Nothing Ever Happens

Can you imagine how visionary one had to be 300 years BC to propose such an advanced, revolutionary and irreligious theory of the universe?

The world consists, according to Epicurus (wrongly known for his sick hedonist posture), of tiny material atoms careering around in space until they randomly collide and form the things and creatures we see. When our atoms disperse and we die, that is the end of us. Even the gods are just collections of atoms. They seem to have no serious tasks to perform in the universe, and could not care less what people do with themselves or to each other. The aim of philosophy, Epicurus maintained, is to make people happy, and one of its biggest tasks is to quieten the unnecessary terrors caused by religion.

In particular, it was crucial to overcome the fear of death and of an unpleasant afterlife. “All good and evil lie in sensation, whereas death is the absence of sensation,” wrote Epicurus in a letter. “Hence a correct understanding that death is nothing to us makes the mortality of life enjoyable, not by adding infinite time, but by ridding us of the desire for immortality.”

As an ethical guideline, Epicurus emphasized minimizing harm and maximizing happiness of oneself and others:

“It is impossible to live a pleasant life without living wisely and well and justly (agreeing ‘neither to harm nor be harmed’). And it is impossible to live wisely and well and justly without living a pleasant life.”

Fantastic article from Intelligent Life that resurrects some ancient advice on the good life: A Practitioner’s Guide To Hedonism.

Bonus quote:

“Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able?
Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing?
Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing?
Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing?
Then why call him God?”