"The Essential Epicurus," compiled from ancient texts, distills the core teachings of Epicurus, the Greek philosopher who championed a life of tranquil pleasure free from fear and pain. Central to his philosophy is the pursuit of happiness through modest pleasure, friendship, and philosophical contemplation. Rejecting superstition and divine intervention, Epicurus argued for the rational pursuit of peace and the embrace of a simple life, emphasizing the importance of understanding the natu...

'It is impossible to live the pleasant life without also living sensibly, nobly and justly'The ancient Greek philosopher and teacher Epicurus argued that pleasure - not sensual hedonism, but the absence of pain or fear - is the highest goal of life. His hugely influential lessons on happiness are a call to appreciate the joy of being alive.One of twenty new books in the bestselling Penguin Great Ideas series. This new selection showcases a diverse ...

This collection brings together four classic essays on Stoic philosophy from the Ancient Greek world.Is there an answer to the question 'How does one lead a happy life?' Certainly one ancient Greek school of philosophy believed that there was: lead a life of virtue, one in harmony with nature and do not be swayed by fortune or misfortune.First propounded by Zeno of Citium, Stoicism has resonated through the ages and, today, it seems even more pertinent as w...

Epicurus' Epistle to Menoeceus is a summary of the ethical teachings of Epicurean philosophy written in the epistolary literary style, and addressed to a student. It addresses theology, the hierarchies of desires, how to carry choices and avoidances in order to achieve net pleasure, and other aspects of Epicurean ethics. It is the most important of the three surviving letters of Epicurus.Epicurus was an ancient Greek philosopher and sage who founded Epicureanism, a...

The Greek Philosopher behind Nearly Every Bad Idea

Epicurus was an ancient Greek philosopher and sage who founded Epicureanism, a highly influential school of philosophy. He was born on the Greek island of Samos to Athenian parents. Influenced by Democritus, Aristippus, Pyrrho, and possibly the Cynics, he turned against the Platonism of his day and established his own school, known as "the Garden", in Athens. Epicurus and his followers were known for eating simple meals and discussing a wide range of philosophical subjects...

The brilliant writings of a highly influential Greek philosopher, with a foreword by Daniel Klein, author of Travels with EpicurusThe teachings of Epicurus—about life and death, religion and science, physical sensation, happiness, morality, and friendship—attracted legions of adherents throughout the ancient Mediterranean world and deeply influenced later European thought. Though Epicurus faced hostile opposition for centuries after his death, he counts am...

“It is folly for a man to pray to the gods for that which he has the power to obtain by himself.”-EpicurusFounded in the fourth century BC, Epicureanism was the main alternative philosophy to its popular rival Stoicism. Based upon the teachings of Greek philosopher Epicurus, the philosophy propounded an ethic of individual pleasure as the sole or chief good in life. Epicurus advocated living in such a way as to derive the greatest amount of pleasure possible during one's li...

Epicurus posited a materialistic physics, in which pleasure, by which he meant freedom from pain, is the highest good. Serenity, the harmony of mind and body, is best achieved, through virtue and simple living. In addition to the Principal Doctrines, included here is the essay Epicureanism by William De Witt Hyde and an Epicurus biography by Charles Bradlaugh.

The Moral Letters of Epicurus provides a profound exploration of Epicurean philosophy through a rich collection of letters filled with practical advice and ethical guidance. These letters, addressed to friends and followers, encapsulate the essence of a life devoted to the pursuit of happiness through understanding nature, cultivating friendships, and embracing tranquility. The literary style is straightforward yet deeply contemplative, emblematic of Epicurus's commitment to making philoso...

"No one is too young or too old to know what happiness is."This is how the way to happiness begins according to Epicurus, the famous founder of one of the most important schools of thought of the Hellenistic and Roman age.Happiness, which individuals yearn so much for, becomes something really easy to get.In this "Letter on happiness" Epicurus reflects on the real meaning of happiness and then reveals you how you can achieve it .You can read and read to it again...

A clear and compelling introduction to Epicurus’s philosophy of happiness, offering ancient wisdom for living with peace, friendship, and joy today.For centuries, the word Epicurean has been misunderstood—reduced to indulgence, when its original meaning was far more profound. The Essential Epicurean restores the true spirit of Epicurus’s teaching: a philosophy of simplicity, gratitude, and serenity that has guided thinkers from the ancient world t...