What survives, what's lost, how we know what we know
From Lessons 1-2, write down:
Before we dive deeper into Epicurean philosophy, we need to understand our sources. Where does our knowledge of Epicurus come from? The answer is: a tiny fraction of what once existed.
Ancient sources credit Epicurus with about 300 scrolls of writings.
Epicurus wrote extensively on physics, ethics, epistemology, and the gods. His main work was called On Nature β a massive 37-book treatise. Almost all of it is gone.
Several factors contributed:
Why Epicureanism was especially threatening:
Stoicism and Platonism could be more easily adapted β Plato's immortal soul, Stoic divine providence. Epicureanism was harder to baptise (though Gassendi would try).
Despite the losses, we have enough to reconstruct Epicurus's philosophy. Our sources fall into four categories:
Preserved by Diogenes LaΓ«rtius (3rd century CE):
40 key statements (Kuriai Doxai) β the core teachings in condensed form. Also preserved by Diogenes LaΓ«rtius.
81 maxims discovered in a Vatican manuscript in 1888. Some overlap with Principal Doctrines; many are unique.
Carbonised scrolls from a villa buried by Vesuvius (79 CE). Contain works by Epicurus and his follower Philodemus. Still being deciphered.
Lives of the Eminent Philosophers β Book 10 is entirely devoted to Epicurus. Our most important secondary source.
De Rerum Natura β a Latin poem presenting Epicurean physics and ethics. The most complete account we have. (Next tab!)
Methodological challenges:
What this means for us: We should approach with humility. The Epicurus we reconstruct is a best effort. Multiple interpretations exist. Being honest about uncertainty is itself philosophical.
Titus Lucretius Carus (~99β55 BCE) was a Roman poet about whom we know almost nothing. What we have is his masterwork: De Rerum Natura ("On the Nature of Things") β a 7,400-line Latin poem presenting Epicurean philosophy.
Mother of Aeneas and his race, delight of men and gods, nurturing Venus... since without you nothing rises into the shining shores of light, nothing grows to be lovely or glad...
β De Rerum Natura, Book I (opening)
De Rerum Natura is divided into six books:
Advantages of poetic philosophy:
Disadvantages:
Choose 2-3 questions to explore:
How might Western history have been different if Epicurus's 300 scrolls had survived intact?
Medieval scribes chose what to copy. Is this censorship? Cultural evolution? Something else?
Much of what we know about Epicurus comes from critics. How should we handle biased sources?
New technology is reading the carbonised scrolls. What might we discover? What do you hope we find?
Lucretius wrote philosophy as poetry. Is this still done today? Should it be?
What ideas from today might be lost in 2,000 years? Does this concern you?
Revolutionary features:
The argument:
From memory, write down:
Three letters:
Principal Doctrines: 40 key statements (Kuriai Doxai) containing Epicurus's core teachings in condensed form.
Lucretius: Roman poet (~99-55 BCE) who wrote De Rerum Natura, a 7,400-line poem presenting Epicurean philosophy. Our most complete account of Epicurean physics and ethics.
Why lost: Rise of Christianity (Epicureanism seen as atheistic/hedonistic), selective copying by monastic scribes, general destruction in late antiquity.
"I can identify the primary sources for Epicurean philosophy and explain why so much was lost and what survives."
Lesson 4: The Garden Community β How did Epicurus's school actually work? Who were his followers? What was daily life like in this philosophical commune?