Ancient Philosophy S01E06 · Epicureanism

Overview

In our sixth and final lecture, we analyze the philosophy of Epicurus, who developed a materialist metaphysics based on the idea that all reality is reducible to indivisible atoms governed by chance. This atomistic view has implications for Epicurean ethics, religion, and politics, emphasizing detachment, egalitarianism, and a skepticism towards social hierarchies. We also extrapolate the influence of Epicurean philosophy on thinkers like Marx. Dr. Orr concludes by emphasizing the enduring relevance of ancient philosophy in questioning our modern assumptions about truth and reality.

Torrents

Subtitles

Episodes

1. 1 1. The Ionian School2025-10-20 · 1h 7mIn our introductory lecture, Dr. Orr takes us on an exploration into the origins of Western philosophy by examining the ideas of the Ionian school, including Thales, Anaximander, A
2. 2 2. The Eleatic School2025-10-20 · 1h 16mIn lecture two, we discover the Eleatic school of thought, which emerged in Elea on the western coast of Italy, and its focus on the concept of Being as opposed to the world of Bec
3. 3 3. Plato's Perspective2025-10-20 · 1h 12mIn lecture three, we study the philosophy of Plato, focusing on his dialogues and the emergence of his metaphysical and epistemological ideas. Dr. Orr traces the historical and int
4. 4 4. Aristotle's Approach2025-10-20 · 1h 16mIn lecture four, we consider the life and philosophy of Aristotle of Stagira, a pupil of Plato who rose from the fringes of the Greek world to transform civilization at its center
5. 5 5. Stoicism2025-10-20 · 1h 5mIn lecture five, we see the emergence and key ideas of Stoicism, an influential philosophical school founded by Zeno of Citium in Athens around 300 BC. The lecture traces the histo
6. 6 6. Epicureanism2025-10-20 · 1h 15mIn our sixth and final lecture, we analyze the philosophy of Epicurus, who developed a materialist metaphysics based on the idea that all reality is reducible to indivisible atoms