Welcome!
As mankind prepares to colonize first Mars and then beyond, will we take with us an understanding of Nature that is less advanced than that of Epicurus two thousand years ago? One goal of Epicurus Today is to make sure that doesn't happen by introducing new generations to the study of Epicurus!
Whether you are preparing to fly to the stars or just get out of bed in the morning, if you are like the rest of us, you have lots of questions about where the universe came from, how we as human beings got here, how we should spend our time, and what (if anything) happens to us after we die. Almost everyone asks questions like that, but not everyone is willing to take a closer look at the answers we have been spoon-fed since childhood.
If you too are willing to pursue controversial questions, and if you insist on evidence before accepting any answer, then you're in the right place. That's the type of person Epicurus was two thousand years ago, and that's the type of person who will feel at home in our Epicurean community.
While much has changed since Epicurus' time, the basic teachings of Epicurus ring true today just as they did then. On behalf of our modern community of like-minded friends of Epicurus, we welcome you to the exploration of the Epicurean worldview.
Why Study Epicurus?
Why study a philosophy that's now more than two thousand years old? Hasn't so much changed since then that Epicurean philosphy is now obsolete, a relic of the an cient world of interest only to historians? The reason we study Epicurus today, and the reason that his philosophy is far from obsolete, is that Epicurus provides life-altering insights that make perfect sense today just as they did in the ancient world. For example, Epicurus will help you reevaluate for yourself some of the most basic questions of life:
- From where did the universe come? Was it created by a god? Does everything happen randomly, or mechanically?
- What happens to us when we die? Do we have souls that survive after death to be rewarded or punishment for our choices in life?
- How do we know how to live? Is there a difference between "right" living and "wrong" living? Does a god tell us? Does reason or logic tell us?
- Is the goal of life to be a "good person," or to be "virtuous," or to be "happy?" What does "happiness" really mean?
- Is there really any way to answer these questions, or to be confident about anything?
Those who start reading Epicurus because they think they will find a non-medical equivalent of a tranquilizer pill will be sorely disappointed. Many will find Epicurus' views upsetting at first glance. Epicurus rejects many of the most "comfortable" modern beliefs that people often use to calm their anxieties. Epicurus rejects the "comforting" idea that there are supernatural gods looking after us, and that the gods reward those who are good and punish those who are evil after death. He also rejects the "comforting" idea that we should hand our lives over to fate because everything is out of our control and it's useless to try to change anything, and that we bear should not worry about having tobe responsible for what happens to us in the future. Epicurus also rejects the "comforting" idea that there's no use in worrying about what is "true," because everyone has their own truth and that it's impossible to know what is real anyway.
So let's not waste your time or ours: Right from the beginning we will explain the fundamentals of Epicurean philosophy in stark terms. Many people will not agree with what they read here, and we wish them well as they move on to other philosophies and religions. For those who decide to read further, we'll let you know as quickly as possible what to expect as you read further.
Where Do I Start?
Epicurean philosophy is not difficult, but gaining a clear understanding of it requires time and effort. It cannot be understood by reading a couple of paragraphs at Wikipedia, or watching the many superficial videos about Epicurus at Youtube. Most of all, what you need to know is that Epicurean philosophy is deeply controversial and revolutionary in its implications, and two thousand years of majority opinion leaders have devoted their strongest efforts to smearing and distorting what Epicurus taught.
Before we dive into the details of Epicurean Philosophy, be aware that the Epicureans were highly critical of Socrates for not speaking clearly and plainly as to what he thought was right and wrong. Today what is known as the "Socratic Method" of endless question and answer is often used to frustrate new students who simply want to know the where they are going before they reach the end. Epicurus taught that we should be clear every step of the way, learning about both the trees and the forest at the same time, so we can understand how the details support the big picture.
Following that method, here at the beginning is a list of key the top-level conclusions -the answers you really came here to find. You won't understand the full meaning of this list on first, second, or tenth reading, because there are many subtleties to each. Even a short glance, however, is enough for most people to quickly grasp how much time they'll want to spend studying Epicurus:
- Nothing can be created from nothing.
- The universe is infinite in size and eternal in time and has no gods over it.
- The nature of gods contains nothing that is inconsistent with incorruption and blessedness.
- Death is nothing to us.
- There is no necessity to live under the control of necessity.
- He who says "nothing can be known" knows nothing.
- All sensations are true.
- Virtue is not absolute or an end in itself. All good and evil consists in sensation.
- Pleasure is the guide of life.
- By pleasure we mean all experience that is not painful.
- Life is desirable, but unlimited time contains no greater pleasure than limited time.
Each of these statements and needs much further explanation, but first let's run through the Epicurean Paradigm Shift - what amounts to an Epicurean vocabularly lesson, and from here you'll begin to grasp the profound Paradigm Shift that characterizes Epicurean Philosophy.
