155 BC Athenian embassy incl. (Skeptic)

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155 BC Athenian embassy incl. (Skeptic) Carneades
visits Rome Roman focus on practical
philosophy/ ethics
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Schools of philosophy Skeptics Eclectics Ep
icureans Stoics
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Skeptics
Skepsis (Gk inquiry into how to achieve mental
and emotional tranquillity) Rejection of
philosophical systems Must accept human
inability to perceive reality and truth Become
indifferent, suspend judgment (epoche)
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Skeptics
Old Skeptics Earliest Pyrrho of Elis (early 3rd
c. BC), then others up to 2nd c. BC New
Skeptics Earliest Aenesidemus of Alexandria
(btw. 100 and 40 BC). Later example Sextus
Empiricus (d. c. 200 AD) Question of probability
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Eclectics
Pick and choose approach Usefulness as
dictator of choice of elements from each
philosophical tradition. Usefulness determined
by common sense Famous followers Cicero
(106-43 BC), Plutarch (1st-2nd c. AD), Philo
of Alexandria (1st c. AD)
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Eclectics
Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BC) Plutarch
(1st-2nd c. AD) Lives of the
Philosophers Moralia Philo of Alexandria (1st
c. AD) Reconciling the Bible and Greek
philosophy
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Epicureans
Epicurus of Samos (341-271 BC), founder of the
school (garden) of the Epicureans at Athens, 306
BC Titus Lucretius Carus (99-55 BC) De Rerum
Natura (On the Nature of Things)
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Epicureans
Pleasure is the beginning and end of a life
of blessedness. Philosophy as way to happiness
(freedom from human passions)
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Epicureans
Fourfold rule of philosophy 1. To free men
from fear of the gods 2. To free men from fear
of death 3. To show that pleasure is easy to
attain 4. To expose short-lived nature of
suffering and evil Canonics, Physics, Ethics
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Epicureans
Epicurean Canonics (logic) Canon/guideline/crit
erion of truth Sensations, anticipations,
emotions
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Epicureans
Epicurean Physics Rejection of gods.
Materialistic view of the universe Atomism S
ensations through images (Gk eidola)
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Epicureans
Epicurean Physics The problem of evil.
Gods Want to eliminate evil but cannot -
impotent or Do not want to but can -
envious or Neither want to nor can - impotent
and envious or Want to and can - so why is
there evil? Gods must be indifferent to human
destiny
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Epicureans
Epicurean Ethics Happiness (ataraxia freedom
from care and aponia lack of pain) consists
in pleasure Pleasures as natural and
necessary, natural and unnecessary, unnatural
and unnecessary. First as essential
goal, last to be avoided
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Epicureans
Epicurean Ethics Pleasures should leave one
master of oneself and imperturbable.
Emphasis on spiritual pleasures esp.
friendship Natural and necessary
pleasures equanimity, health/comfort,
sustenance of life Eliminating causes of
trouble and pain
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Epicureans
Epicurean Ethics Tranquillity, moderation,
self-restraint Limit needs to avoid exposing
oneself to hurt, incl. avoiding public
office Wise man serene, moderate,
temperate, free of care, ever-balanced, impert
urbable