Here is a possibly dumb question: how much is Rand inspired by Aristotle and how much by Epicurus?
I have read very little Aristotle, ergo the dumbness. But a year or so ago I tried reading Epicurus -- and found the same kind of hand-waving faith in individual and general interest. Epicurus referred to pleasure vs. rational self-interest,…
Here is a possibly dumb question: how much is Rand inspired by Aristotle and how much by Epicurus?
I have read very little Aristotle, ergo the dumbness. But a year or so ago I tried reading Epicurus -- and found the same kind of hand-waving faith in individual and general interest. Epicurus referred to pleasure vs. rational self-interest, but otherwise the parallels were strong.
(Sorry I cannot give you a precise citation, as I cannot find the book that I was reading this in.)
I haven't read Epicurus in any depth to be able to answer that. However, Rand explicitly and repeatedly expresses her debt to Aristotle and Aquinas, over and over. She never mentions Epicurus, as far as I know.
I know that she never mentioned Epicurus. That's why I was surprised at the parallels between Epicurus and Rand.
The Epicurus book I was reading did say that Thomas Jefferson was fond of Epicurus.
Epicurus was also big on the atomic theory of matter, and he also posited that there were other worlds based on that theory. I'm kind of surprised that that bit didn't end up in the summaries of his thought.
Tough for me to say. Was I Enlightened by the read? No. But I have found no enlightenment from reading any ancient philosopher.
I can say I got further reading Epicurus than I have ever gotten with Plato without the duress of a college reading assignment. And I would say that the reading differed significantly from the two line description taught in history class. The sci-fi aspect is what really surprised me.
Whether I was read it in Epicurus himself or some ancient writing about Epicurus, I remember not. And the book has disappeared via quantum magic so I cannot double check. This was the book:
Here is a possibly dumb question: how much is Rand inspired by Aristotle and how much by Epicurus?
I have read very little Aristotle, ergo the dumbness. But a year or so ago I tried reading Epicurus -- and found the same kind of hand-waving faith in individual and general interest. Epicurus referred to pleasure vs. rational self-interest, but otherwise the parallels were strong.
(Sorry I cannot give you a precise citation, as I cannot find the book that I was reading this in.)
I haven't read Epicurus in any depth to be able to answer that. However, Rand explicitly and repeatedly expresses her debt to Aristotle and Aquinas, over and over. She never mentions Epicurus, as far as I know.
I know that she never mentioned Epicurus. That's why I was surprised at the parallels between Epicurus and Rand.
The Epicurus book I was reading did say that Thomas Jefferson was fond of Epicurus.
Epicurus was also big on the atomic theory of matter, and he also posited that there were other worlds based on that theory. I'm kind of surprised that that bit didn't end up in the summaries of his thought.
Interesting. Do you recommend Epicurus as worth reading?
Tough for me to say. Was I Enlightened by the read? No. But I have found no enlightenment from reading any ancient philosopher.
I can say I got further reading Epicurus than I have ever gotten with Plato without the duress of a college reading assignment. And I would say that the reading differed significantly from the two line description taught in history class. The sci-fi aspect is what really surprised me.
Whether I was read it in Epicurus himself or some ancient writing about Epicurus, I remember not. And the book has disappeared via quantum magic so I cannot double check. This was the book:
https://www.amazon.com/Stoic-Six-Pack-Epicureans-Illustrated-ebook/dp/B00YVNI99Q/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1SRKPNUFOMWKX&keywords=epicurus+stoic+six+pack&qid=1691332671&sprefix=epicurus+stoic+six+pack%2Caps%2C120&sr=8-1
Given how fast you read philosophical works, you should probably pick it up for completeness sake.
Thanks! I will add to my reading list.
> And the book has disappeared via quantum magic so I cannot double check.
Have you tried Project Gutenberg?
No.