In contrast to its modern connotations, the goal of Epicureanism is tranquility, which is achieved by moderating our desires, not by indulging them; it teaches us to understand our needs and desires so we can live a happy life.. is a Hellenistic school or system of philosophy based on the teachings of the ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus. Amidst somewhat likeness, the root principles come from entirely two different minds. After the official approval of Christianity by the Roman Emperor Constantine (272 - 337) in 313 A.D., Epicureanism was repressed as essentially irreconcilable with Christian teachings, and the school endured a long period of obscurity . Christianity and Stoicism: Logic, Physics, and Ethics In terms of logic, Christianity can be understood in three parts. As you can see, Epicureanism disagreed with Christianity on an awful lot: cosmology, theodicy, the meaning of life. All of this simply goes to say that Christian Platonism is exactly . In the surviving Discourses, Epictetus is shown discussing the rival philosophical school of Epicureanism at considerable length with his Stoic students. Background: These philosophers followed the teachings of Epicurus, 341-270 B.C. Epicureanism became a special target for the growing power of Christianity because its positions were anathema to the Christian doctrines of the afterlife. True Stoicism says to align one's expectations with the logos the natural law of the cosmosand not to worry about the rest. By Cassius Amicus Published May 22, 2012 Against Platonism, False Religion, Introductory Material, Mortality and Death, Norman W. DeWitt, Stoicism (Against) Norman DeWitt, who is in my opinion the author of the best book on Epicurus written since the ancient world, also wrote a second book: "St. Paul and Epicurus . Paul asserts in Romans 1 that those who reject the knowledge of God will become ensnared in "vile passions," and because of their "debased mind" will be "filled with all unrighteousness . The school he founded was particularly egalitarian, accepting women and slaves. The former is a materialist philosophy, claiming that nothing exists beyond the empirical realm that humans can know about. No, its conclusions are familiar for another reasonthey sound like those of modern secular culture. Statistics; . Epicureanism Vs. Yet, Gassendi accepted Christ Jesus as his Lord and Savior. Epicureans are still found as late as the 200's AD. The relation has its foundation in Jesus as the physical manifestation of God. Asking questions like "Which one's end result is better for living nowadays" is very important for the growth of both the community and the person. 3. Perception is the basis of all reasona pure empirical epistemology. Epicureanism was highly influential in the Hellenistic Age. Also, Epicureans held their "physical theory from the pre-Socratic philosopher Democritus," while Stoics hailed their "physical to pre-Socratic philosopher Heraclitus" (Ferguson 378). Like Stoicism, it emerged during chaotic times, and offered a security and peace that could lead to happiness. Piper defines Christian hedonism in this way: "Christian Hedonism is the conviction that God's ultimate goal in the world (his glory) and our deepest desire (to be happy) are one and the same, because God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.". 7. They are . His name is not generally to the fore in contemporary treatments of utilitarianism, but the three Victorian founders of the doctrine, Bentham, Mill, and Sidgwick, looked back to Epicurus as an important precursor on the basis of his hedonistic theory of value. Epicurus Vs Augustine. Initially, there is the undeniable doctrine of "the Trinity," which teaches that God, as revealed in the Old and New Testaments, actually exists in three persons. Epicureanism suggests leading a simplistic life with friends while the Stoic perspective is accepting life as it comes. The Stoics believed in "upholding the structures of society and . Gregory of Nazian-zus, for example, explicitly declares that Epicurus "gave support to his doctrine by his decent and sober way of life," for otherwise his advocacy of pleasure might be misunderstood (Poem. "Nihilist and Christian - They Rhyme In German.." From Nietzsche's Antichrist Reference to Epicurus 3. This thought, from the ancient philosopher Epictetus, is one of the foundational aspects of Stoicism. Epicureanism was originally a challenge to Platonism. 2. Pain and suffering were bad, happiness and fulfillment were good. He wanted humans to be free of fear, live bravely and kindly, and help themselves, as well as others, to feel true bliss. In ancient polemics, as often since, the term was employed with an even more generic (and clearly erroneous) meaning as the equivalent of hedonism, the doctrine that . Both represented facts, but separated ones. What is the role. Epicureanism has gotten a bad rap in modern times because of a misunderstanding of its basic tenets. The possession of inward, spiritual rectitude. In this chapter I conduct a conversation, as it were, between Epicurus and the three Victorians . The philosophical base of Stocism is physics, or the . 3. Although he accepted atoms and the void as the ultimate components of the physical world, he explicitly rejected the aspects of Epicureanism offensive to orthodox Christianity: polytheism, a corporeal conception of the divine nature, the negation of all providence, the denial of creation ex nihilo, the infinitude and eternity of atoms and the . 2. 1. 22. p.75 n.3 Ibid., c. I. Stoicism and Epicureanism were two major philosophical schools in the Hellenistic-Roman period. both leaned considerably toward Epicureanism. of the . They differ in several aspects but both share the belief that the human person is immortal and death is the cessation of bodily functions but one's soul exists for a time disembodied. Stoicism was first taught by Zeno around 300 BC in the stoa poikile (painted colonnade) in the Agora in Athens. Stoics attempted to reach a moral level where they had freedom from passion while Epicureans strove for pleasure and avoided all types of pain. Epicureanism is an ancient Greek philosophical system taught by Epicurus. The object of Epicurus was to find in philosophy a practical guide to . 20. p.75 n.1 A clear statement of the points of resemblance and of contrast in the teaching of Stoicism and Christianity may be found in Fisher, The Grounds of Theistic and Christian Belief, pp. Stoic philosophy was introduced by Zeno of . For the Christian tradition, by contrast, the mystery of the TrinityGod's oneness of essence and threeness of personsis something to be adored and praised. He was an advocate for seeking out carnal desires; however, he also knew the significance of experiencing pain in life. It's a certain medieval christian bias that led to the interpretation of Epicureanism as the pursuit of sensual pleasure. Lucretius (94-55 b.c. Epicureanism states that one should not be focused only on pleasure and that's exactly how I feel. A key aspect of both systems as philosophies seems to be eliminating false beliefs and ignorance. Piper goes on to reference the Westminster Shorter Catechism's famous . noir of all anti-Epicureanism, Epicurus's ethics, both personal and philosophic, elicits from the Fathers on occasion. He seems to have been obssessed by suffering, death and the. For the Platonic tradition, the Christian belief that God is both one and three is irrational and unacceptable. Forum List; Latest Posts; General Discussion; Latest Threads; Welcome New Users; Dashboard. Moral. Naturalism vs Christianity. After the official approval of Christianity by the Roman Emperor Constantine (272 - 337) in 313 A.D., Epicureanism was repressed as essentially irreconcilable with Christian teachings, and the school endured a long period of obscurity . Epicureanism taught that the highest state a person could attain was ataraxia absolute peaceand aponia complete absence of mental, emotional, and physical distress or need. Epicureanism, in a strict sense, the philosophy taught by Epicurus (341-270 bce). I fully agree with this reference to Nietszche as recorded at Wikipedia: "For Friedrich Nietzsche, humanism was nothing more than an empty figure of speech - a . Augustine, a theological philosopher, believed in everything through the Catholic God and was deeply rooted in his faith. No spin, no lies; the two philosophies, side-by-side, in their own words. In a broad sense, it is a system of ethics embracing every conception or form of life that can be traced to the principles of his philosophy. ii. Few writings by Epicurus have survived. ), a Rom. Both are Hellenistic philosophy that originated in Athens, Greece. Epicurus (341-270 BCE) was an ancient Greek philosopher known today (particularly in skeptical circles) for providing what some claim is a knockdown argument against belief in God.Epicurus' argument focuses on the problem of evil and how it might present a problem for a classical concept of God generally embraced by theists; Epicurus presents the following set of questions and propositions, Early Christians adapted teaching of Greek philosophers to their new religion. Without suffering, people would indefinitely take everything for granted. both leaned considerably toward Epicureanism. The founder of Epicureanism was, of course, Epicurus, a historical figure about whom we know a good deal. Epicureanism is a system of philosophy founded around 307 BC based upon the teachings of the ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus. (Ferguson, Backgrounds of Early Christianity, p. 298). Therefore, both of these schools offer ways to avoid pain in life for the highest good. He lived between 341 and 269 BCE in Greece. Christianity and Hellenistic philosophies experienced complex interactions during the first to the fourth centuries.. As Christianity spread throughout the Hellenic world, an increasing number of church leaders were educated in Greek philosophy.The dominant philosophical traditions of the Greco-Roman world then were Stoicism, Platonism, Epicureanism, and, to a lesser extent, the skeptic . Epicurus was a materialist, following in the steps of Democritus and the school of . Similarly, Epicurus advised Menoeceus to acknowledge the reality of the perfect existence. ), "is precisely this direction toward the supersensuous world, -- it seeks the elevation of consciousness into the realm of spirit. The Roman Empire ruled during the New Testament Christian was able to roam freely and spread the Gospel. Later its main opponent became Stoicism . The Epicurus And Epicurean Philosophy Discussion Forum. The founder of Epicureanism was, of course, Epicurus, a historical figure about whom we know a good deal. Stoicism was established, also in ancient Greece, by Zeno of Citium (334-262 BCE), who was therefore a contemporary of Epicurus (indeed, the two schools were rivals throughout the Hellenistic and . This belief was not in the beginning the result of positive teaching. In consequence of the demise of ancient materialist or corporealist thought such as Epicureanism and Stoicism . "The peculiarity of the Platonic philosophy," says Hegel, in his "History of Philosophy" (vol. Epicurean empiricism prefigured that of Locke, Berkeley, and Hume. CrossRef Google Scholar Brunschwig , J. Forum. Oct 4th 2021 Epicurus said that there is no Creator, that nothing can come from nothing, and that a perfect being would not intentionally disrupt human history. If so, how is it defined, is it attainable, and how? The poet Horace (65 - 8 B.C.) Unmoved Mover; deathless; can be separated from 'the material'. . Christianity, based on the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, teaches love, compassion, charity, and forgiveness. Whereas Epicureanism is most similar to Chrvka and, to an extent jvika and Vaisheshika, early Buddhism shares intellectual similarities with Ajana and Prryhonian Skepticism, and the meditative practices with Vedanta and Yoga. The term humanism is contemporary to that period, while Renaissance humanism is a retronym used to distinguish it from later humanist developments.. Renaissance humanism was a response to what came to be depicted by later whig . the sacrifice of Iphigenia by her father. The Epicurean cares only about material things and pleasure while the stoic care about spiritual things and virtue. Epicurus (341-270) was born on the island of Samos in Ionia. What do you think about Epicurus? Both were very influential, although they differed on many topics, which we will discuss today. Epicureanism gets its name from the philosophy of Epicurus, another ancient Greek philosopher. Buddhism's propositions are much closer to Epicurus' opponents than to Epicurus in any meaningful way. disassociation into constituent atoms; end of consciousness; 'sleep' = soul dies. The term "Neoplatonism" refers to a philosophical school of thought that first emerged and flourished in the Greco-Roman world of late antiquity, roughly from the time of the Roman Imperial Crisis to the Arab conquest, i.e., the middle of the 3 rd to the middle of the 7 th century. One was a class of men and minds who had started from the very high truth that good was sure to be the highest happiness, and had degenerated quickly into the mere pursuit of happiness and . 130-137. The stoic believes that everything is in our control, while the Epicurean believes that there is nothing that can be controlled. He even appears to criticize some of his students for failing to attain Stoic virtue by accusing them of being mere . ), a philosopher of Attic descent, whose "Garden" at Athens rivalled in popularity the "Porch" and the "Academy." The doctrines of Epicurus found wide acceptance in Asia Minor and Alexandria. The greatest disturber of tranquillity of mind and the most prolific source of all evils is the belief that the gods punish evildoers. For many years the writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer have touched many lives in the Christian community. and Neoplatonism Epicureanism. A number of observations jump out - primarily: Thomas Aquinas was a defender of "happiness," but just as with Aristotle, the devil is in the definitions, and Aquinas goes to great lengths to separate happiness from pleasure. He was a former student of Socrates, and he witnessed the execution of Socrates. I like to have a good time and enjoy myself, but in moderation because that should not be what life is all about. This (1) by faith in Jesus Christ, and (2) as the outgrowth of love to him. Plato vs. Christianity. Stoicism and Epicureanism were two influential schools of thought that were founded in the Hellenistic period and developed further during the Roman empire. Epicureanism is a philosophical system in which the central idea states that the external world is a series of fortuitous combinations of atoms and that the highest good is pleasure . and Julius Caesar (100 - 44 B.C.) He said worship of the Greek gods and said the afterlife was nonsense. Stoicism (slightly modified): . The Christian religion also has set up this high principle, that the internal . Abstract PDF It has long been a fixed belief in the cultural tradition of western Europe that of the ancient moralities it is Stoicism that exhibits the closest affinity with Christianity. ( 1986 ) 'The Cradle Argument in Epicureanism and Stoicism', in Schofield , and Striker , 1986 : 113-44 . The being counted right (or righteous) by God. The Epicureans and the Stoics were the chief rivals for the allegiance of educated . Stoicism was established, also in ancient Greece, by Zeno of Citium (334-262 BCE), who was therefore a contemporary of Epicurus (indeed, the two schools were rivals throughout the Hellenistic and . Epicureanism is a way of thinking; a logical progression from atomic theory to our philosophical purpose which is to be happy. Epicurus devised a system of philosophy that aimed to define the goal of human life as well as offer a theory of knowledge (among many other things). How to Be an Epicurean By Catherine Wilson Basic Books, 304pp, 30/$30 "Our starting point will be this principle: nothing is ever created by divine power out of nothing." So begins Lucretius . Gods exist, but now dwell apart from the world; they did not create the world, so . C. This is not to be misunderstood with modern Hedonism. Renaissance humanism was a revival in the study of classical antiquity, at first in Italy and then spreading across Western Europe in the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries. THAT THE POSSESSION OF RIGHTEOUSNESS ISSUES IN PEACE AND JOY. Like Plato, Antisthenes was disgusted with the world around him. It seemed, though, that he liked the philosophy of Democritus better. The founder of Cynicism is said to be Antisthenes, who was about forty when he watched Athens defeated in the Peloponnesian War. (95-50 B.C.) So begins Lucretius's 1st-century BC poem De Rerum Natura, an expression of the ancient philosophy of Epicureanism. Christianity, and maybe even a sprinkle of fatalism or nihilism depending on the day. Epicurus, it is said, wrote 300 books. With the removal of fear of the gods came two advantages for the Epicureans. Christianity was interpreted as revealed in the writing of philosophers. Epicureanism went defunct . Plato believed in immortality and dualism (the idea that humans are . 3. As with the Stoics, Aquinas goes the route of circular reasoning with "virtue," which he never defines except . 21. p.75 n.2 De Praescriptione Haereticorum, c. 42. Epicureans and Stoics these two classes of men represented the two opposite points of the sphere of life. This thought, from the ancient philosopher Epictetus, is one of the foundational aspects of Stoicism. IV. Epicureans, The, derived their name from Epicurus (342-271 B.C. WRIGHT: So I wanted to do a compare and contrast with Stoicism and Buddhism. The Buddha called it nirvana and Epicurus knew it as ataraxia. Epicurean vs. Was Epicurus an undeclared utilitarian? . However, there are independent attestations of his ideas from his later disciples. The things that are up to us are inside of us, our feelings, opinions, and desires. It was founded around 307 B.C., and was based in Epicurus' home and garden (the school was often called "The Garden"). Epicureans had an important influence on Christianity. But Moses established the standard of comparison for all future prophets, having received a specific and personal call from God (Exodus 3). He was born in 341 B.C. x. Compare also Davidson, The Stoic Creed. Similarities - Epicureanism and Stoicism 1. History. Christianity and Hellenistic philosophies experienced complex interactions during the first to the fourth centuries.. As Christianity spread throughout the Hellenic world, an increasing number of church leaders were educated in Greek philosophy.The dominant philosophical traditions of the Greco-Roman world then were Stoicism, Platonism, Epicureanism, and, to a lesser extent, the skeptic . Another experiential element focuses on clarity of thoughts and feelings as a means to a more enlightened condition. and Julius Caesar (100 - 44 B.C.) There may be gods, but their activities are inconsequential to life here on earth. and met his demise in 270 B.C. Repeating an older comment of mine on a previous thread on Epicureanism vs. He lived between 341 and 269 BCE in Greece. For example, many of the fundamental ideas associated with Epicureanism, an ancient philosophy from the Greeks, are very relatable to Christianity today. 1 . The Gospel of Saint John starts with text that looks a lot like Platonic ideas, framed in a way that reveals . Its origin is rather to be sought in a sympathetic reaction or association reflex. But Epicurean philosophy is about being precise with words, and keeping Nature - not idealism - at its center, so this is an issue which needs to be developed and understood. Everything is material, so, whatever "soul" there is, it is connected to the physical body and ceases to exist upon death. According to Gundry . In Luke 4:14-21, Jesus Christ reveals that He is fulfilling the prophet Isaiah's words (Isaiah 61:1-2). It focused on living a happy life here and now. Christian Estimate of Plato. The philosophy is comprised of three disciplines. (95-50 B.C.) He states that Epicureanism is "unfearing of God, unsuspecting of death, the good easily obtained, suffering to be borne patiently."16 Epicurus was no evil man, nor was he a heretic. 3. The Cynics Antisthenes and Diogenes. On a metaphysical level, Epicureanism and Christianity fundamentally contravene each other. He stopped hanging out with fellow . The things that are up to us are inside of us, our feelings, opinions, and desires. The Epicureans understood that sensual pleasure was fleeting, and would quickly move over into its opposite if chased too vehemently. In essence, God is the Father, the Son, and the Holy You write in How to Be a Stoic that you personally find Buddhism "a bit too mystical, its texts opaque and hard to interpret."At the same time, you acknowledge that there really are some fundamental commonalities, or commonalities of perspective, between Buddhism and Stoicism. Cassius; Jul 29th 2021; Cassius; Jul 30th 2021; Replies 3 Views 489. The exhibition of integrity in word and deed. Religion, source of evil. They are . Epicureanism and Stoicism compared. I . 787-792).17 Sadly, only fragments survive. The poet Horace (65 - 8 B.C.) Answer (1 of 10): Quite thoroughly. Stoicism Epicurus was a great philosopher that founded the Epicurean belief. Typically his comments are scathingly critical of Epicureanism. separation from body; ascent to uppermost sphere; continued consciousness. . Smith's Bible Dictionary says: "Derived their name from Epicurus (342-271 B.C. St. Paul vs. Epicurus. Any person can attain this goal. STOICS AND EPICUREANS By Mark Moore & Mark Scott I. Epicureans A. In contrast to its modern connotations, the goal of Epicureanism is tranquility, which is achieved by moderating our desires, not by indulging them; it teaches us to understand our needs and desires so we can live a happy life.. Second, there is no judgment during life. This was due to St. Augustine of Hippo, who was influenced by the early Neoplatonists Plotinus and Porphyry, as well as the works of the Christian writer Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite, who was influenced by later Neoplatonists . People today tend to think it represents ultimate, decadent . Lucretius was a famous Roman Epicurean in the time of Julius Caesar who wrote a long book on the subject, On the Nature of Things (De Rerum Natura). At 19, he went to Athens to study at the Academy. to Atheism vs Christianity I don't acknowledge that Jesus existed, but that he can be judged by what the Bible says his wisdom was. Therefore, Epicureans classify human desires as either natural (part of human nature), or non-natural (e.g., power, fame, fortune). First, there is no judgment after death; therefore, death shouldn't be feared. Stoics like the Epicureans emphasized ethics as the main field of knowledge but they also developed theories of logic and natural science to support. Both Judaism and Islam are similar in that they do not recognize Jesus as the Son of God or His . The impact he has had and continues to have in today's society is incredible and the reason for this paper is to examine the merits of his work and to look at his life and his particular place in Christian history . Neoplatonism was a major influence on Christian theology throughout Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages in the West. Epicurean, wrote, "Most often it is religion itself that inspires impious and criminal acts": e.g. Plato and Christianity are views with different ideas of afterlife. To fully incorporate both of these doctrines into everyday life would be impossible. 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? Epicurus, a scientific philosopher, based his beliefs on life around his scientific theories and observations. Brown, E. (2002) ' Epicurus on the Value of Friendship (Sententia Vaticana 23) ', Classical Philology 97: 68 - 80. ), a philosopher of Attic descent, whose 'Garden' at Athens rivalled in popularity the 'Porch' and the 'Academy.' The doctrines of Epicurus found wide acceptance in Asia Minor and Alexandria. Therefore, Epicureans classify human desires as either natural (part of human nature), or non-natural (e.g., power, fame, fortune). Epicureanism, like Stoicism, lasted throughout the Roman Empire. -- Epicurus . An ancient forebear to today's atheist materialists, Lucretius attributes most.