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For Epicurus, the highest pleasure (tranquility and freedom from fear) was obtained by knowledge, friendship, and living a virtuous and temperate life. He lauded the enjoyment of simple pleasures, by which he meant abstaining from bodily desires, such as sex and appetites, verging on asceticism. He argued that when eating, one should not eat too richly, for it could lead to dissatisfaction later, such as the grim realization that one could not afford such delicacies in the future. Likewise, sex could lead to increased lust and dissatisfaction with the sexual partner. Epicurus did not articulate a broad system of social ethics that has survived.

Some writings by Epicurus have survived. In addition, many scholars consider the epic poem On the Nature of Things by Lucretius to present in one unified work the core arguments and theories in Epicurus's writings.

Epicurean materialism is presented very simply, but anticipates a great deal of later scientific discovery in important respects. Dalton's atomic theory and Darwin's theory of evolution can both be seen in Epicurean writings.

Epicureanism emphasizes the neutrality of gods on earth and that they do not interfere with the world we live in. It also states that gods, matter and souls are all made from the same thing ( atoms). Souls are made from atoms, and gods possess souls, but their souls adhere to the bodies without escaping. In the case of humans we do have the same kind of souls, but the forces between our atoms do not possess the fortitude to hold the soul forever. The Epicureans also used the atomist theories of Democritus and LeucippusThis article is about the philosopher. There was also a Greek mythological Leucippus (mythology Leucippus or Leukippos ( 5th century BC) was the originator of atomism, the philosophical belief that everything is composed entirely of various imperishable, to describe that man has free will. They held that all thoughts are merely atoms swerving randomly. This explanation was used to relieve the ever-curious minds of people who wondered anxiously about their role in the universe.

Some would interpret this doctrine of the gods as really a disguised atheism. Fully aware of the fate of SocratesThis article is about the ancient Greek philosopher. For the Byzantine church historian, see Socrates Scholasticus for the Brazilian football player, see Socrates (football player . Socrates ( June 4, 470 399 BC) ( Greek &#x;Σωκ< when brought up on a charge of impiety, Epicurus avoided expressing an overt atheismAtheist" redirects here. For the music group, see Atheist (band). Atheism is the condition of lacking theistic belief. Etymology The term atheism (French atheisme from athee meaning atheist, from Greek atheos, meaning godless : a-, without; + , theos, mea. Instead, he reduced the gods to mere physical beings, shut them up in a distant part of the cosmos, without a thought or care for what happens to mankind. This renders his philosophy atheistic on the practical level, but avoids the charge of atheism on the theoretical level.

Epicureanism is probably the first philosophical school which introduced the social contractSocial contract is a phrase used in philosophy, political science, and sociology to denote a real or hypothetical agreement within a state regarding the rights and responsibilities of the state and its citizens, or more generally a similar concord between, in that the laws established by this school of thought are based on mutual agreement, not divine decree.

Epicurus' school, called " The Garden ," seems to have been a moderately ascetic community which rejected the political limelight of Athenian philosophy. They were fairly cosmopolitan by Athenian standards, including women and slaves, and were probably vegetarians.

Epicureanism was originally a challenge to PlatonismPlatonic idealism is the theory that the substantive reality around us is only a reflection of a higher truth. That truth, Plato argues, is the abstraction. A particular tree, with a branch or two missing, possibly alive, possibly dead, and initials of tw, though later it became the main opponent of StoicismStoicism is a school of philosophy commonly associated with such Greek philosophers as Zeno of Citium, Cleanthes, or Chrysippus and with such later Romans as Cicero, Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, and Epictetus. Organized at Athens in 310 BC by Zeno of Citium a. Epicurus and his followers shunned politics and as such it was never a major philosophy. After the death of Epicurus The Garden was headed by Metrodorus331 278 BC) Greek philospher of the Epicurean school. Although one of the four major proponents of Epicureanism, only fragments of his works remain. Epicurus claimed him not to be an original thinker. who was then succeded by Polyaenus. During the later Roman era, Lucretius was its main proponent. It had all but died out by the end of the Roman Empire, and was again resurrected by the atomist Pierre Gassendi during the Enlightenment.

In modern popular usage, epicureanism implies a love or knowledgeable enjoyment of good food and drink—see the definition of gourmet at Wiktionary.