| epicurus |
| metaphysics |
|
everything is composed of atoms, therefore all events can be explained as the results of the collosions and entanglements of these atoms (everything else is void).
such atoms aren't created, but merely have always been - therefore, the universe, being made up of such atoms, has always been; it is only the shape of our cosmos which is temporal (in simplistic terms, the universe is limitless). |
| disbelief of gods |
| the gods do not cause natural phenomenas - atoms do. appeasing the gods is pointless. the gods don't care about what we do or don't do. "they, being gods, have given themselves better things to occupy their time with." therefore, the destination of life should be the achievement of pleasure, void of fearing wrathful gods. |
| the mind |
|
the mind must be a bodily thing, as it is both influenced by and influences the body. the mind can't be intangible, as the only non-bodily thing is void, and therefore can't act or be acted upon.
the four particles of the mind fire air wind "nameless element" |
| perception |
| perception is made up of atoms whamming into our sensory organs and those organs reacting depending on the atom. |
| ethics |
| the only thing of fundamental value is self pleasure. anything else of supposed value really just ends up in eventually securing pleasure for oneself (psychological hedonism). one should act on what would be pleasurable in the long run. |
| types of pleasure |
|
moving pleasure - sensory titillation, such as enjoying the taste of food when hungry
static pleasure - satisfaction, such as the enjoyment of being full. |
| desires |
|
natural, necessary desire - food, water (easy to satisfy, hard to eliminate)
natural, non-necessay desire - extravagance of all sorts (nice to have, but one shouldn't depend on it) vain & empty desires - wealth, power (insatiable because of their unlimitlessness, not intrinsically human, but intrinsically social) |
| virtues |
| courage and moderation and other such characteristics are important, but only because of their potential for self pleasure, not simply because they're important unto themselves. |
| death |
|
death is annihilation, therefore, there's nothing to worry about.
the symmetry argument - those fearing death should be made to consider the time before their birth. common conception is not to have existed for eternity before life, thus, death should mirror an equal lack of life. |