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Epicurus Today

Epicurus Today

Learning About And Living By Nature. Applying The Ideas Of Epicurus, The Great Discoverer Of Truth And The Master-builder of Human Happiness.
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Searching The Nature of Things For The Best Possible Life

”It was a man of Greece whp first dared to raise his mortal eyes to stand up to religion and to the tigtly-barred gates it had set on the doors of Nature. The stories of gods and thunderbolts did not stop him,, but only spurred him on in mind and spirit to traversed the boundless universe. In victory he returned to us to relate what can be and what cannot. And so this man cast underfoot the false tales of religion, and by his victory we are raised to the skies.”

From the time of ancient Greece and Rome to today, Epicurus has inspired forward-thinking people from all walks of life. Epicurus taught that human happiness rests on a correct understanding of the nature of the universe. The fundamentals are simple: The universe is entirely natural. Fate, and supernatural gods or forces do not exist. (2) Our minds are as mortal as our bodies. We only live once, and When we die we forever cease to exist. (3) Pleasure and pain of mind and body are the guides given to us by Nature. There are no absolute rules of good and evil that apply to all people at all times and at all places. There are many implications of these fundamental views, but if you agree with Epicurus so far then you are in the right place.

Explaining How Knowledge Is Possible

”If anyone thinks that he knows nothing, he cannot be sure that he knows this, when he confesses that he knows nothing at all. I shall avoid disputing with such a trifler, who perverts all things, and like a tumbler with his head prone to the earth, can go no otherwise than backwards. Not only must all reason give way, but life itself wille fall to the ground, unless you choose to trust the senses and shun pitfalls and other such dangers that must be avoided. All that host of words which have been arrayed against the senses are empty nonsense.”

How do we know that Epicurus was right about nature, about death, about pleasure and pain, or about anything else? Epicurus laughed at those who teach that knowledge is impossible. Knowledge does not require that we know everthimg about everything. Knowledge comes through a proper use of the five senses, our ability to recognize patterns among the constant changes around us, and in our Nature-given feelings of Pleasure and Pain. Once we have those firmly in hand, we have all we need for living happily.

Living Happily According To Nature

”In this way Epicurus represents the wise man as continually happy: he keeps his passions within bounds; about death he is indifferent; he holds true views concerning the eternal gods apart from all dread; and he has no hesitation in crossing the boundary of life, if that be the better course. Furnished with these advantages, the wise man is continually in a state of pleasure, and there is in truth no moment at which he does not experience more pleasures than pains. For he remembers the past with thankfulness, and the present is so much his own that he is aware of its importance and its agreeableness, nor is he dependent on the future, but awaits it while enjoying the present … and when he compares the fool’s life with his own, he feels great pleasure. Pains, if any befall him, have never power enough to prevent the wise man from finding more reasons for joy than for vexation.”

For Epicurus and every thinking person, “pleasure” includes not just bodily stimulation, but everything in life that is desirable, both of the body and the mind. Epicureans recognize that the pursuit of science, art, and music are no less important to happiness than food, drink, and sex! Once you expel the false morality of conventional priests and philosophers, you see that it is Nature that tells you how to live through pleasure and pain.

Studying The Nature Of Things As A Team Sport

”Exercise thyself in these and kindred precepts day and night, both by thyself and with him who is like unto thee; then never, either in waking or in dream, wilt thou be disturbed, but wilt live as a god among men. For man loses all semblance of mortality by living in the midst of immortal blessings.” … “And most of all give yourself up to the study of the beginnings and of infinity and of the things akin to them, and also of the criteria of truth and of the feelings, and of the purpose for which we reason out these things.”

Epicurus taught his students to work together with like-minded friends to seek out the truth about the universe, as this is the best way to find the best life possible. If you share the Epicurean worldview, join with us at EpicureanFriends.com, our friendly and cooperative online community. No trolls allowed!

Providing And Protecting A Friendly No-Politics Zone

”We must free ourselves from the prison of public education and politics.” … “In investigating nature I would prefer to speak openly and like an oracle to give answers serviceable to all mankind, even though no one should understand me, rather than to conform to popular opinions and so win the praise freely scattered by the mob.”

At EpicurusToday and EpicureanFriends.com, our first, last, and only focus is to on learning and applying the philosophy of Epicurus. Everyone is different in what makes them happy, and how you apply Epicurean philosophy in your own life is up to you. Our mission here is to study and promote the core concepts taught by Epicurus two thousand years ago. In our activities we enforce a strict ban against partisan and divisive modern politics.

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Going From Here

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