Epicurus

Epicurus (Greek: Ἐπίκουρος, Epikouros, "ally, comrade"; 341 BCE – 270 BCE) was an ancient Greek philosopher as well as the founder of the school of philosophy called Epicureanism. Only a few fragments and letters of Epicurus's 300 written works remain. Much of what is known about Epicurean philosophy derives from later followers and commentators.

For Epicurus, the purpose of philosophy was to attain the happy, tranquil life, characterized by ataraxia—peace and freedom from fear—and aponia—the absence of pain—and by living a self-sufficient life surrounded by friends. He taught that pleasure and pain are the measures of what is good and evil; death is the end of both body and soul and should therefore not be feared; the gods do not reward or punish humans; the universe is infinite and eternal; and events in the world are ultimately based on the motions and interactions of atoms moving in empty space.

top atheist quotes (total: 4)

last comments (total: 4)

0

https://carm.org/atheism/epicurus-god-willing-to-prevent-evil

Jamie Price

25/12/20
10:27am

comment on atheist quote:
Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?

0

Why do you put some words with capital letters - Plan of God, Sin Drama etc - it makes it seem like these are generally approved phrases but I am not aware of them written like that in the bible. And where does a 4D angelic universe come from for goodness sake!??
One point though, why create people with free will, then get annoyed at them if they choose to use it in any other way than what he wanted in the first place. Perhaps more robots would have been better - at least it would have worked how he intended.

Diane Allen

11/05/14
9:38pm

comment on atheist quote:
Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?

3

I have used this repeatedly to put religious people that say "God did this" or "God did that" and it always stumps them!
Great find!

Bill

08/12/13
3:25pm

comment on atheist quote:
Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?

5

This is one of my favorites. This is so ample, in so few words it renders religion useless.

epicurus freud

29/11/13
1:07am

comment on atheist quote:
Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?