Stoic philosophy of mind internet encyclopedia of philosophy. Stoics, epicureans and sceptics provides an introduction to the subject for all. I decided that one day i would write a book about them. Stoics, epicureans and sceptics the classical astrologer. There are four primary truths found in epicureanism. Epicureanism emerged at roughly the same time as stoicism, which was founded by zeno of citium c. Which lifestyle, epicurean or stoic, achieves the greatest amount of happiness. Stoicism had its beginnings in a changing world, in which earlier codes of conduct and ways of understanding proved no longer suitable. They, with the stoics, ridiculed the teaching of paul acts 17. Lucretius turns dry epicurean prose treatises into.
The stoic and epicurean understanding of happiness. Paul addresses an audience of stoic and epicurean philosophers at the areopagus. The difference between the democritean and epicurean philosophy of nature. The philosophers who followed aristotle 384322 bce were also known as the peripatetics, named for their habit of walking around the colonnades of the athenian lyceum. The universe is the result of random combinations of atoms into four elements, and elements into existing matter. Stereotypes always fall short, but in this case, the common understanding of what it means to be a follower of the stoics or epicureanism has dealt two vibrant philosophies a grave injustice. Stoic and epicurean two words that do not mean what people think they mean. Epicureanism taught that the highest state a person could attain was ataraxia absolute peaceand aponia complete absence of mental, emotional, and physical. They accepted the physics of democritus that the universe was composed entirely of empty space filled with atoms of differing shapes and weights that moved in nonlinear paths swerving smashing together and latching into greater structures, composing the universe. What seneca really said about epicureanism donald robertson.
Platonist, aristotelian, stoic, epicurean, and skeptic. He introduces readers to the fundamental ways in which happiness is created within the two philosophical perspectives, by juxtaposing the schools of thought to highlight criticisms and commonality between the two. The stoic philosophers, on the other hand, were named for the athenian stoa poikile. The stoics and epicureans, who are mentioned together in acts 17. Stoicism can be briefly defined as a program for achieving a tranquil life that finds value in adversity, promotes the use of reason to overcome emotion because reason is the attribute particular to. Their ideas seemed to me to be worthy of more than a few paragraphs. Similarly cleanthes prayer, cited by epictetus, manual 53ls 62b.
Epicurean philosophy holds that trouble in the soul is caused by two factors. Stoic a comparison chart with citations to sources in the ancient texts see also a comparison chart on the goal of life issue epicurean philosophy stoicism 1 does truth exist. The site thus covers the main philosophical traditions, from the presocratic to the contemporary philosophers, while trying to bring a philosophical reading to the cultural field in general, such as cinema, literature, politics or music. The stoic philosophical tradition in particular played an. Eric decides to go because he wants to drink some wine and relax. Glannon when the body is sustained by simple joys and when the mind is void of fear, life becomes fulfilling. I wouldnt count myself so correct as to say my five are the definitive ones. The stoics are one of five major philosophical schools in classical greece and rome. If you havent read a doctoral dissertation recently you will enjoy. Stoics and moral philosophy the 8 principles of stoicism. Epicureanism gets its name from epicurus 341 270 b. The epicureans were materialists in the modern, scientific sense.
By the ninth letter, seneca is openly criticising epicureanism, however. We may not agree with them, but from ancient times to the present, philosophers have explored many ideas about living well, the nature of a good life for human beings, the art of living, and the best routes to happiness. Stoicism over epicureanism, its principal rival, was decisive not only for ones ethical. Aristotle, as shakespeare knew, thought young men unfit to hear moral philosophy. The complete extant writings of epicurus, epictetus, lucretius and marcus aurelius whitney oates on. Stoic, epicurean and indeed sceptic ideas have come to form an important part of our own cultural backgroundoften misunderstood or altered, but then which thoughts of earlier generations are immune to that. If i had to choice between being an epicurean or a stoic, i think i would choose stoicism.
But it was also influenced by tenets of the older schools. Theres a big party on saturday night hosted by alcibiades, and he invites sabrina the stoic and eric the epicurean. What is the difference between epicureanism and stoicism. While both the epicureans and stoic philosophers highlight happiness, the epicurean understanding of happiness differs from the stoic understanding of happiness. The stoic did not differ merely in his ethics from the epicurean. Read compare and contrast epicureanism and stoicism on. This is one view cyclical conflagrations and recreations. Though certain aspects of what we in the 21st century mean by the terms friendship, sex, and love would be foreign to stoic and epicurean ears in hellenic and roman times, both philosophies still offer now what they promised then. The universe will end when one element earth, air, fire, water totally dominates.
They have been called the sadducees of greek paganism. The earliest greek philosophers, the milesians, had called attention to cosmic order and the beauty of nature. He rejects the epicurean doctrine that the wise man needs friends to achieve the goal of living a truly pleasant life, free from fear and pain. Compare and contrast epicurean and stoic philosophy. Epicureanism was introduced into rome in the early second.
Epicureanism revolves purely around pleasure, but people can achieve pleasure by doing bad things. They accepted the physics of democritus that the universe was composed entirely of empty space filled with atoms of differing shapes and weights that. The hostile reaction can however only be understood in terms of the history in the twentieth century of study of this period. Philosophers give reasons for their views, and do not rely, for the most part, on authority or revelation to carry the day. For as there is no benefit in medicine if it does not treat the diseases of the body, so with philosophy, if it does not drive out the affliction of the soul. The stoics are well known for their contributions to moral philosophy, and more recently they have also been recognized for their work in logic, grammar, philosophy of language, and epistemology. The stoics and the epicureans on friendship, sex, and love. English philosophers like bertrand russell and peter frederick strawson took up the relay.
One of the groups that debated with paul on the streets of athens was epicurean acts 17. Stoicism and epicureanism were the two main hellenistic schools of philosophy i. They accepted the physics of democritus that the universe was composed entirely of empty space filled with atoms of differing shapes and w. First, democritus had apparently held that when atoms combine to form a. If so, how is it defined, is it attainable, and how. Earth,w these philosophers continued to fascinate and challenge me. Stoic and epicureantwo words that do not mean what people think they mean. The image of the stoic is the unfeeling, emotionless brute and the epicurean as the pleasureloving, selfindulgent hedonist.
In his book stoics, epicureans and skeptics, classicist r. The epicureans the epicureans were materialists in the modern, scientific sense. Both were fashionable in the roman era, stoicism in romes early time, more forceful years and lifelong among the level and file of roman population, and epicureanism at the back of closed doors, particularly at the highest levels of the territory. The stoic philosopher a quarterly ejournal published by the marcus aurelius school of the college of stoic philosophers octnovdec 2012. As with the epicureans, then, we see a sometimes curious blend of ethical and. He had more devoted followers and bitter enemies than any of the early. Sabrina decides to go because there are some people she wants to get advice from some wise friends. What are the main differences between epicureanism and stoicism. Get an answer for compare and contrast epicurean and stoic philosophy.
The complete extant writings of epicurus, epictetus, lucretius, marcus aurelius whitney j. Stoic and epicurean psychology history of psychology. Judging by the obituaries, strawson would have to go down as a very successful epicurean as he was noted for leading a remarkably pleasant and happy life in step with an equally pleasant style of. The epicurean sage, or one who has attained the ideal which epicureanism sets forth, is one who, given that his basic needs are met shelter, food, etc.
We already know that the stoics had much in common with the early christians. Some scholars find many traces of stoicism in the new testament, particularly in the teachings of the apostle paul. Heres another narrative to understand the distinctions. The volume emphasizes the interrelation of the differ. I thought it might be helpful to give the basics of stoicism.
Stoic as well as the epicurean philosophic sch ools rose in prominence to challenge and provide alternatives to some of the basic, f undamentally nonmaterialistic ass umptions that. The difference between the democritean and epicurean. You might also want to ask alexander palmer, hes been tremendously compreh. Epictetus was a stoic philosopher, one of many to be found in rome and. Difference between the democritean and epicurean philosophy of nature in general i. These philosophers followed the teachings of epicurus, 341270 b. Stoic philosophers, in contrast to epicureans, believed that there are many things outside of our control in life, and therefore many things which. Epicurus, principal doctrines 21 empty is the word of that philosopher by whom no affliction of men is cured. Epicureanism instead of trying to win over whole cities and nations as had previous philosophers, epicurus instead aimed at attracting individuals to an epicurean subculture while observing the religious and legal forms of the larger society an important consideration in an era when philosophers were routinely executed or exiled for impiety. We might object here that since epicureans like almost all hellenistic philosophers. Epicurus believed that we naturally search for pleasure and avoid pain. Skeptics which zeno and epicurus in particular took.
But if you grab a stoic off the street and ask, chances are theyll provide a similar answer. There is practical comparison between stoicism and epicureanism, in spite of their theoretical differences. It makes it simple to believe that death should not be cause for fear. This philosophy was a system of atheism, and taught men to seek as their highest aim a pleasant and smooth life. Epicurus, founder of the school of philosophy called epicureanism. Opinions on the relationship between democritean and epicurean physics. The stoic school was founded by zeno of citium cir. The stoic position is that the wise man is selfsufficient but that he prefers to have friends, fate permitting. In the former category, the most prominent is the fear of death. And yet it was a questionor rather the questionof moral philosophy.