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Epicureanism: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) Illustrated Edition

by Catherine Wilson (Author)
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 84 ratings
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Epicureanism is commonly associated with a carefree view of life and the pursuit of pleasures, particularly the pleasures of the table. However it was a complex and distinctive system of philosophy that emphasized simplicity and moderation, and considered nature to consist of atoms and the void. Epicureanism is a school of thought whose legacy continues to reverberate today.

In this Very Short Introduction, Catherine Wilson explains the key ideas of the School, comparing them with those of the rival Stoics and with Kantian ethics, and tracing their influence on the development of scientific and political thought from Locke, Newton, and Galileo to Rousseau, Marx, Bentham, and Mill. She discusses the adoption and adaptation of Epicurean motifs in science, morality, and politics from the 17th Century onwards and contextualises the significance of Epicureanism in modern life.

ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
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  1. ISBN-10
    019968832X
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0199688326
  3. Edition
    Illustrated
  4. Publisher
    Oxford University Press
  5. Publication date
    February 1, 2016
  6. Language
    English
  7. Dimensions
    0.5 x 4.2 x 6.8 inches
  8. Print length
    160 pages
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Book Description

This Very Short Introduction corrects the prevalent view of Epicureanism that often conjures up ideas of tasty delights and hedonism

About the Author

Catherine Wilson is Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at York University and a member of the Graduate Faculty of the City University of New York. She is the author of a number of books and articles on the history and philosophy of science and on the Epicurean influence on moral and political theory, including the highly regarded monograph, Epicureanism at the Origins of Modernity (OUP, 2008).

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Oxford University Press; Illustrated edition (February 1, 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 160 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 019968832X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0199688326
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 0.5 x 4.2 x 6.8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 84 ratings

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Catherine Wilson

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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
84 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Yannis Karayannis
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book about a great philosopher
Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2020
Verified Purchase
Epicurus may be the most important Greek philosopher. He has been marginalized for too long. This short introduction is a great summary of his greatness.
3 people found this helpful
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C. Derick Varn
4.0 out of 5 stars Quite Good
Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2018
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While far from perfect, Catherine Wilson treats Epicureanism from Epicureanism and Lucreatius as more than an ethical philosophy. Indeed, many of the treatments of the Stoics and Epicureanism (or Hellenistic philosophical schools in general), ignore the physics, metaphysics, and politics that grounded the various schools ethical assumption. Wilson starts with atomism, works through materialism, Epicurean theories of life and theology, Epicurean political and ethical assumptions, and the pure Epicurean ethics. Wilson also shows its historical reemergence in the late Renaissance and early Enlightenment and traces Epicureanism influence from Baron Holbach to David Hume to Thomas Hobbes to the Utilitarians as well as responses against Epicureanism. While some many find this overly sceintific and metaphysical, it is a stark contrast to those treatments that concern themselves almost solely with ethics.
5 people found this helpful
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Jef Bryant
4.0 out of 5 stars Covers topic well
Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2020
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Covers the basis of Epicurean philosophy, atomism, epistemology, love, life, death, mind, religion, politics and ethics. Also discusses the evolution of Epicurean like thinking through its inception to the contemporary.
One person found this helpful
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TMH
2.0 out of 5 stars Not recommended.
Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2016
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The author seems more concerned with asserting her own values as a contradiction to Epicureanism. Not recommended.
4 people found this helpful
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J. Waters
2.0 out of 5 stars Look elsewhere for an introduction to Epicureanism
Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2023
The author spends more time (literally) discussing Early Modern philosophers than she does Epicureanism. Her general approach is to use very brief introductions to Epicurean ideas as a jumping off point to discuss how these or similar ideas were later debated, rejected, accepted, etc. by thinkers in roughly the 17th-19th centuries. This might be fine if the book were a "history of ideas" type project mapping how Epicurean and Epicurean-adjacent ideas developed through time and impacted the Scientific Revolution, but a book in the "Very Short Introductions" series should be just that. Because of the amount of space she devotes to Early Modern thinkers, she spends an inadequate amount of time discussing Epicureanism. In short, if you are looking for a general yet substantive introduction to Epicureanism, I would recommend looking elsewhere.
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Sam birencwaig
5.0 out of 5 stars Indepth into this great philosophy
Reviewed in Canada on March 9, 2022
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I wanted to learn more about this great realistic, pragmatic and practical philosophy that I heard and read about. I always have to add and express how fantastic and wonderful it is to shop and deal with Amazon, it's the greatest in every way, whether it's the the product, the service,the delivery or any problem that might arise, Amazon is there working for your complete satisfaction in every possible way.I always recommend Amazon to everyone I know, it's the greatest, thank you.
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Wouter Popp
5.0 out of 5 stars Epicurus is great.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 6, 2023
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The Very Short Introduction series is a fabulous series. Clear explanations on a wide range of topics to you get started.
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Adrian
5.0 out of 5 stars Very clear and helpful
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 22, 2023
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Very clear and helpful. Highly recommended!
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Amazonion
3.0 out of 5 stars Very little substance on Epicureanism
Reviewed in Canada on January 19, 2021
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Excellent effort, but very little substance on Epicureanism or about Epicurus. Author drifted toooo many times and speculated too much.
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Martin Reading
5.0 out of 5 stars Well-written introduction
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 15, 2016
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A very well written and clear exposition of the materialist way of thinking from Epicurus to the present. Thoroughly recommended to anyone interested in the philosophical background of the scientific approach.
3 people found this helpful
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