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Epicurean Atheists

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The Greek philosopher Epicurus (341 - 270 BCE) started a school of thinking based upon the pursuit of immaterial, non-physical joys and pleasures. Epicureans are very different from Hedonists.

Members: 10
Latest Activity: Mar 27

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The Epicurean Brain - Please Read Before Joining

The Greek philosopher Epicurus (341 - 270 BCE) started a school of thinking based upon the pursuit of immaterial, non-physical joys and pleasures. Epicureans are very different from Hedonists.

Epicurus is quoted to have said:   'It is more important with whom we eat than what we eat.'

Without having scientific evidence to back this up, I am convinced that Epicureans follow this philosophy not by a mere conscious decision. Instead they are determined by a specific combination of innate hardwired traits in their brain.   Adopting the philosophy is the consequence, it is the conscious acceptance of an innate identity.

These traits are:
1. Low subconscious instinctive forces and therefore only weak urges towards procreation, hierarchy forming, ingroup-outgroup distinction.   As a consequence, the rational capacities are not hindered or deactivated by instincts.
2. The pleasure center in the brain has a high perceptivitiy and sensitivity to emotional and intellectual stimulation and a low perceptivity and sensitivity to physical stimulation.

As far as Epicureans feel instinctive urges, these trigger behavior to restore homeostasis rather than pleasure seeking behavior.

This kind of a brain enables an Epicurean to be an atheist, skeptics, egalitarian, childfree and to be non-promiscuous, attracted only to monogamous commitment with a companion.

People with such a brain are rare.   But they exist and Epicurus himself is the evidence.   Had he himself not had such a brain, I doubt that he had ever developed his philosophy.   Had there not been likeminded people, nobody would have shared the community of Epicurus' garden.

Having a brain wired differently than the majority is a reason to feel intellectual lonelieness along with emotional loneliness.   Having a brain wired to feel attracted to the same way of thinking as a great philosopher cannot be a reason to feel uncomfortable about oneself and it is certainly not a reason to attempt to become like the majority.   Instead it is a reason to look for likeminded people.

Being an innate Epicuran myself, I invite all Epicureans to join this group.

More information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epicureanism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epicurus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophy_of_happiness#Epicurus

Discussion Forum

Society of Friends of Epicurus founded

Started by Hiram Mar 27. 0 Replies 0 Likes

Please visit the new webpage for the International Society of Friends of Epicurus at societyofepicurus.com!Continue

The Festival of Epicurus coming up in mid-January

Started by Hiram. Last reply by Maruli Marulaki Jan 21. 2 Replies 0 Likes

Ancient sources cite the 10th day of the month of Gamelion as the day of Epicurus' birth. As such, he held a feast in his Garden, and later when his hero cult evolved he was celebrated on that…Continue

Tags: feast, birthday, epicurus

Epicureanism: Consideration And Responsibility

Started by Maruli Marulaki Jan 18. 0 Replies 0 Likes

I have been watching a video containing a male interpretation of Epicurus' philosophy. (Thanks, Hiram, for the link in the 'Garden Of Epicurus' group elsewhere.)In one part:…Continue

Compiled Comments: Epicureanism And The Meaning Of Attachment

Started by Maruli Marulaki. Last reply by Maruli Marulaki Jan 8. 2 Replies 0 Likes

Comment by Dr. Allan H. Clark The problem I find with Epicureanism is that once you form an attachment to a lover, spouse, child, or friend, you can become anxious about their welfare. When they…Continue

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Comment by Maruli Marulaki on January 12, 2013 at 2:31am: Welcome Joan, it is nice, that you found your way to come here.

Comment by Maruli Marulaki on January 7, 2013 at 12:07pm: I have moved all the comments concerning attachment into a discussion thread: http://www.atheistnexus.org/group/epicurean/forum/topics/compiled-c...

Comment by Maruli Marulaki on January 6, 2013 at 9:57pm: Welcome, Allan.

Comment by Maruli Marulaki on January 2, 2013 at 10:24am: welcome, Kalliope

Comment by Maruli Marulaki on December 26, 2012 at 6:19pm: Welcome, Richard.

Comment by Richard Goscicki on December 26, 2012 at 6:07pm: Good post. I was an advocate of Epicurus since I learned about the Pax Romana in high school. As I remember, the three great emperors of this unique century of peace were Hadrian, Antonius Pious and lastly the great Marcus Aurelius—all epicureans. Sadly, Marcus had a son by a prostitute named Commodus and the Epicurean rule came down with a crash. This was the true beginning of the decline. Commodus made Caligula look like Jimmy Carter.

Comment by Maruli Marulaki on December 26, 2012 at 1:59pm: The famous poem by Lucretius De Rerum Natura is available as an audio book for free download from Librivox.

In English http://librivox.org/on-the-nature-of-things-by-titus-lucretius-carus/

and also in Latin http://librivox.org/de-rerum-natura-by-titus-lucretius-carus/

Comment by Maruli Marulaki on December 26, 2012 at 1:42pm: Welcome Steph and Hiram. I am pleasantly surprised to get some activity back to this silent group.

Comment by Maruli Marulaki on July 16, 2012 at 6:16am: Welcome Harrison. I will answer your question sometime soon.

Comment by Maruli Marulaki on November 26, 2011 at 10:22am: welcome, David. Maybe with time a few more people will join and get activity into this group.