We might object here that since epicureans like almost all hellenistic philosophers believe in following nature, it is natural to fear death. This volume gathers together the most important evidence about stoic thought surviving from the ancient world. Epicureanism, in a strict sense, the philosophy taught by epicurus 341270 bce. Stoic and epicureantwo words that do not mean what people think they mean. The stoics are well known for their contributions to moral philosophy, and more recently they have also been recognized for their work in logic, grammar, philosophy of language, and epistemology. This textbook is a thorough introduction to the three schools of philosophy which dominated the hellenistic era. Stoicism is a school of hellenistic philosophy which was founded by zeno of citium, in athens, in the early 3rd century bc. While both the epicureans and stoic philosophers highlight happiness, the epicurean understanding of happiness differs from the stoic understanding of happiness. In his book stoics, epicureans and skeptics, classicist r. Stoic philosophers, in contrast to epicureans, believed that there are many things outside of our control in life, and therefore many things which. Books on stoic philosophy includes both primary and secondary sources. Early in his life he had a passion for philosophy, and with permission from his owner, he studied stoic philosophy under the master gaius musonius rufus. They accepted the physics of democritus that the universe was composed entirely of empty space filled with atoms of differing shapes and weights that moved in nonlinear paths swerving smashing together and latching into greater structures, composing the universe.
The complete extant writings of epicurus, epictetus, lucretius and marcus aurelius whitney oates on. They, with the stoics, ridiculed the teaching of paul acts 17. Pdf augustine and the stoic tradition john sellars. Stoics, epicureans and sceptics the classical astrologer. Paul engages in discussion with certain epicurean and stoic philosophers at the areopagus, or high court, delivering a famous christian sermon. Epicurus, founder of the school of philosophy called epicureanism the epicureans were materialists in the modern, scientific sense. In popular parlance, epicureanism means devotion to pleasure, comfort, and high living. If you must, though, be careful not to sink to their level. Stoic philosophy of mind internet encyclopedia of philosophy. Epicurean philosophy holds that trouble in the soul is caused by two factors. On augustines attitudes towards stoicism and the way they have influenced the reception of both in abelard, petrarch, lipsius, senault, pascal, and malebranche. Stoic and epicurean philosophers the complete extant writing of. Later its main opponent became stoicism some writings by epicurus have survived. Stoicism, a school of thought that flourished in greek and roman antiquity.
The site thus covers the main philosophical traditions, from the presocratic to the contemporary philosophers, while trying to bring a philosophical reading to the cultural field in general, such as cinema, literature, politics or music. In urging participation in human affairs, stoics have always believed. After plato and aristotle, the concerns of the philosophers moved further and further from metaphysics, epistemology, and anything resembling modern science, to the issue that had always concerned the ancient greeks the most ethics. The hostile reaction can however only be understood in terms of the history in the twentieth century of study of this period. And yet it was a questionor rather the questionof moral philosophy. Aristotle, as shakespeare knew, thought young men unfit to hear moral philosophy.
What are the main differences between epicureanism and stoicism. The complete extant writings of epicurus, epictetus, lucretius, marcus aurelius whitney j. Knowledge is empirically gainedthey believed in tabula rosa of the soul. Although the treatments of epicureanism and skepticism are just as comprehensive as that of the stoics, the latter was longs specialty and the chapter is exemplary in its depth, particularly in the treatment of the perennial problem of the phantasia kataleptike. In the former category, the most prominent is the fear of death. This is a very useful collection of all the extant writings of epicurus, lucretius, epictetus, and marcus aurelius. The image of the stoic is the unfeeling, emotionless brute and the epicurean as the pleasureloving, selfindulgent hedonist. Stoics used an allegorical method of interpretation. Ryan holiday, tim ferris, patrick betdavid and others are promoting stoicism as a valuable guide for living, and its garnering the interest of ceos, professional athletes and silicon valley tech workers.
Man is miserable, thought epicurus the founder of epicureanism because he desires things that he need not desire. Stoic a comparison chart with citations to sources in the ancient texts see also a comparison chart on the goal of life issue epicurean philosophy stoicism 1 does truth exist. Some scholars find many traces of stoicism in the new testament, particularly in the teachings of the apostle paul. The roman philosophers roman philosophy developed from greek hellenistic philosophy, chiefly of the academic, stoic and epicurean schools. This is one view cyclical conflagrations and recreations. Stoic spiritual exercises compiled by massimo pigliucci and greg lopez.
One of the groups that debated with paul on the streets of athens was epicurean acts 17. In the passage below from the book letters from a stoic, seneca, a stoic who appreciated the philosophy of epicureanism, noted the main difference between his stoic school and the school of epicurus. In 155 bce an embassy of athenian philosophers so impressed its roman audiences that roman philosophy can be said to have developed from that event. Our guides to stoicism today will be its three renowned leaders. The volume emphasizes the interrelation of the differ. Stoicism is a moral philosophy that emphasizes the discipline and mastery of the emotions in order to reach a wiser, rational, and peaceful mindset. Epicureanism is a system of philosophy founded around 307 bc based upon the teachings of the ancient greek philosopher epicurus. In a broad sense, it is a system of ethics embracing every conception or form of life that can be traced to the principles of his philosophy. Stoic as well as the epicurean philosophic sch ools rose in prominence to challenge and provide alternatives to some of the basic, f undamentally nonmaterialistic ass umptions that. Stoicism was one of the most important and enduring philosophies to emerge from the greek and roman world.
The ancient philosophy of stoicism is enjoying a resurgence of interest today. This philosophy was a system of atheism, and taught men to seek as their highest aim a pleasant and smooth life. Epicureanism is a philosophy which stresses the importance of training ones desires. They have been called the sadducees of greek paganism. The stoic did not differ merely in his ethics from the epicurean. Epicureanism gets its name from epicurus 341 270 b. Stereotypes always fall short, but in this case, the common understanding of what it means to be a follower of the stoics or epicureanism has dealt two vibrant philosophies a. Epicureanism and stoicism, the two dominant philosophies of the hellenistic. Which lifestyle, epicurean or stoic, achieves the greatest amount of happiness. Whereas the stoics conception of fulfillment resides solely in virtues ability to provide contentment, the epicurean notion of happiness is rooted in the obtainment of external goods, which vanquish hunger and bring the satisfaction of food, shelter, and companionship.
However, in popular usage, stoic usually refers to a grimfaced, emotionless person someone who shows neither joy nor pain, is capable of suffering much in silence, and is not very social. The universe is the result of random combinations of atoms into four elements, and elements into existing matter. Stoic and epicurean 1910 free pdf book philosophy books club. It was one of the loftiest and most sublime philosophies in the record of western civilization. Stoic, epicurean and indeed sceptic ideas have come to form an important part of our own cultural backgroundoften misunderstood or altered, but then which thoughts of earlier generations are immune to that. Mark morford makes the huge output of the roman philosophical. The epicureans the epicureans were materialists in the modern, scientific sense. Epicureanism was originally a challenge to platonism. We already know that the stoics had much in common with the early christians. It is an expanded version of the section on stoicism in inwood and gersons hellenistic philosophy, consolidating related texts into larger, more continuous selections, adding material on the skeptical attack on stoicism, and a short section that introduces the reader to. Epicureanism emerged at roughly the same time as stoicism, which was founded by zeno of citium c.
Stereotypes always fall short, but in this case, the common understanding of what it means to be a follower of the stoics or epicureanism has dealt two vibrant philosophies a grave injustice. The stoic and epicurean understanding of happiness. He introduces readers to the fundamental ways in which happiness is created within the two philosophical perspectives, by juxtaposing the schools of thought to highlight criticisms and. The epicurean sage, or one who has attained the ideal which epicureanism sets forth, is one who, given that his basic needs are met shelter, food, etc. Stoic and epicurean philosophers the complete extant writing of epicurus epictetus lucretius marcus. Pdf among the philosophers whom paul is reported as meeting in the market place at athens, there were stoics and epicureans, who led.
The wellknown 56th century neoplatonic christian mystic and philosopher pseudodionysus the areopagite is named after one of the individuals described here as becoming a follower of paul at athens, with whom he was originally confused. The universe will end when one element earth, air, fire, water totally dominates. Epicurean would mean nothing all ancient philosophers talked b o different kinds. The logos became another word in the stoic system for god, since it maintains order ferguson, p.
They accepted the physics of democritus that the universe was composed entirely of empty space filled with atoms of differing shapes and weights that. The hellenistic philosophers and schools of philosophy have emerged from the shadow of plato and aristotle and are increasingly studied for their intrinsic. What are the main differences between epicureanism and. These philosophers followed the teachings of epicurus, 341270 b.