Epicurus and Epicureanism

Intro to Epictetus

There are two main features of Epicurus's philosophy.  First, he thought that the world is made up of simple parts, called atoms.  This is called an atomistic account of nature.  Contrary to Epictetus, Epicurus thought that there was no rational plan for the universe.  Second, he thought that the goal of human life is pleasure.  To clarify, Epicurus thought that some pleasures were better than others.  He thought that stable, lasting pleasures were the target for which we should aim.  Unstable, fleeting pleasures such as partying and substance abuse, however, are not good pleasures.

We can see Epicurus's influence on modern thought.  For example, according to Thomas Hobbes and John Locke, a government is established for the mutual benefit of the parties involved.  In other words, a government is formed because two parties want to pursue their own pleasure.  Another example is ethical Utilitarianism.  John Stuart Mill and Jeremy Bentham famously thought that moral goodness depends on human happiness.  Things that make us happy and bring us pleasure are good.  A last example is the rise of Deism in the 18th and 19th centuries.  Thomas Jefferson, for example, thought that God does not intervene with the affairs of humans.  God provides neither rewards nor punishments.  

Epicurus and the Natural World (Epicurus's Physics)

Epicurus thought that all knowledge ultimately depends on our senses.  However, there are certain things that we cannot observe with our senses.  When we cannot depend on our senses, we can use our rationality and reasoning to infer things about the world.  For example, although we might not be able to see some celestial beings, we might be able to prove that it exists if we apply scientific and mathematical principles to the movement of other stars and planets in the area of this unseen celestial being.

Argument that the totality of things was/is/always will be the same (#38-39)
P1.  No thing comes from nothing.
P2. No thing can become nothing
C.  Everything that is has always been and always will be as it is now.

The Void (#39-40) is empty space.  In other words, it is just what is not.  It has no causal powers (#67).  Some philosophers thought that there was a logical contradiction to say that a Void can exist because it requires that something that does not exist must exist.  Epicurus, however, thought that there was a Void.  The Void is the empty space through which we can move.  We know that bodies move because we see it.  Since bodies move, we must know that there must be space through which they move.  This space is the void.  To be clear, empty space is not the same thing as "what is not".

Atoms.  Atoms are unable to be physically divided.  However, we can divide them in theory.  There are parts to atoms even if we are unable to divide them (#58-59).  When everyday things like chairs and cats die, burn up or decompose, the atoms continue to exist.  Atoms lack color and smell (#54) but they have size, weight and shape.  They are always moving.  Unless an atom collides with another atom, it will move in the same direction and at the same speed all the time.  Occasionally, atoms will "swerve", meaning that they move erratically and unexpectedly.  This means that nature cannot be completely predicted or determined.  Bodies of things like shoes and babies are made when atoms clump together.  The human soul is also made up of tiny atoms which are supposed to be spread out throughout the entire human.  Everything in nature can be explained by atoms and the Void.  There is no rational organization or divine plan.  There is no purpose behind nature; there are only atoms and the Void.

What about Gods?  Epicurus did believe in the gods.  They exist as higher beings who are indestructible and blessed.  In other words, they are immortal and supremely happy.  Gods neither made the world nor do they control it.  Gods have no power to reward or punish human beings.  In general, gods do not interfere with the world.  They have no troubles and so they have no interest in humans.  To allow one's happiness to depend on the activities of humans would be a sign of weakness.  The gods simply don't care about humans at all.