Epicureanism and Scientific Debates. Epicurean Tradition and its Ancient Reception

Book excerpt: Epicurean philosophy is a philosophy of knowledge, nature and pleasure. The second part of a two-volume set, this edited collection examines the core areas of Epicureanism : physiology, epistemology and ethics. The study is carried out from multiple perspectives: the reconstruction and analysis of primary sources, an examination of the debates and controversies surrounding the school of Epicurus, and a review of the reception of Epicurean philosophy. By challenging the widespread stereotype of Epicureanism as a dogmatic, closed system of thought, this volume offers a fresh outlook on this philosophy. The book includes studies of Epicureans linguistic theory and practice, many fundamental aspects of Epicurean epistemology, physiology and ethics and their reception, the communicative strategy of Epicurean works, and the relationship between philosophy and the sciences.