
Epicureanism Is Commonly Associated With A Carefree View Of Life And The Pursuit Of Pleasures, Particularly The Pleasures Of The Table. However It Was A Complex And Distinctive System Of Philosophy That Emphasized Simplicity And Moderation, And Considered Nature To Consist Of Atoms And The Void. Epicureanism Is A School Of Thought Whose Legacy Continues To Reverberate Today. In This Very Short Introduction, Catherine Wilson Explains The Key Ideas Of The School, Comparing Them With Those Of The Rival Stoics And With Kantian Ethics, And Tracing Their Influence On The Development Of Scientific And Political Thought From Locke, Newton, And Galileo To Rousseau, Marx, Bentham, And Mill. She Discusses The Adoption And Adaptation Of Epicurean Motifs In Science, Morality, And Politics From The 17th Century Onwards And Contextualises The Significance Of Epicureanism In Modern Life. About The Series: The Very Short Introductions Series From Oxford University Press Contains Hundreds Of Titles In Almost Every Subject Area. These Pocket-sized Books Are The Perfect Way To Get Ahead In A New Subject Quickly. Our Expert Authors Combine Facts, Analysis, Perspective, New Ideas, And Enthusiasm To Make Interesting And Challenging Topics Highly Readable.
This book investigates the core tenets of Epicurean philosophy and its enduring influence on the trajectory of Western scientific and political thought. Catherine Wilson, a scholar of philosophy, utilizes historical analysis and comparative ethics to dismantle common misconceptions regarding Epicureanism as mere hedonism. She presents the school as a rigorous system centered on atomism, moderation, and a specific ethical framework that challenged rival schools like Stoicism.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Experts and readers recognize this text as a concise and accessible entry point into complex philosophical history. The prose is noted for its clarity, making dense intellectual traditions manageable for those new to the subject matter.
Page Count:
144
Publication Date:
2015-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0191512672
ISBN-13:
9780191512674
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