Themes of Epicureanism

This arrangement of passages is based upon the "Epicureanism" chapter found in The Hellenistic Philosophers, Volume I, © 1987, Cambridge University Press. Where e-texts are available, simply follow the link to look up the quotation. For insightful commentary on each theme, I recommend reading the book.


Contents:


Physics

The Principles of Conservation
A. Epicurus, Letter to Herodotus 38-39
B. Lucretius, I.159-173
C. Lucretius, I.225-237
D. Lucretius, I.670-671

The Basic Division
A. Epicurus, Letter to Herodotus 39-40
B. Lucretius, I.419-444
C. Aetius, I.20.2 (Usener 271)
D. Sextus Empiricus, Against the Professors X.2 (Usener 271)

Proof of the existence of void
A. Lucretius, I.334-390

Secondary attributes
A. Lucretius, I.445-482
B. Epicurus, Letter to Herodotus 68-73
C. Sextus Empiricus, Against the Professors, X.219-227
D. Polystratus, On Irrational Contempt 23.26-26.23

Atoms
A. Epicurus, Letter to Herodotus 40-41
B. Lucretius, I.503-598

Minimal Parts
A. Epicurus, Letter to Herodotus 56-59
B. Lucretius, I.746-752
C. Lucretius, I.599-634

Infinity
A. Epicurus, Letter to Herodotus 41-42
B. Lucretius, I.958-997
C. Epicurus, Letter to Herodotus 60

Atomic motion
A. Epicurus, Letter to Herodotus 43-44
B. Lucretius, II.80-124
C. Lucretius, II.142-164
D. Epicurus, Letter to Herodotus 46-47
E. Epicurus, Letter to Herodotus 61-62
F. Simplicius, On Aristotle’s Physics 938,17-22 (Usener 277)
G. Simplicius, On Aristotle’s Physics 934,23-30 (Usener 278, part)
H. Lucretius, II.216-250

Microscopic and macroscopic properties
A. Epicurus, Letter to Herodotus 55-56
B. Epicurus, Letter to Herodotus 42-43
C. Lucretius, II.478-531
D. Epicurus, Letter to Herodotus 54-55
E. Lucretius, II.730-833
F. Lucretius, II.381-407

Cosmology without teleology
A. Epicurus, Letter to Herodotus 45
B. Epicurus, Letter to Pythocles 88
C. Epicurus, Letter to Herodotus 73-74
D. Lucretius, II.1050-1104
E. Lucretius, IV.823-857
F. Lucretius, V.156-234
G. Cicero, On Divine Nature I.18-23
H. Cicero, On Divine Nature I.52-53
I. Lucretius, V.837-877
J. Simplicius, On Aristotle’s Physics, 371,33-372,14
See Also: Lucretius, I.1021

Soul
A. Epicurus, Letter to Herodotus 63-67
B. Lucretius, III.136-176
C. Aetius, 4.3.11 (Usener 315)
D. Lucretius, III.262-322
E. Lucretius, IV.877-891
F. Lucretius, III.417-462
G. Lucretius, III.624-633
H. Lucretius, III.806-829

Sensation, imagination, memory
A. Epicurus, Letter to Herodotus 46-53
B. Lucretius, IV.230-238
C. Lucretius, IV.256-268
D. Lucretius, IV.722-822
E. Diogenes of Oinoanda, new fragment 5.3.3-14
F. Diogenes Laėrtius, X.32

Epistemology

The truth of all impressions
A. Lucretius, IV.469-521
B. Diogenes Laėrtius, X.31-32
C. Anonymous Epicurean treatise on the senses (Herculaneum Papyrus 19/698), cols. 17, 18, 22, 23, 25, 26, fr. 21
D. Epicurus, Principal Doctrines 23
E. Sextus Empiricus, Against the Professors VII.206-210 (Usener 247, part)
F. Sextus Empiricus, Against the Professors XIII.63 (Usener 253, part)
G. Lucretius, IV.353-363
H. Lucretius, IV.379-386
I. Plutarch, Against Colotes, 1109C-E (Usener 250, part)

The criteria of truth
A. Diogenes Laėrtius, X.31
B. Epicurus, Principal Doctrines 24
C. Epicurus, Letter to Herodotus 37-38
D. Epicurus, Letter to Herodotus 82
E. Diogenes Laėrtius, X.33

Scientific methodology
A. Sextus Empiricus, Against the Professors VII.211-216 (Usener 247, part)
B. Diogenes Laėrtius, X.34
C. Epicurus, Letter to Pythocles 85-88
D. Lucretius, V.509-533
E. Lucretius, VI.703-711
F. Philodemus, On Signs 11.32-12.31
G. Philodemus, On Signs 34.29-36.17

Language
A. Epicurus, Letter to Herodotus 75-76
B. Lucretius, V.1028-1090
C. Diogenes of Oinoanda, 10.2.11-5.15
D. Epicurus, On Nature XXVIII, 31.10.2-12
E. Epicurus, On Nature XXVIII, 31.13.23-14.12
F. Anonymous commentary on Plato’s Theatetus 22.39-47
G. Erotianus, 34, 10-20 (Usener 258)
H. Cicero, On Ends I.22 (Usener 243, part)
I. Diogenes Laėrtius, X.31 (Usener 257)
J. Diogenes Laėrtius, X.34 (Usener 265)
K. Plutarch, Against Colotes 1119F (Usener 259, part)

Ethics

Free will
A. Epicurus, Letter to Menoeceus 133-134
B. Epicurus, On Nature 34.21-22
C. Epicurus, On Nature 34.26-30
D. Epicurus, Vatican Sayings 40
E. Cicero, On Fate 21-23
F. Lucretius, II.251-293
G. Diogenes of Oinoanda, 32.1.14-3.14
H. Cicero, On Fate 37
I. Cicero, Academcia II.97 (Usener 376)

Pleasure
A. Cicero, On Ends I.29-32, 37-39
B. Epicurus, Letter to Menoeceus 127-132
C. Epicurus, Principal Doctrines 3-4
D. Epicurus, Principal Doctrines 8-10
E. Epicurus, Principal Doctrines 18, 25, 30
F. Epicurus, Vatican Sayings 17, 21, 25
G. Epicurus, Vatican Sayings 33, 42, 51, 59
H. Epicurus, Vatican Sayings 63, 71, 73, 81
I. Scholion on Epicurus, Principal Doctrines 29
J. Porphyry, On Abstinence I.51.6-52.1 (Usener 464, part)
K. Diogenes Laėrtius, X.121
L. Cicero, Tusculan Disputations III.41-42 (Usener 67, 69)
M. Athenaeus, 546F (Usener 409,70): = Fragments 59 & Fragments 12
N. Plutarch, Against Epicurean Happiness 1089D (Usener 68, part): = Fragments 11
O. Cicero, On Ends II.69
P. Diogenes of Oinoanda, 26.1.2-3.8
Q. Cicero, On Ends II.9-10
R. Diogenes Laėrtius, X.136-137
S. Lucretius, IV.622-632
T. Cicero, Tusculan Disputations V.95 (Usener 439, part)
U. Cicero, On Ends I.55
V. Diogenes of Oinoanda 38.1.8-3.14
W. Lucretius, II.1-61
X. Lucretius, VI.1-28

Society
A. Epicurus, Principal Doctrines 31-35
B. Epicurus, Principal Doctrines 36-37, 17
C. Epicurus, Principal Doctrines 7, 40
D. Epicurus, Vatican Sayings 58, 70, 79
E. Epicurus Principal Doctrines 27-28
F. Epicurus, Vatican Sayings 23, 28, 34, 39, 52, 66, 78
G. Plutarch, Against Epicurean Happiness 1079A (Usener 544, part)
H. Plutarch, Against Colotes 1111B (Usener 546)
I. Seneca, Letters 19.10
J. Lucretius, V.925-938, 953-961
K. Lucretius, V.1011-1027
L. Lucretius, V.1105-1157
M. Porphyry, On Abstinence 1.7.1-9.4
N. Porphyry, On Abstinence 1.10.1-12.7
O. Cicero, On Ends I.66-70
P. Diogenes of Oinoanda, 25.2.3-11
Q. Diogenes Laėrtius, X.117-120
R. Plutarch, Against Colotes 1124D
S. Diogenes of Oinoanda, new fragment 21.1.4-14, 2.10-14

Theology
A. Lucretius, V.1161-1225
B. Epicurus, Letter to Menoeceus 123-124
C. Epicurus, Letter to Herodotus 76-77
D. Lucretius, VI.68-79
E. Cicero, On Divine Nature I.43-49
F. Sextus Empiricus, Against the Professors IX.43-47
G. Scholion on Epicurus, Principal Doctrines 1
H. Philodemus, On Piety, 112.5-12 (Usener 87)
I. Anonymous Epicurean treatise on theology (Oxyrhynchus Papyrus 215)
J. Epicurus, Letter to Menoeceus 135
K. Plutarch, Against Epicurean Happiness 1091B-C (Usener 419, part)
L. Lucretius, V.146-155

Death
A. Epicurus, Letter to Menoeceus 124-127
B. Epicurus, Vatican Sayings 31
C. Epicurus, Principal Doctrines 19-21
D. Diogenes Laėrtius, X.22 (Usener 138)
E. Lucretius III.830-911
F. Lucretius III.966-1023
G. Lucretius III.1087-1094

Philosophy
A. Epicurus, Letter to Menoeceus 122
B. Epicurus, Principal Doctrines 11-13
C. Porphyry, To Marcella 31 (Usener 221):
= Fragments 54
D. Epicurus, Vatican Sayings 29, 54
E. Epicurus, Vatican Sayings 45
F. Athenaeus, 588A (Usener 117): = Fragments 24
G. Diogenes Laėrtius, X.6
H. Plutarch, Against Epicurean Happiness 1095C (Usener 20)
I. Philodemus, Against the Sophists 4.9-14
J. Sextus Empiricus, Against the Professors XI.169 (Usener 219)
See Also:
Vatican Sayings 27