1. Epicureanism
Live for Pleasure

2. Epicurus’ Life born 341 BC grew up in Athenian colony of Samos
founded the Garden (philosophical community and
school) in 306 BC
died from kidney stones between 271 and 270 BC
Epicureanism declined with rise of Christianity
certain aspects were revived during renaissance period

3. The gods ethical ideals
strive to emulate lives and not fear their wrath
Atomic Theory = any compound body, even a god, can be immortal
scholars think Epicurus’ gods exist only in human minds as idealizations
gods exist but only as what the most blessed life would be
is Epicurus atheist?

4. Philosophy of mind Identity Theory of Mind
the mind must be a body because of its ability to interact with the body
“only bodies can interact with other bodies”
there is a ‘spirit’ spread throughout the rest of the body which allows for communication
mind and spirit = central and peripheral nervous system in modern day ideologies
death = annihilation
the container of the body shatter and atoms disperse

5. Ethics
“the only thing that is intrinsically valuable is ones own pleasure”
everything we do, we do to gain pleasure for ourselves
one immediately perceives pleasure is good and pain is bad
“one should calculate what is in one's long-term self-interest, and forgo what will bring pleasure in the short-term if doing so will ultimately lead to greater pleasure in the long-term.”
the greatest destroyer of happiness is anxiety about the future
Friendship is valuable because its one of the greatest means of attaining pleasure

6. Types of pleasure Moving Pleasures Static Pleasures
when one is in the process of satisfying a pleasure
eating a hamburger when hungry
Static Pleasures
no longer being in need or want

7. Types of desire Natural and Necessary Natural but Not Necessary
desire for food and shelter
Natural but Not Necessary
desire for luxury food
Vain and Empty
desire for power wealth and fame

8. death
anxiety about death is pointless because you have to realize that death is annihilation
No Subject of Harm Argument
Death is annihilation.
The living have not yet been annihilated (otherwise they wouldn't be alive).
Death does not affect the living. (from 1 and 2)
So, death is not bad for the living. (from 3)
For something to be bad for somebody, that person has to exist, at least.
The dead do not exist. (from 1)
Therefore, death is not bad for the dead. (from 5 and 6)
Therefore death is bad for neither the living nor the dead. (from 4 and 7)

9. Death cont’d For whom is death bad?? “Symmetry Argument”
The past infinity of pre-natal non-existence is like the future
infinity of post-mortem non-existence
Symmetry Argument”
The past infinity of pre-natal non-existence is like the future infinity of post-mortem non-existence