This is an exploration of the Atomic theory of the Ancient Epicureans. Epicureanism was a school of philosophy that was founded around 307 BC in Athens by Epicurus, and lasted until about 300 AD-ish. The Epicureans were famous (or infamous) for their philosophy of materialistic hedonism. In this article, I’ll mainly be examining the materialistic foundations upon which the Epicurean philosophical system was founded, and why the Epicureans thought that understanding the world on the basis of materialism was the key for tranquility of mind. I have a soft spot for the Ancient Epicureans. And it ..read more

Reading from Cicero’s “De Finibus” Book 1 Written by: Michael Lucana Marcus Tullius Cicero was a Roman politician, lawyer, and philosopher who wrote most of his well known works around 45 BC. De Finibus is a work written in dialogue form in which Cicero discusses various philosophical views that were popular during his time. In Book 1 of De Finibus, Cicero has a conversation with a fellow Roman named Lucius Torquatus who is an avid Epicurean. Here is an online translation if you are so inclined to read through yourself. I’m using a translation by Quintus Curtius. This reading is by no means ex ..read more