Wisdom from the leading 'atheist' of his day (Epicurus)

[BurtWorm]

I offer these aphorisms in response to a thread (now locked) in another forum in which it was argued that we should want eternal life so we would be able to be with our loved ones after death. I think Epicurus answers that claim as well as anyone:


Death does not concern us, because as long as we exist, death is not here. And when it does come, we no longer exist.

If God listened to the prayers of men, all men would quickly have perished: for they are forever praying for evil against one another.

It is folly for a man to pray to the gods for that which he has the power to obtain by himself.

It is possible to provide security against other ills, but as far as death is concerned, we men live in a city without walls.

Justice... is a kind of compact not to harm or be harmed.

Not what we have But what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance.

The art of living well and the art of dying well are one.

There is no such thing as justice in the abstract; it is merely a compact between men.

[angstlessk]

1. the fears of death I used to have was leaving my loved one's destitute

now I do not worry about that...I don't want to die, but hell, I know I won't care once I am...I am just glad my loved ones will no longer be homeless once I am gone!

[chaplainM]

2. Mark Twain's (supposed) take on this subject is very reasonable

"I was dead for millions of years before I was born and it never inconvenienced me a bit."

[silverweb]

3. I like that one!

:D

[Sean44]

4. Epicurus may have been responsible for Christianity though

When seen historically...Epicurus led Greek thought away from a multitude of Gods to what he termed "Nature" (with a capital "N").
Nature for Epicurus was all that there was, Nature and the senses. In any case, it was a perfect set-up for Christianity to enter Greece, now that there was ONE God, even though that God to Epicurus was Nature...Epicurus was a bridge.

[Jim__]

5. Awareness of death is part of the human condition.

And, while we may not experience our own death, we do experience the death of loved ones. We anticipate it in our aged family and friends. Everyone has to cope with this issue in their own way. I don't believe it is healthy to ignore the issue of death. I don't believe we can actually be unconcerned about death.

[BurtWorm]

6. The art of living well and the art of dying well are one.

[pokerfan]

7. The Riddle of Epicurus

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?