Epicurus - the creator of the influential Hellenisticteachings. He combined his own theory with elements of ethics of Aristippus and the teachings of Democritus about atoms and developed their ideas (although he himself disregarded his predecessors).
An Athenian by birth, he grew up on an islandSamos. From a young age he was fond of philosophy, at 32 he created his own school of philosophy, first on o.Lesbos in the city of Metelen. From 306 BC Epicurus relocates to Athens, buys a garden and establishes a school in it, which is why it is called the "Garden", and the students and followers of Epicurus are "philosophers from the garden." Epicurus and his school played a prominent role in the development of philosophy. Created as a community of like-minded school during its existence, and it existed for about 600 years, did not know contention and disagreement. The disciples were devoted to their teacher, who was a pattern of behavior for them, and observed the principle established by him: “Act as if Epicurus was looking at you.” The philosophy of Epicurus is practical and materialistic. He denied fatalism (predestination, fate), leaving man free will and the right to choose, and did not recognize the gods. “The world of Democritus, where everything is predetermined, is depressing and bleak and generally worse than hell,” Epicurus argued. Quotes from the "four-drug", the basics of the teachings of Epicurus:
- "Gods should not be afraid";
- “There is no need to be afraid of death either, because“ While we are there, death is not yet, and when it is, then we are no longer ”";
- "The blessing is easy to achieve";
- "Evil is easy to bear."
Эпикур отрицает бессмертие души, но не саму душу.In his opinion, the soul is a special structure of atoms, a subtle, but absolutely real matter, permeating the material body. In his teaching, Epicurus does not set a goal to know the truth. His goal is to reconcile a person with life, to relieve from suffering and to teach to accept it with joy. "The role of the philosopher is close to the role of the doctor," said Epicurus. - “This philosophy should help a person to get rid of unnecessary desires that cause suffering, from painful fears, to learn to enjoy everything, to live simply and serenely. Human desires are endless. Discontent of desires causes suffering. suffering will be less. "
In this there is a similarity between the philosophy of Epicurus andBuddhism, with its idea of the middle path (without striving for great joys, you do not get much suffering). For happiness, a person needs only a lack of physical suffering, peace of mind, warmly friendly relations.
The inscription at the entrance to this school read; " A guest,here you will be fine The highest good here is pleasure. ” But not bodily, sensual pleasures are meant, they, on the contrary, are condemned, since they are always paid for. Intellectual pleasures are exalted, peace of mind, harmony with oneself and with the world, the joy of communicating with friends, and the main pleasure is life itself. "Life is given in sensations, and they can not be mistaken," - said Epicurus. The philosophy created by him, gives the mind a secondary importance after the senses. In relation to the state and society, the philosopher adhered to a neutral, detached attitude, believing that it is more correct for a person to live in solitude. In his school, he took women and even slaves. In other schools of thought nothing of the kind was practiced. New was the elevation of the value of human earthly life and the justification of human bodily needs (these ideas were later adopted by the humanist philosophers of the Renaissance).
Before entering the school stood a jar filled withwater, and baked cake as a symbol of what a person really needs quite a bit. Members of the community lived modestly and without excesses. They did not unite the property, it could cause controversy and mistrust, as suggested by Epicurus. The philosophy of Epicurus, adapted in Rome and France, was severely distorted. Epicureanism differs markedly from the teachings of Epicurus itself and is closer in its essence, rather, to hedonism.
