extent, Gary George. 2006. Ethical Reasoning for Mental Health Professionals. Thousand Oaksis true, Calif: SAGE Publications, pg. 54. </ref> In effect, the Epicurean while his philosophy is still alive of avoiding harmful things and well in our society and not in a way pursue simple pursuits that simply advocates unbridled pursuit of give pleasure, such as friendship, are sensible, and many would likely agree with these ideas.

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