Examples of Epicurean Lives
Examples of Epicurean Lives
Section titled “Examples of Epicurean Lives”And indeed the Epicureans, those best of men, for there is no order of men more innocent, complain that I take great pains to inveigh against Epicurus. We are rivals, I suppose, for some honour or distinction. I place the chief good in the mind, he in the body; I in virtue, he in pleasure; and the Epicureans are up in arms, and implore the assistance of their neighbours, and many are ready to fly to their aid.
- Cicero, Tusculan Disputations III:XXI
Epicurean philosophy is not by any means only a matter of words. Numerous major figures of history adopted it as their own guide of life, and we today can look to their examples. Here are short biographies of prominent Epicureans:
(This page is at this point only a listing of names.)
Epicurus
Section titled “Epicurus”Metrodorus
Section titled “Metrodorus”Hermarchus
Section titled “Hermarchus”Polyaenus
Section titled “Polyaenus”Leontion
Section titled “Leontion”Philonides of Laodicia
Section titled “Philonides of Laodicia”Antiochus Epiphanes
Section titled “Antiochus Epiphanes”Lucius Manlius Torquatus
Section titled “Lucius Manlius Torquatus”Titus Pomponius Atticus
Section titled “Titus Pomponius Atticus”Siro of Naples
Section titled “Siro of Naples”Philodemus of Gadara
Section titled “Philodemus of Gadara”Lucius Calpurnius Piso
Section titled “Lucius Calpurnius Piso”Gaius Julius Caesar
Section titled “Gaius Julius Caesar”Gaius Cassius Longinus
Section titled “Gaius Cassius Longinus”Titus Lucretius Carus
Section titled “Titus Lucretius Carus”Diogenes of Oinoanda
Section titled “Diogenes of Oinoanda”Lucian of Samosata
Section titled “Lucian of Samosata”Empress Pompeia Plotina
Section titled “Empress Pompeia Plotina”Cosma Raimondi
Section titled “Cosma Raimondi”Thomas Jefferson
Section titled “Thomas Jefferson”Frances Wright
Section titled “Frances Wright”These examples of men and women who have studied Epicurus and spoken out on his behalf leads to the question: How do we ourselves apply Epicurean philosophy in our lives?