EPIKUROS

Epikuros who took atomic views of Democritus as a basis for his philosophy, defined a virtuous and happy life as one which is full of pleasure, free from superstitions. But this did not mean wallowing in pleasure. A cheerfull poverty was an honorable state. The important thing was to be freed of superstitions. Epikurus was a materyalist who followed many of the ideas of Democritus. In Epikuros's opinion, the events in the universe develop in accordance to some certain laws. It is nothing but a hallow illusion to believe in metaphysical powers. Fear of death was also such a thing. He said "When we live, death is not present; when it comes we do not exist" Epikurus said we should live as if a good man were watching us. For him, such a man would be Socrates. The philosophy of Epikurus is said to be similar to Stoicism; but it is different in its refusal of fate and in some other respects. (The Stoicist philosophy founded by Zeno of Cyprus, argued that we should face the destiniy with courage. For Stoicists the most precious thing was a life of virtue.)