Murdoch Philosophy Research Seminars Semester 2, 2009

Fear in Epicurean Ethics

Sergio Starkstein (MU):

Abstract:

Whilst classically considered a hedonistic philosophy, Epicureanism has been recently revised as a 'negative hedonism'. The reason for this rather dramatic conceptual change is the increasing awareness of the central role of fear in Epicurean ethics. More specifically, there is strong evidence that the Epicurean ethical telos was to seek pleasure through the avoidance of fear. Twenty of the forty aphorisms in Epicurus' Principal Doctrines (Kyriai Doxai) deal with fear and anxiety. These aphorisms may be classified into three distinct themes: 1) The relevance of fear for a virtuous life; 2) Science as a tool to fight human fear; and 3) The relevance of fear for social organization. Epicurus considered the fear of death as the genesis of all fears, and that fortune plays an important role in achieving 'ataraxia' (a state of no bodily pain and no anxiety in the soul). Epicurean therapy of fear consisted on reflecting about necessary and sufficient factors for life, and the achievement of 'phronesis' (or practical wisdom) and 'asphaleia' (or safety). In conclusion, the main aim of this lecture is to demonstrate the critical role of fear in shaping Epicurean philosophy, a fact that also extends to other Hellenistic philosophical schools.

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