Epicureanism

Tim O'Keefe is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Georgia State University, USA.

"This is a splendid book. As an introduction to all aspects of ancient Epicureanism, addressed to a general readership with an interest in the history of philosophy, I cannot imagine anything better. I shall recommend it to students and colleagues as the first place to go for an engaging, clear, thoughtful, and informed overview of the subject... a small masterpiece." - Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews "This will be a very useful textbook for those teaching Epicureanism. O'Keefe offers lucid and readable accounts of Epicurean physics, epistemology, and ethics. As well as providing a reliable overview of the main Epicurean ideas, he also aims to bring out their continuing philosophical interest. Although O'Keefe offers an independent analysis of Epicurean theory, he refers freely to the main primary sources and comments in the introduction on the texts that students can usefully read in conjunction with this book. While explicit scholarly controversy is avoided, the treatment is informed by debate in recent scholarship, and the notes refer to a number of important discussions." - Phronesis "The tone is lively and engaging and just right for an undergraduate audience. The use of primary sources is light but accurate and the emphasis is squarely and rightly on the consideration of Epicureanism as a focus for philosophical argument." - James Warren, University of Cambridge

• Preface Acknowledgements Abbreviations 1. Introduction: The life of Epicurus and the history of Epicureanism Part I Metaphysics and Physics 2. Atoms and Void 3. Atomic Motion 4. Sensible Qualities 5. Cosmology 6. Biology and Language 7. The Mind 8. Freedom and Determinism Part II Epistemology 9. Scepticism 10. The Canon Part III Ethics 11. Pleasure, the Highest Good 12. Varieties of Pleasure, Varieties of Desire 13. The Virtues and Philosophy 14. Justice 15. Friendship 16. The Gods 17. Death Notes Further Reading References Index