An Epicurean Seminar Agenda From Last Year’s First PanHellenic Symposium of Epicurean Philosophy
A new friend in Greece recently forwarded to me a copy of the Agenda of last year’s Epicurean seminar. I was not able to attend last year, and will miss it this year too, but I thought I would post this for reference as the worldwide fans of Epicurus grow in strength and begin consideration of plans for future conferences. I bet Plotina would have been proud to know that her favorite philosopher is far from forgotten two thousand years after her lifetime. In fact, it’s likely that some of the enjoyment she experienced during her life arose because she knew that her efforts toward the preservation of the Epicurean School would not be wasted. You’ll note the reference to the song of Seikilos in the agenda; that will be the topic of our next Twentieth post.
FIRST PANHELLENIC SYMPOSIUM OF EPICUREAN PHILOSOPHY
Program
February 12, 2011
THE PHILOSOPHY OF EPICURUS
- LIFE AND EPISTEMOLOGY OF EPICURUS
Life of Epicurus
Canon: The quest for truth
Physics: The nature of universe and humans
The importance of clinamen in organization of matter
Discussion
Interval
The epicurean song of Seikilos (performed by an ancient greek music ensemble)
- ETHICS: THE ART OF HAPPY LIVING
The epicurean management of fear for death
Management of desires and self-sufficiency
Pleasure and happiness
On friendship
The message of Epicurus
Discussion
Actual symposium (dining and drinking) in a local tavern with music
February 13, 2011
EPICUREAN PHILOSOPHY FROM ANTIQUITY TO OUR TIMES
1. EPICUREAN THEORY AND PRACTICE
Teaching and psychotherapy in the Garden
Women in the Garden
The epicurean view on Gods
The epicurean fuzzy logic
Epicurean influences on the Age of Light
Epicurean influences on Science
Discussion
Interval
Recitation of verses from Lucretius’ poem “De rerum natura”
2. THE ETERNAL VALUE OF THE EPICUREAN PHILOSOPHY
Epicurean assessment of modern quantum physics
Epicurus and Salonica: Professor Theodorides, “Thyrathen” Publications and first modern Garden
Epicurus and financial crisis
The Epicurean philosophy today
Cultivation of Epicurean philosophy in the modern Garden of Salonica
Cultivation of Epicurean philosophy in the modern Garden of Athens
Discussion