If we say the beginning of Marxist philosophy, then we have to mention an ancient Greek philosopher, who is Epicurus. He was an atheist, said to be considered the first atheist philosopher in the West, and the founder of the Epicurean school. Today, we will taste the ten aphorisms of Epicurus together, experience the profound philosophical feelings behind the words, and read and use them for a lifetime.
Born in ancient Greece to Athenian parents, Epicurus is said to have begun studying philosophy at the age of 14. Epicurus had a soft spot for democritus' philosophy, inheriting and developing the latter's philosophical ideas. When he moved to Athens at the age of 18, Epicurus bought a garden and ran a school in the garden, thus establishing the Epicurean School, which he founded was the most influential school of philosophy at the time and is said to have lasted for 4 centuries.
"Hedonism" is Epicurus's most influential thought, which focuses on the search for individual freedom, and the formation of this idea is an inevitable product of the times. At that time, Greece had just taken turns to die in Macedonia during the chaotic period, when he followed his parents in many places and lived in a turbulent life. After returning to Athens, he opened schools to pursue the kind of happiness and stability that ordinary people aspire to, while pursuing individual freedom, in which Case Epicurus's concept of freedom and happiness gradually took shape.
In Epicurus's view, philosophy must be practical, otherwise it is worthless, and he uses the most fundamental methods to cure human suffering through thinking, analysis, and communication, so that human beings can enjoy the happiness of the world. In addition, Epicurus defined what happiness is. He believes that human happiness is physical and spiritual happiness, and he advocates that human beings should try to eliminate satisfying and futile desires, avoid conflict, and maintain a calm mind, so as to achieve physical satisfaction and happiness. Spiritual happiness is deeper, it is human beings who obtain spiritual peace, and only when they are spiritually happy can happiness last.
Furthermore, Epicurus believed that happiness also included static and dynamic happiness. Among them, dynamic happiness refers to the enjoyment obtained by human beings in the process of fulfilling their own wishes. For example, a full meal after hunger. Static happiness, on the other hand, is the spiritual satisfaction that comes after the desire is satisfied, and this static happiness is eternal and perfect.
Epicurus's "hedonism" has positive energy, he pointed out that human beings need to understand all things, the happiness obtained after understanding nature can not be afraid of fear, guide human beings to bravely face the future, and thus obtain spiritual "peace". Of course, Epicurus emphasized personal happiness, not social happiness, his "hedonism" has a distinct individualistic tendency, of course, from the perspective of historical process, his thinking is limited, but he tried to use faith and desire to lead people to chase life and inner peace, in that era was advanced, is a positive driving effect.
Epicurus's thought was a vast philosophical system, and in Western culture, his name was a household name. Over time, later thinkers interpreted his ideas, including great philosophers such as Marx and Nietzsche, especially Marx wrote a doctoral dissertation in his youth on the natural philosophy of Epicurus.
The great Marx believed that Epicurus's philosophical thought was full of fire, youth, and the power of conquest, reflecting the fearlessness of life and death and the exuberance of life. Marx admired Epicurus's philosophical thought, and he analyzed Epicurus's thought from different angles, so the starting point of Marxist philosophy is often considered to start from Epicurus.
Epicurus was a great philosopher of his time, and his ideas promoted the progress of human thought, even though his ideas would have limitations at the moment, but he impressed many future generations of philosophers. According to records, Epicurus was born in 341 BC, and today, we will enjoy the ten aphorisms of this ancient Greek philosopher more than 2,000 years ago, experience the philosophical view behind the text, and read it to be useful.