Author: Cassius Amicus
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Epicurean Art in the Ancient World
This post is to announce a new page devoted to collecting images of art from the ancient world which appear to have Epicurean themes. Please email suggestions for inclusion in...
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Why We All Need Philosophy
Today’s addition to the website is a page on Seneca’s References to Epicurus. This presents the opportunity to highlight a passage that has long been one of my favorites: “Would...
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Updates: Excerpts from De Rerum Natura, and an Annotated version of the Principal Doctrines
Today brings two significant revisions to the website: (1) a presentation of excerpts from De Rerum Natura, and (2) a revised presentation of the Principle Doctrines organized with relevant references...
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For New Students of Epicurus
When I first started this web page, my goal was as stated in the page banner, to “promote the study of the philosophy of Epicurus.” I phrased the goal in...
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The Example of Cassius The Liberator Shows The Way
What do we know about the life of Gaius Cassius Longinus, the Liberator, that might be relevant in the study of Epicureanism? (“Liberator” is so much nicer a term than...
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Caveat Emptor: Pick Your Texts and Commentaries Carefully!
The student of Epicurus would do well to remember that misrepresentations of Epicurus’ views, whether intentional or innocent, did not end with Cicero in ancient times. As DeWitt suggested, even...
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Gratitude As a Source of Strength During Times of Misfortune
If you are like me, you often hear friends say (or post to Facebook) that they “couldn’t go on if they did not have their faith in God to pull...
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Common Fallacies About Epicurus (#2): Epicurus maintained that Pleasure is the “Greatest Good”
A close reading of the evidence indicates clearly that Epicurus taught that life itself, rather than pleasure, is the “greatest good.” This issue ranks with the statement “all sensations are...
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Common Fallacies About Epicurus (#1): Epicurus maintained that all sensations are “true.”
Readers of this blog will notice the deep respect paid here to the work of Norman W. DeWitt, the late professor of classics from the University of Toronto who devoted...
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Let’s Make A List: Two Popular Songs That Illustrate Epicurean Themes
Here are two songs that may be useful to the student of Epicurus to illustrate Epicurean themes: First, on a lighter note, is this youtube video of a song from...