Epicurus (Classic Reprint)

Explore the thought and temperament of Epicurus in a concise, scholarly portrait.

This compact study examines the man behind the name, not a full history of a school. It places Epicurus in his era, tracing how his ideas and the lives of his followers shaped what we call Epicurean philosophy today. This edition foregrounds the sources and aims to illuminate how Epicurus related to Democritus, Aristotle, and the philosophical currents of his time. It covers his approach to physics, perception, and the nature of reality, while also offering insight into ethics, happiness, and the Epicurean view of the gods and mortality. The author writes with care to keep the material accessible to readers new to the topic while still useful to students and scholars.

• Clear explanation of Epicurus’ atomic theory and how it was adapted from earlier thinkers
• Discussion of the Epicurean view on perception, sensation, and the nature of reality
• Context on religion, immortality, and the pursuit of a tranquil life
• Chapter-by-chapter framing that connects ideas to the broader history of Greek philosophy