Epicurus / Epicurus - Tutorial Preparation Sheet
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L
ecture
5 – Epicurus
Background questions:
Epicurus was a hedonist. What is a hedonist?
How does Epicurus justify his hedoninsm?
What’s the difference between a Positive hedonist and a negative hedonist?
Do you agree with Epicurus that pleasure is really the complete absence of any form of pain? Why/why not? Or do you think pleasure involves the presence of something positive, and if so what? How would you demonstrate your view?
What are natural desires and what are unnatural desires?
What are necessary desires and what are unnecessary ones?
What sorts of desires does the wise man eliminate and why?
Tutorial discussion questions:
Epicurus says: Natural justice is a pledge of reciprocal benefit, to prevent one man from harming or being harmed by another. Do you agree with that?
Why does Epicurus think one should be ‘virtuous’?
Do you agree with this Doctrine of Epicurus? If so, how would you defend it? If not, how would you argue against it – where does it go wrong?
According to Epicurus, what happens to us when we die? Should we fear death? What does Epicurus have to say about this?