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Epicurus is often associated as with one of the Greek philosophers more interested in pleasure or its pursuit than other ideals. While at times this led to a negative view of his philosophy, the reality is his thinking was very advanced and developed, leading to his ideas becoming highly influential in modern thought in many regions of the world today. He was one of the first Greek philosophers to develop a strong tradition that avoid superstition as a core ideal. His simple philosophy of avoiding pain, leading a simple life, and attaining knowledge have made his philosophy both attractive and influential to many.

He was one of the first Greek philosophers to develop a strong tradition that avoids superstition as a core ideal. His simple philosophy of avoiding pain, leading a simple life, and attaining knowledge has made his philosophy both attractive and influential to many. ====Background====

Relatively few works were written by Epicurus (Figure 1) still survive, as most of what we known derive knew derives from later writings from his followers and his philosophical school that he started. We know that Epicureanism began as a philosophy at around 307/306 BCE. Like so many other philosophers, he established himself at Athens, although he was from Samos.<ref>For more on Epicurus and his established school, see: Hibler, Richard W. 1984. Happiness through Tranquillity: The School of Epicurus. Lanham, MD: University Press of America.</ref> He was influenced by the teaching of Democritus and he studied under Nausiphanes of Teos, but had a later falling out as he pursued his own new school of thought. In fact, Epicurus main problem with other philosophers was he felt they were too narrow in their beliefs and their schools did not allow freedom of expression or questioning of the main philosopher teachers. Epicurus' strong ego, in essence, led to rifts with other schools of thought, forcing him to create his own school. This ultimately, however, did give him freedom to develop his ideas, which emerged over a number of years and likely evolved before coming to a mature state.<ref>For more on how Epicurus' philosophy evolved, see: DeWitt, Norman Wentworth. 1954. Epicurus and His Philosophy. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, pg. 27.</ref>

The core philosophy we know Epicurus to have believed Like so many other philosophers, he established himself in Athens, although he was that one should pursue simple pleasures in life. Friendship was also key to forming happinessfrom Samos.<ref>For more on the foundations of Epicurus' philosophyand his established school, see: BalesHibler, Eugene FRichard W. 20081984. Philosophy in the WestHappiness through Tranquillity: Men, Women, Religion, ScienceThe School of Epicurus. PhiladelphiaLanham, Pa.MD: Xlibris, pg. 68University Press of America.</ref> While his falling out with other philosophers may seem a slight contradiction in his beliefs of seeking friendship He was influenced by Democritus's teaching, and pleasure, he did try to live up to his ideals. This is demonstrated when he claimed to studied under Nausiphanes of Teos but had a friend in a letter, later falling out as he was dying, that pursued his state own new school of mind was very happy despite the pain he felt from kidney stones. So, even if physically one cannot escape pain, mentally one can pursue happiness such that it becomes a state not bound by death or sickness. His ideas, therefore, differ greatly from modern understanding of hedonism, which is often associated with the pursuit of please at all costs. While many focus on his ideas of pleasure, it is also his scientific ideas that, along with those of Aristotle and other Greek philosophers, have greatly influenced our modern worldthought.

During the lifetime of In fact, Epicurus, he had relatively few followers and they would meet at his house's gardenmain problem with other philosophers was that they were too narrow in their beliefs. In factTheir schools did not allow freedom of expression or questioning of the main philosopher teachers. Epicurus' strong ego, the garden in essence, led to rifts with other schools of thought, forcing him to create his house becomes the name in which they associated their own school. However, evidence of his enduring philosophy in this ultimately gave him the centuries that followed are evident, as when the Apostle Paul went freedom to Athens he encountered followers of Epicureanismdevelop his ideas, demonstrating the success of the philosophy as it began which emerged over many years and likely evolved before coming to developa mature state.<ref>For more on how Epicureanism developed during and after Epicurus' philosophy evolved, see: O’KeefeDeWitt, TimNorman Wentworth. 20101954. EpicureanismEpicurus and His Philosophy. Ancient Philosophies 7. BerkeleyMinneapolis: University of California Minnesota Press, pg. 27.</ref> Nevertheless, because later thought began to confound Epicureanism with hedonism and other philosophies of pleasure seeking, many of Epicurus' ideas were frowned upon and became less acceptable. It was only in the Renaissance that his ideas once again blossomed.

Because During Epicurus' ideas have been misunderstoods lifetime, it is important to delineate the key ideas he developed had relatively few followers and what he intended by themmet at his house's garden. His core ideals can be described as atomistic materialismIn fact, the garden in his house becomes the name with which held they associated their school. However, evidence of his enduring philosophy in the centuries that all things are made up followed is evident, as when the Apostle Paul went to Athens, he encountered followers of atoms and that voids separated these atomsEpicureanism, demonstrating the success of the philosophy as it began to develop.<ref>For more on atomistic materialismhow Epicureanism developed during and after Epicurus, see: O’ConnorO’Keefe, Daniel JohnTim. 19642010. A Critical History of Western PhilosophyEpicureanism. New York etcAncient Philosophies 7.; LondonBerkeley: The Free press etc. ; Collier Macmillan, pg. 127University of California Press. </ref>. Atoms themselves are made up of a few basic typesNevertheless, which together can be combined because later thought began to make all things present in the universe. Because gods do not control pain or confound Epicureanism with hedonism and other philosophies of pleasure-seeking, many of Epicurus' ideas were frowned upon and became less acceptable. It was only in the Renaissance that they are likely unable to or uninterested in causing pain or pleasure to people, one should, therefore, pursue pleasure as a key goal in lifehis ideas once again blossomed.

====Epicureanism====Because Epicurus' ideas have been misunderstood, it is important to delineate the key ideas he developed and what he intended by them. His core ideas can be described as atomistic materialism, which held that all things are made up of atoms. That voids separated these atoms.<ref>For more on atomistic materialism, see: O’Connor, Daniel John. 1964. A Critical History of Western Philosophy. New York etc., London: The Free press etc. , Collier Macmillan, pg. 127. </ref>. Atoms themselves are made up of a few basic types, which can be combined to make all things present in the universe. Because gods do not control pain or pleasure, and that they are likely unable to or uninterested in causing pain or pleasure to people, one should, therefore, pursue pleasure as a key goal in life.  The Epicureans did believe believed in the gods' existence of the gods, but did not see them as central to living or being happy, which made them different from many other philosophers. However, the Epicurus's danger that Epicurus realized is that this pursuit can lead to indulgence that then leads back to pain. While satisfying oneself may seem harmless enough, it's its pursuit could become an obsession that leads to pain. Therefore, moderation is key so that one does not become over zealousoverzealous, or essentially addicted, to the pursuit of pleasure where they are unable to cannot function and pursue a balanced life.

Interest in simple pleasures is key, as interest in goals such as conquest or wealth could potentially lead to ruin. Minimizing pain and suffering are is critical to maximize maximizing pleasure. It is also not the pursuits of lusts or desires so much , but it is seeking knowledge, developing good friendships, and banishing ideas that bring difficulty and problems to our lives is how one attains pleasure. The tranquility of the mind is what Epicurus would see as the greatest pleasure. He stated that one should never fear death, as death simply means the end of what one can feel and not something that would be painful.  Epicurus also warned against being involved in politics, as that also could lead to the diminishment of happiness, something that Epicurus noticed in his own lifetime life during the tumultuous politics of Athens after the death of Alexander the Great.<ref>For details of what pleasure means in the Epicurus' philosophy, see: Johnston, Derek. 2006. A Brief History of Philosophy: From Socrates to Derrida. London ; New York: Continuum.</ref>

====Key Influences on Our World====The philosophy's impacts are many, and Epicurus held various thoughts that have turned out to at least have at least some truth, despite his inability to observe them fully. For instance, his ideas that the universe is infinite are more realistic than philosophers who had a very narrow idea of where the universe and its extent can be found.<ref>For more on Epicurus' ideas of the universe, see DeWitt, Norman Wentworth. 1954. St. Paul and Epicurus. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, pg. 13.</ref> He also believed no truth should be accepted as given without some form of proof, an idea that is now foundational to modern science.

The impacts His belief that life and all matters must have basic building blocks are akin to our modern concept of atoms that was only proven in the philosophy are many and 19th century. A key development that Epicurus held a variety indicated in his writings is the concept of divorcing the pursuit of thoughts knowledge from religious pursuits, something that have turned out to at least have at least some truthbecame popular by the Renaissance, despite his inability as thinkers from that era began to fully observe them. For instance, his ideas that realize the universe is infinite are more realistic than philosophers who had importance of separating their work from a very narrow idea of where the universe and its extent can be foundreligious zeal that may have hindered some advances in knowledge.<ref>For more on Epicurus' ideas of the universeinfluence on later thinkers and scientists, see: DeWittWyatt, Michael, Norman Wentworthed. 19542014. StThe Cambridge Companion to the Italian Renaissance. Paul and EpicurusCambridge Companions to Culture. MinneapolisCambridge: Cambridge University of Minnesota Press, pg. 13272.</ref> He also believed no truth should be accepted as given without some form A key example is Galileo’s advocacy that the Earth was not the center of proofthe universe, an idea that is now foundational to modern sciencewhereas the Catholic church at the time held the belief the Earth was the center of the universe.

His belief that life While Epicurus’ ideas in science proved to be influential to later generations and all matters must have basic building blocks are akin to our modern concept of atoms that was only proven science, his philosophy on happiness underwent different understanding in the 19th centuryvarious periods. A key development that Epicurus indicated in Although his writings is the concept teachings on happiness were often conflated with a later understanding of divorcing the pursuit of knowledge from religious pursuitshedonism, something later thinkers began to see his philosophy's practicality on pleasure as one that became popular by the Renaissanceavoids pain and pursues simple pleasures as it avoids indulgence. Some impacts of this philosophy include what is now called ethical hedonism, where measured pleasure is taught and pursued as thinkers from that era began part of mental health treatment to realize the importance of separating their work from religious zeal that may have hindered some advances in knowledgeaddiction and other problems faced by patients.<ref>For more on Epicurus' influence on later thinkers and scientistsethical hedonism, see: Wyatt, MichaelFord, edGary George. 20142006. The Cambridge Companion to the Italian RenaissanceEthical Reasoning for Mental Health Professionals. Cambridge Companions to Culture. CambridgeThousand Oaks, Calif: Cambridge University PressSAGE Publications, pg. 27254.</ref> A key example In effect, the Epicurean philosophy is Galileo’s advocacy still alive and well in our society and not in a way that advocates the Earth was not the center of the universe, whereas the Catholic church at the time held the belief the Earth was the center unbridled pursuit of the universepleasure.

While Epicurus’ ideas in science proved to ====Conclusion====Epicurus has been a misunderstood philosopher, yet his influence has been profound and can be influential to later generations and considered one of the founders of modern science, his philosophy on happiness underwent different understanding in various periods. Although his teachings on happiness were often conflated with later understanding of hedonismHis ideas continue to influence our world, later thinkers began to see and then the practicality longevity of his philosophy on pleasure as one thinking shows that avoids pain and pursues simple pleasures as it avoids indulgenceheld influence through many major shifts in history. Some impacts In many respects, Epicurus was ahead of this philosophy include what is now called ethical hedonismhis time, where measured pleasure is taught and pursued as part he understood life composed of mental health treatment basic building blocks that can be reconfigured to addiction and other problems faced by patientsmake different things.<ref>For more on ethical hedonismThis, see: Fordto some extent, Gary George. 2006. Ethical Reasoning for Mental Health Professionals. Thousand Oaksis true, Calif: SAGE Publications, pg. 54. </ref> In effect, the Epicurean while his philosophy is still alive of avoiding harmful things and well in our society and not in a way pursue simple pursuits that simply advocates unbridled pursuit of give pleasure, such as friendship, are sensible, and many would likely agree with these ideas.

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