Contents
Epicurus
Teaching that a good life rests on friendship, simple pleasures and freedom from needless fear.
Letter to Menoeceus · Letter to Herodotus
- Born
- 341 BCE
- Birthplace
- Samos, Greece
- Died
- 270 BCE
More people
Epicurus
Ancient Greek founder of Epicureanism. He joined an account of nature based on atoms to practical advice about desire, anxiety and the conditions for happiness.
Early life
An Athenian family
Born on Samos to Athenian parents, he later went to Athens for military service.
Earlier thinkers
Studied philosophy and engaged with the atomist tradition associated with Democritus.
Career
- c. 311 BCE
Beginning to teach
Taught at Mytilene before establishing a community at Lampsacus.
- 306 BCE
The Garden
Settled in Athens and founded the philosophical community known as the Garden.
- 306–270 BCE
Teaching and writing
Developed his ethics and account of nature while maintaining a network of followers.
Ideas & writings
Letter to Menoeceus
Practical advice on pleasure, desire and the fear of death.
Letter to Herodotus
An outline of his explanation of nature through atoms and void.
Principal Doctrines
A surviving collection of concise statements of Epicurean philosophy.
Beyond philosophy
Friendship in practice
His school was a community of friends and admitted women as well as men.
Fragmentary survival
Most of his many writings are lost; letters, fragments and later accounts preserve his ideas.
Sources & photo credit
Biography and references ↗Institutional biography and career ↗Photo: Unknown artist Unknown artist. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
