Welcome to Epicurus Principal Doctrines Commentary Epicurus Principle Doctrines form a useful guide to his thought. They are not always easy to relate to the modern world. Following a discussion on the Epicurean mailing list EPL, this wiki was formed to allow collaborative contributions to a commentary on the Principle Doctrines.

Translation used is from Project Gutenberg, so it is out of copyright. It is the translation of Robert Drew Hicks:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Drew_Hicks

The idea really is to increase our understanding of Epicurus. In particular, to explore how his thought can be applied, practically, in the modern world. Also, to provide a critique where there may be areas of difficulty.

The intention is to use this wiki to produce a book on the Principle Doctrines. Collaborative contributions can be difficult to publish if copyright is defaulted. Consequently, all contributors agree to relinquish all copyright claims to material they provide on this wiki by contributing. However, all contributors who register their names on this wiki will be acknowledged in the book if it is ever published. With this exception, this wiki follows the copyright notice at the bottom of this page - that is the contents are covered by the CC-BY-SA. ==

Contents 1 Contributors 2 Epicurus Principle Doctrines - Robert Drew Hicks translation 3 General Comments relevant to all Doctrines 4 Doctrine 1 Why gods don't bother 5 Doctrine 2 Why death doesn't matter 6 Doctrine 3 Why pleasure is greater than pain 7 Doctrine 4 The limits of pain 8 Doctrine 5 Virtue for pleasure 9 Doctrine 6 Value of status and power - 1 10 Doctrine 7 Value of status and power - 2 11 Doctrine 8 Some pleasures too costly 12 Doctrine 9 Undifferentiated pleasure 13 Doctrine 10 Debauchery 14 Doctrine 11 Nature study 15 Doctrine 12 Myth prevents pleasure 16 Doctrine 13 Fear of phantoms 17 Doctrine 14 Value of power and wealth 18 Doctrine 15 Vanity 19 Doctrine 16 Chance 20 Doctrine 17 Unjust man 21 Doctrine 18 Mental pleasure 22 Doctrine 19 Time 23 Doctrine 20 Limits 24 Doctrine 21 Needs are easy 25 Doctrine 22 Sense and sensibility 26 Doctrine 23 Sensation as an absolute 27 Doctrine 24 Get it right 28 Doctrine 25 Keep it natural 29 Doctrine 26 Unnecessary desires 30 Doctrine 27 Primacy of friendship 31 Doctrine 28 Friendship as security 32 Doctrine 29 Types of desire 33 Doctrine 30 Unnecessary desire 34 Doctrine 31Natural Justice 35 Doctrine 32 Barbarians 36 Doctrine 33 Absolute justice 37 Doctrine 34 Why not be unjust -1 38 Doctrine 35 Why not be unjust -2 39 Doctrine 36 Absolute & Relative Justice 40 Doctrine 37 Test of Justice 41 Doctrine 38 Justice requires change 42 Doctrine 39 Tranquillity - Befriend, mollify or avoid if possible 43 Doctrine 40 On not being a smug bastard 44 Latest activity

ContributorsEdit

Epicurus Principle Doctrines - Robert Drew Hicks translationEdit

General Comments relevant to all DoctrinesEdit

Doctrine 1 Why gods don't botherEdit

Doctrine 2 Why death doesn't matterEdit

Doctrine 3 Why pleasure is greater than painEdit

Doctrine 4 The limits of painEdit

Doctrine 5 Virtue for pleasureEdit

Doctrine 6 Value of status and power - 1Edit

Doctrine 7 Value of status and power - 2Edit

Doctrine 8 Some pleasures too costlyEdit

Doctrine 9 Undifferentiated pleasureEdit

Doctrine 10 DebaucheryEdit

Doctrine 11 Nature studyEdit

Doctrine 12 Myth prevents pleasureEdit

Doctrine 13 Fear of phantomsEdit

Doctrine 14 Value of power and wealthEdit

Doctrine 15 VanityEdit

Doctrine 16 ChanceEdit

Doctrine 17 Unjust manEdit

Doctrine 18 Mental pleasureEdit

Doctrine 19 TimeEdit

Doctrine 20 LimitsEdit

Doctrine 21 Needs are easyEdit

Doctrine 22 Sense and sensibilityEdit

Doctrine 23 Sensation as an absoluteEdit

Doctrine 24 Get it rightEdit

Doctrine 25 Keep it naturalEdit

Doctrine 26 Unnecessary desiresEdit

Doctrine 27 Primacy of friendshipEdit

Doctrine 28 Friendship as securityEdit

Doctrine 29 Types of desireEdit

Doctrine 30 Unnecessary desireEdit

Doctrine 31Natural JusticeEdit

Doctrine 32 BarbariansEdit

Doctrine 33 Absolute justiceEdit

Doctrine 34 Why not be unjust -1Edit

Doctrine 35 Why not be unjust -2Edit

Doctrine 36 Absolute & Relative JusticeEdit

Doctrine 37 Test of JusticeEdit

Doctrine 38 Justice requires changeEdit

Doctrine 39 Tranquillity - Befriend, mollify or avoid if possibleEdit

Doctrine 40 On not being a smug bastardEdit

Latest activityEdit