Notes on Epicurus

Epicurus was an Ancient Greek philosopher who founded the school of Epicureanism. Even though he wrote hundreds of books during his lifetime, only a few of his letters, sayings, and fragments remain (Hiram, Crespo).

Most of his works were destroyed by those who opposed his teachings (likely religious authorities) (Hiram, Crespo). Despite this, Epicureanism continued to be influential for centuries after his death.

Modern scholars rely on secondary sources about Epicurus. Some of the historical figures who wrote about him were Diogenes Laertius, Cicero, and Lucretius.

Pleasure

1. Pleasure is a means and an end. It is the opposite of pain.
2. Pleasure is subjective. It can be influenced by cognition.
3. Pleasure is in a dynamic relationship with pain. The two are not separate, but rather, exist on a spectrum.
4. Not all pleasure is equal. Pursuing the wrong pleasures can lead to painful consequences.
5. It is important to examine the quality of pleasure, considering whether it is natural, necessary, and leads to favorable results (Dimitriadis, Haris).
6. Pleasure can be measured by its intensity and duration. At first, it is a fulfillment of needs. After that, it can be diversified further (Dimitriadis, Haris).