The Epicurean philosophical system has enjoyed much scrutiny, but the question of its philosophical ancestry remains largely neglected. It has often been thought that Epicurus owed only his physical theory of atomism to the fifth-century BC philosopher Democritus, but this 2002 study finds that there is much in his ethical thought which can be traced to Democritus. It also finds important influences on Epicurus in Democritus' fourth-century followers such as Anaxarchus and Pyrrho, and in Epicurus' disagreements with his own Democritean teacher Nausiphanes. The result is not only a fascinating reconstruction of a lost tradition, but also an important contribution to the philosophical interpretation of Epicureanism, bearing especially on its ideal of tranquillity and on the relation of ethics to physics.

This 2002 book explores the origins of the Epicurean philosophical system in the fifth and fourth centuries BC.

About the Author
James Warren is Assistant Lecturer in Classics at the University of Cambridge and Fellow of Corpus Christi College.

Reviews
'In this book Warren shows himself well equipped with the tools of philosophical archaeology, and admirably skilled in their use ... guides the reader expertly ... Warren imparts much fascinating information ...' Journal of the Society for Greek Political Thought



Book Information
ISBN 9780521034456
Author James Warren
Format Paperback
Page Count 256
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Weight(grams) 337g
Dimensions(mm) 217mm * 140mm * 15mm