Abstract
This paper examines the classification of desires that the Epicureans offer in their writings. It surveys the extant textual evidence for the classification and discusses the relationship between natural and necessary, natural and unnecessary, and unnatural and unnecessary desires. It argues that while the practical significance of the Epicurean classification is clear, which desires fall into which class is not. The paper suggests the reason for this may be that the Epicureans acknowledge some variability in their concept of human nature, arguing for a functional reading of the Epicurean classification of desires.
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank Clerk Shaw for detailed comments on an earlier version as well as discussion at various points. I presented a version of this paper at the 2020 Eastern APA meeting in Philadelphia. Thanks to the audience and to my commentator on this occasion, John Proios, for the suggestions for improvement. Finally, I am very grateful to the anonymous reader for Apeiron who read multiple drafts of this paper and provided extensive feedback.
References
Annas, J. 1993. The Morality of Happiness. New York: Oxford University Press.Search in Google Scholar
Arenson, K. 2016. “Epicureans on Marriage as Sexual Therapy.” Polis 33 (2): 291–311, https://doi.org/10.1163/20512996-12340095.Search in Google Scholar
Arenson, K. 2019. Health and Hedonism in Plato and Epicurus. New York: Bloomsbury.10.5040/9781350080287Search in Google Scholar
Arrighetti, G., ed. (1973). Epicuro: Opere. Turin: Giulio Einaudi editore.Search in Google Scholar
Asmis, E. 1984. Epicurus’ Scientific Method. Ithaca and New York: Cornell University Press.Search in Google Scholar
Asmis, E. 2011. “The Necessity of Anger in Philodemus’ ‘On Anger’.” In Epicurus and the Epicurean Tradition, edited by J. Fish and K. Sanders, 152–82. Cambridge and New York: Cambridge University Press.10.1017/CBO9780511921704.008Search in Google Scholar
Betegh, G. 2006. “Epicurus’ Argument for Atomism.” Oxford Studies for Ancient Philosophy 30: 261–84.10.1093/oso/9780199287468.003.0010Search in Google Scholar
Bollack, J. 1975. La pensée du plaisir. Paris: Minuit.Search in Google Scholar
Brennan, T. 1996. “Epicurus on Sex, Marriage, and Children.” Classical Philology 91 (4): 346–52, https://doi.org/10.1086/367525.Search in Google Scholar
Conche, M. 1977. Epicure: Lettres et Maximes. Villers-sur-mer: Editions de Mégare.Search in Google Scholar
Cooper, J. 1999. “Pleasure and Desire in Epicurus.” In Reason and Emotion: Essays on Ancient Moral Psychology and Ethical Theory, edited by J. Cooper, 485–514. Princeton: Princeton University Press.10.2307/j.ctv182jt48.27Search in Google Scholar
de Lacy, P. 1969. “Limit and Variation in the Epicurean Philosophy.” Phoenix 23 (1): 104–13, https://doi.org/10.2307/1086571.Search in Google Scholar
Diano, C. 1974. Scritti Epicurei. Florence: Leo S. Olschki Editore.Search in Google Scholar
Erler, M. 1992. “Cicero und ‘orthodoxer’ Epikureismus.” Anregung 38: 307–22.Search in Google Scholar
Erler, M., and Schofield, M. (2010 [1999]). “Epicurean Ethics.” In The Cambridge History of Hellenistic Philosophy, edited by K. Algra, J. Barnes, J. Mansfeld, and M. Schofield, 642–74. New York: Cambridge University Press.10.1017/CHOL9780521250283.021Search in Google Scholar
Fish, J. 2011. “Not all politicians are Sisyphus: What Roman Epicureans were taught about politics.” In Epicurus and the Epicurean Tradition, edited by J. Fish, and K. Sanders, 72–104. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.10.1017/CBO9780511921704.005Search in Google Scholar
Fowler, D. 1997. “Epicurean Anger.” In The Passions in Roman Thought and Literature, edited by S. Braund, and C. Gill, 16–35. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.10.1017/CBO9780511586163.004Search in Google Scholar
Fraisse, J. 1974. Philia: la notion d’amité dans la philosophie antique. Paris: Vrin.Search in Google Scholar
Gargiulo, T. 1981. “PHerc. 222: Filodemo Sull’adulazione.” Cronache Ercolanesi 11: 102–27.Search in Google Scholar
Giannantoni, G. 1984. “Il piacere cinetico nell’ etica epicurea.” Elenchos 5: 25–44.Search in Google Scholar
Giovacchini, J. 2008. Epicure. Paris: Belles Lettres.10.14375/NP.9782251760629Search in Google Scholar
Grilli, A. 1994. “Considerazioni sul fr. 555 Us. di Epicuro.” In L’Epicureismo greco e romano, edited by G. Giannantoni, and M. Gigante, 377–86. Naples: Bibliopolis.Search in Google Scholar
Hessler, J. E. 2014. Epikur: Brief an Menoikeus. Basel: Schwabe Verlag.Search in Google Scholar
Hossenfelder, M. 2006 [1991]. Epikur. Munich: Beck.Search in Google Scholar
Kleve, K. 1963. Gnosis Theon: Die Lehre von der natürlichen Gotteserkenntnis in der epikureischen Theologie. Oslo: Universitetsforlaget.Search in Google Scholar
Liebich, W. 1960. Aufbau, Absicht und Form der Pragmateiai Philodems. PhD thesis. Berlin: Humboldt-Universität.Search in Google Scholar
Manuwald, A. 1972. Die Prolepsislehre Epikurs. Bonn: Rudolf Habelt Verlag.Search in Google Scholar
Meyer, S. S. 2004. Ancient Ethics. New York: Routledge.Search in Google Scholar
Müller, R. 1991. Die Epikureische Ethik. Berlin: Akademie Verlag.Search in Google Scholar
O’Keefe, T. 2001. “Is Epicurean Friendship Altruistic?.” Apeiron 34 (4): 269–305, https://doi.org/10.2307/3054295.Search in Google Scholar
O’Keefe, T. 2010. Epicureanism. Durham: Acumen.Search in Google Scholar
O’Keefe, T. forthcoming. “The Normativity of Nature in Epicurean Ethics and Politics.” In State and Nature: Essays in Ancient Political Philosophy, edited by P. Adamson, and C. Rapp Boston and New York: De Gruyter.10.1515/9783110730944-009Search in Google Scholar
Procopé, J. 1998. “Epicureans on Anger.” In The Emotions in Hellenistic Philosophy, edited by J. Sihvola, and T. Engberg-Pedersen, 171–96. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers.10.1007/978-94-015-9082-2_6Search in Google Scholar
Purinton, J. 1993. “Epicurus on the Telos.” Phronesis 38 (3): 281–320, https://doi.org/10.1163/156852893321052316.Search in Google Scholar
Rider, B. 2019. “The Ethical Significance of Gratitude.” British Journal for the History of Philosophy 27 (6): 1092–112, https://doi.org/10.1080/09608788.2019.1568229.Search in Google Scholar
Rist, J. E. 1972. An Introduction. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Search in Google Scholar
Robitzsch, J. M. 2017. “The Epicureans on Human Nature and its Social and Political Consequences.” Polis 34 (1): 1–19, https://doi.org/10.1163/20512996-12340116.Search in Google Scholar
Rodis-Lewis, G. 1975. Épicure et son école. Paris: Gallimard.Search in Google Scholar
Roskam, G. 2007. Live unnoticed (Λάθε βιώσας): On the Vicissitudes of an Epicurean Doctrine. Leiden: Brill.10.1163/ej.9789004161719.i-236Search in Google Scholar
Salem, J. 1989. Tel un dieu parmi: L’éthique d’Épicure. Paris: Vrin.Search in Google Scholar
Schmid, W., ed. (1959). Ethica Epicurea: Pap. Herc. 1251. Leipzig: Otto Harrowitz.Search in Google Scholar
Steckel, H. 1960. Epikurs Prinzip der Einheit von Schmerzlosigkeit und Lust. PhD thesis. Göttingen: Georg-August-Universität.Search in Google Scholar
Tsouna, V. 2016. “Epicurean preconceptions.” Phronesis 61 (2): 160–221, https://doi.org/10.1163/15685284-12341304.Search in Google Scholar
Tsouna, V., and G. Indelli, eds. (1995). [Philodemus: On Choices and Avoidances]. Bibliopolis: Naples.Search in Google Scholar
Verde, F. 2010. Epicuro: Epistola a Erodoto. Rome: Carocci.Search in Google Scholar
Verde, F. 2013. Epicuro. Rome: Carocci.Search in Google Scholar
Warren, J. 2001. “Lucretian Palingenesis Recycled.” The Classical Quarterly 51 (2): 499–508, https://doi.org/10.1093/cq/51.2.499.Search in Google Scholar
Wolfsdorf, D. 1999. “Epicurus on Εὐφροσύνη and Ἐνέργεια (DL 10.136).” Apeiron 42 (3): 221–57.10.1515/APEIRON.2009.42.3.221Search in Google Scholar
© 2021 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Research Articles
- New Diseases and Sectarian Debate in Hellenistic and Roman Medicine
- A Functional Reading of the Epicurean Classification of Desires
- The Metaphysics of Stoic Corporealism
- Aristotle on Light and Vision: An ‘Ecological’ Interpretation
- Plato on False Pleasures and False Passions
- Plato on Natural Kinds: The Promethean Method of the Philebus
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Research Articles
- New Diseases and Sectarian Debate in Hellenistic and Roman Medicine
- A Functional Reading of the Epicurean Classification of Desires
- The Metaphysics of Stoic Corporealism
- Aristotle on Light and Vision: An ‘Ecological’ Interpretation
- Plato on False Pleasures and False Passions
- Plato on Natural Kinds: The Promethean Method of the Philebus