Epicurus College - Course Material¶
Introduction¶
Epicurus College Course Material is the place where EpicureanFriends.com is developing a basic curriculum for teaching Epicurean philosophy. The course outlines are not yet finished, but much of the reference material to be used as raw material for the courses already exists. This site provides a quick reference source for key Epicurean texts.
Key Links for the project are: | EpicureanFriends.com | NewEpicurean.com
Other Important Online Translations: | Perseus Diogenes Laetius - 10- Epicurus - English - Hicks) | Perseus - Lucretius - Latin | Perseus - Lucretius - English - Emery |
Key Issues¶
- Pleasure Is The Goal - Not Tranquility
- The Map Is Not The Same As the Territory
- There Is No "True World" Beyond This One
Texts Included Here¶
- Fundamentals Of Nature
- Pleasure Is The Goal of Life - Not Tranquility
- Principle Doctrines
- Letter To Herodotus
- Letter To Pythocles
- Letter To Menoeceus
- Vatican List of Sayings And Other Surviving Fragments
- Lucretius - On the Nature of Things
- Notes On The Life Of Epicurus
Course List (Not Yet Implemented)¶
Introduction to Epicurean Philosophy The purpose of this class is to familiarize the student with the fundamental doctrines of Epicurean philosophy. When this course is complete, the student will know both the major doctrines of Epicurus and the major controversies about those doctrines. The student will also have a general background of where Epicurean Philosophy fits within the religious and philosophical landscape of both ancient Athens and the modern world.
Foundations of Epicurean Philosophy This seminar is based on a narrative summary of Epicurean Philosophy primarily through the use of selected excerpts of the ancients texts.
Epicurean Physics The purpose of this class is to familiarize the student with the fundamental doctrines of Epicurean physics. When this course is complete, the student will know both the major doctrines of Epicurean physics and a general idea of how to evaluate those doctrines given developments in modern physics.
Epicurean Canonics The purpose of this class is to familiarize the student with the fundamental doctrines of Epicurean canonics, which is the equivalent in philosophical terminology of "epistemology" - or more informally, the issue of how we know what we think we know. When this course is complete, the student will know both the major doctrines of Epicurean canonics and a general idea of how those doctrines compare with ancient and modern alternative theories.
Epicurean Ethics The purpose of this class is to familiarize the student with the fundamental doctrines of Epicurean ethics, the question of "how to live." When this course is complete, the student will know both the major doctrines of Epicurean ethics and a general idea of how those doctrines compare with competitive ancient and modern theories.
Learning Epicurus Through Lucretius The purpose of this course will be to learn Epicurus using Lucretius' "De Rerum Natura" as our guide. In other words, in this course we will study Epicurus in exactly the order and with exactly the content that Epicurus' greatest poet used to introduce Epicurean philosophy to his friend Memmius. Course material will include the discussion of each section of the poem as conducted on the Lucretius Today Podcast.
Epicurus On Romantic Love This special seminar will study the surviving text materials on romantic love by Epicurus, Lucretius, and other Epicurean writers. Special attention will be given to the work of Frances Wright and Ninon De L'Enclos.
Epicurean Philosophy In Relation To Competitors The purpose of this class is to familiarize the student with how Epicurean philosophy compares in general terms to other modern and ancient philosophies. When this course is complete, the student will know both the major doctrines of Epicurean philosophy and a general idea of how those doctrines compare with ancient and modern alternative theories.
Biographical Details of Epicurus The purpose of this class is to familiarize the student with the basics of what is known historically about the life of Epicurus. When this course is complete, the student will have a general understanding of the personal history of Epicurus and how he fit within the series of well known ancient Greek philosophers.
Where Is Epicurus In The "School of Athens" This Course will discuss the controversial topic of where, if at all, Epicurus is portrayed by Raphael in his "School of Athens" fresco. The course will cover the alleged identifies and representations of other famous Greek philosophers in the fresco, and discuss the possibilities for Epicurus' appearance.
Main Reference Textbooks (See Site Menu For Additional Texts)¶
Text - Epicurus The Extant Remains - Cyril Bailey
Text - Lucretius De Rerum Natura - Bailey