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Episode 232 - Cicero's On The Nature of The Gods - Part 07 - Velleius Attacks The Platonist And Aristotelian Views Of Gods

Date: 06/15/24
Link: https://www.epicureanfriends.com/thread/3894-episode-232-cicero-s-otnotg-07-velleius-attacks-the-platonist-and-aristotelian-v/


Democritus significantly influenced Epicurean philosophy, particularly in atomism, but Epicurus diverged on determinism and the attainability of truth. - Epicurus emphasized the importance of determining knowable truths to achieve happiness, contrasting with Democritus’ skepticism. - Epicurus critiqued traditional theological views, asserting that gods are blessed and incorruptible, unlike Democritus’ divine images linked to knowledge. - Sensation and preconceptions (prolepsis) are crucial in Epicurean thought, with Epicurus trusting these faculties for understanding the gods through non-visual images. - The podcast criticizes Plato and Aristotle’s inconsistent and contradictory theological views, which Epicurus and his followers found logically and empirically flawed.


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