Why Death Should Not Concern Us by Epicurus

On Why Death Should Not Concern Us by Epicurus is an insightful monograph that provides an excellent overview of Epicurus's theories and how they remain pertinent to contemporary philosophy. The monograph is more of a general guide than a careful reading of ancient texts, so there are a few exceptions. When we consider mortality, we typically experience dread. This dread is typically associated with the notion that the deceased will be miserable and suffer after death.

This article will examine how Epicurus argues that we should not be concerned with mortality. Death, he explains, is not the end of existence. It is the absence of an individual after their death. This is a valid point because many believe that death is the conclusion of life. However, this is a misconception.

The fact that a person has perished does not mean that they are gone forever; they will live again in the future, but only after they have regained all of their pleasures. Therefore, they will have all of their possessions, including literature, photographs, sheets, etc., but will no longer be able to perceive the world through their senses.

Epicurus was a renowned ancient philosopher who advocated pursuing one's own delight rather than the enjoyment of others. He believed that the best way to achieve happiness was to refrain from unnecessary desires and achieve a state of tranquility.

He presented the scientific viewpoint of atomism, a form of materialism that assumes that the fundamental constituents of nature are discrete, indivisible particles, or "atoms." In addition to atoms, Epicurus believed that space was either occupied by matter or was vacant.

The atomists inherited several concepts from Democritus, but Epicurus made three significant modifications to them. Initially, he incorporated an ethical component to Democritus' materialistic philosophy. Second, he modified Democritus' atomism theory to accommodate the intellect. Last but not least, he incorporated the notion of justice into his ethics. In the end, this gave him a philosophy that is still applicable to our contemporary world.

Epicurus believed that the fear of death stemmed from the dread of a disagreeable afterlife, and he dispelled this fear by teaching that death is annihilation. He believed that this would liberate us from our dread of spirits and death and assist us in achieving pleasure.

Epicurus also developed a complete philosophical system, including a theory of knowledge (sensations and the perception of pleasure and pain are infallible criteria), a description of nature based on atomistic materialism, and a naturalistic account of evolution from the formation of the world to the emergence of human societies. After his demise, communities of Epicureans embraced these beliefs for centuries.

Before relocating to Athens, Epicurus, who lived around 341 BCE, taught and developed his philosophy in Mytilene and Lampsacus. In Athens, he established the Garden, a school and philosophical community where his disciples could put his teachings into practice.

The nature of things, according to Epicurus, is predicated on two fundamental assumptions: that bodies exist and that nothing originates from what does not exist. He supports these premises with sensory evidence.

For instance, the sense of sight relies on the interaction of atoms with the receptors in the eye. Objects perpetually emit one-atom-thick layers of material that fly into the eye and collide with it, reflecting and scattering light to disclose their characteristics. In addition, he explains taste and scent as byproducts of this interaction; for instance, the sweet flavor is caused by the soothing effects of smooth atoms on the tongue.