Citation

Brown, Andrew James. “A New Recording of Five, Very Short, Morning Reflections on the Philosophy of Epicurus, First Broadcast on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire during September 2018.” Caute, 12 Jul. 2025, https://andrewjbrown.blogspot.com/2018/10/all-five-very-short-morning-reflections.html.

Quotes

• species: #quote
• themes:

Before you eat or drink anything, consider carefully who you eat or drink with rather than what you are to eat or drink: for feeding without a friend is the life of a lion or a wolf” (Seneca, Letters 19:10).

Collations

Literature notes

Prompts

Century Epicurus lived :: 3rd century CE

Greek word referring to the ultimate goal of Epicurean philosophy. :: ataraxia

Ataraxia means? :: peace of mind or tranquility

To achieve ataraxia, Epicurus said what three fears should be removed? :: Fear of the gods, afterlife, and death

Some interpret that Epicurus' "gods" are simply human projections of what? :: The ideal life

According to Epicurus, why are people fearful of the gods? :: They believe that they are supernatural beings punishing or rewarding us.

For Epicurus, what is the most important characteristic of the gods? :: They are exemplars of the ideal life.

Per Epicurus, since the gods live contently, what interest do they have in human affairs? :: None.

Per Epicurus, since the gods don't determine what happens to us, what does? :: Natural forces

Per Epicurus, when do the gods influence us? :: When we emulate their tranquility.

Per Epicurus, the natural world is made of what? :: Atoms

Per Brown, what is the more appropriate interpretation of atoms? :: The constant flow and flux of matter.

What was Epicurus' antidote to the fear of afterlife? :: When we die we simply return to the natural world's constant flux and flow of matter. There is no afterlife.

Per Epicurus, why shouldn't we fear death? :: When we die, we no longer feel pain.

To emphasize they don't fear death Epicureans are widely know to say what? :: Death is nothing to us.

Where did Epicureans engraved "death is nothing to us" to remind them not to fear death? :: Signet rings and hand mirrors

How does an Epicurean's lack of fear for death influence how they approach life? :: They want to fully enjoy it with others.

Per Epicurus, "Of all the things that wisdom provides for the happiness of the whole person, by far the most important is the acquisition of friendship" (LD, 27).

Per Epicurus, friends help us in two ways:

1. Acquire and maintain the material necessities of life.
2. Help us be happy and unafraid.

Epicurus provided community through his garden academy in Athens.