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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.

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

Comment by Maruli Marulaki on October 13, 2011 at 7:18pm: Bobh, you are welcome.   The Epicurean life style is neutral concerning the decision of having children or not.   It all depends on the subjective experience of which activities cause pleasure and joy and which cause pain and displeasure.
If raising and being with children causes someone enough genuine pleasure, then this is in the realm of Epicureanism.
If someone feels unhappily burdened with children, for the purpose of being rewarded by a deity, who otherwise would punish, then this is certainly not Epicurean.

I am personally childfree, because I am not attracted to children, especially not to spend time with them.   I am most attracted to people in my own age group.   Also I hate all the chores, that are unavoidable necessities of raising children, directly the changing of stinking napkins and indirectly all the additional housework of being obliged to regularily clean and cook meals. Not to mention the need to work and earn money, that brings no pleasure when spent on children, while it brings joy, when spent on things like traveling or books.   Less need to earn the money means more free time to read the books.   So for me personally, child rearing would be an endless amount of unpleasant chores with no reward.    In my personal life, being an Epicurean means to be childfree.

Comment by bobh on October 13, 2011 at 8:49am: i have two children. Am I disqualified from being a member of this group?

Comment by leveni on October 5, 2011 at 11:09pm: Unfortunately I am an Epicurean. How do I stop being so? Is there a cure? If so please tell me.

I wish I could enjoy footy and beer, like all the meat heads in the world, life would be so simple then, far more enjoyable. Or maybe if I had the level of morality of a polygamous Morman, that might be fun. Or if I was born into the House of Saud, the apex of selfish hedonism...