Epicurus
Epicurus (; grc-gre, Ἐπίκουρος ; 341–270 BC) was an ancient Greek philosopher and sage who founded Epicureanism, a highly influential school of philosophy. He was born on the Greek island of Samos to Athenian parents. Influenced ...
' ''Letter to Herodotus'' (not the historian) was written as an introduction to
Epicurean
Epicureanism is a system of philosophy founded around 307 BC based upon the teachings of the ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus. Epicureanism was originally a challenge to Platonism. Later its main opponent became Stoicism.
Few writings by Epi ...
philosophy and method of studying nature. It was so important that it was considered the “Little Epitome”, and had to be studied initially by all serious students of Epicureanism.
It included the most complete detail of the ancient conversations that led to the development of atomist theory, a doctrine of innumerable worlds, and an explanation of the phenomenon of time that posits an early form of relativism.
Further reading
* ''La Lettre d'Épicure'', edited by
Jean Bollack
Jean Bollack (15 March 1923 – 4 December 2012) was a French philosopher, philologist and literary critic.
Biography
He first studied classical philology at the University of Basel, among others with and Albert Béguin, and from 1945 at the ...
,
Mayotte Bollack
Mayotte Bollack is a French professor of philology at the University of Lille Nord de France. She was the wife and close collaborator of Jean Bollack
Jean Bollack (15 March 1923 – 4 December 2012) was a French philosopher, philologist and lite ...
,
Heinz Wismann
Heinz Wismann (born 1935 in Berlin) is a Franco-German philologist and philosopher.
Biography
Heinz Wismann is the son of Heinz Wismann (1897-1945), an art historian, who was director of the Ministry of Education and Propaganda and vice- ...
(Editions de Minuit; 1971). Reviewed by
A. A. Long
Anthony Arthur Long FBA (born 17 August 1937) is a British and naturalised American classical scholar and Chancellor's Professor Emeritus of Classics and Irving Stone Professor of Literature Emeritus, and Affiliated Professor of Philosophy and Rh ...
References
Hellenistic philosophical literature
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