Epikurolaisille

Epikurolaisille refers to followers of Epicureanism, a Hellenistic philosophy founded by the Greek philosopher Epicurus in Athens around 307 BCE. The central aim of Epicureanism is to attain a state of tranquility and freedom from fear, known as ataraxia, and freedom from bodily pain, known as aponia. This is achieved through the pursuit of modest pleasures and the cultivation of friendships.

Epicureans believed that the greatest good is pleasure, but they defined pleasure not as intense, fleeting sensations, but as a state of calm contentment. They distinguished between kinetic pleasures, which involve activity and sensation, and katastematic pleasures, which are static and involve the absence of pain or disturbance. The latter were considered superior. They advocated for living a simple life, free from unnecessary desires and the anxieties that accompany them, such as the fear of death or divine retribution.

Regarding death, Epicurus taught that it is nothing to be feared because when we exist, death is not present, and when death is present, we do not exist. Therefore, the experience of death is impossible. Similarly, Epicureans believed that the gods exist but are indifferent to human affairs and do not intervene in the world, thus removing another source of anxiety. Friendship was highly valued as a source of security and lasting pleasure. Epicurean communities, often called "The Garden," were established where followers lived together, studied philosophy, and supported each other.