Epicurean and Stoic outlooks

Epicureanism teaches that the gods, if they exist, have no effect and play no part in human affairs or in nature. This then leaves one to lead a life free from superstitions and the threat of the unknown and any divine retribution. The Epicurean theory of matter explains the world in purely physical terms. The universe is made up of two elements: small particles of matter called atoms, and empty space. The atoms are completely solid, possessing the qualities of size, shape, and mass, and can be neither split (a-tome means “cannot be split”) nor destroyed. Their joining together to form complex structures is entirely caused by their random paths in space, without interference from the gods.

With this belief a man can live and chose as he wants without suffering any responsibilities or consequences from his choices. However, this also means he also doesn’t have anyone (God) to look to for help when there are natural disasters. At death Epicureans believe the body’s atoms separate, and body, mind, and soul are lost forever. Since they believe no part of the human body is immortal in any way, they have no fear of death, which only brings an end to physical sensations. There is no threat of punishment in a future world/life. The philosophy has the appeal that one can live a life as one pleases, serene in the knowledge that there are no eternal (Godly) repercussions for acts committed here.

They also believe that no god could have created this world because of its imperfections, for it god, by definition, is perfect, then He wouldn’t have created such a place. Anything created by a god would be perfect too.

Stoicism takes almost the opposite view. Its members believe the world was created and governed by reason and that God watches over the virtuous, and never allows evil to create suffering for them. A person can become virtuous through control of one’s wishes and desires. Riches, power, or even physical health are all subject to the whims of Fortune and are excluded as objects of desire. All that counted for the Stoic was that which was subject to his individual will, i.e., his own choices.

The universe, perfectly spherical in shape, is run like an orderly machine. Its eternal course is cyclical, not progressive or regressive, and every cycle is identical in every detail, moving through the same sequence of events, causing an eternal recurrence of things. This cycle of events was seen as a wheel, where all things in life are predetermined and a person, indeed, human destiny, can’t change this path. As the wheel turns a person can be at the top and prosperous, but he will eventually be at the bottom too, and this cannot be avoided or escaped. This fatalistic philosophy dominated throughout the Middle Ages and into the Renaissance.

Happiness came when one imitated God, and since a person could not control his future he would not be disappointed in the path that lay ahead. Concentrate on the things over which you have control and ignore the rest. Thus, you can choose to do good or evil, you can choose to be happy or sad.

Stoic ethics translated into a political theory centered on social duty. The Stoic had much more to do than seek his own peace, and was to be of service to the broader community of humankind. Helping others gave a personal calm which extended into an effort to convert chaos into order.