* The Greek Atomists and Epicurus, by Cyril Bailey, Oxford 1928, p. 221. Mr. Bailey has
made a specialty of Epicurus, and his book is invaluable to the student.-240-years with the hatred of superstition, which was afterwards so prominent a feature in his
teaching." This theory is attractive, but, in view of the extreme unscrupulousness of later
antiquity in inventing a scandal, I do not think it can be accepted as having any foundation. *
There is against it the fact that he had an unusually strong affection for his mother. â€
The main facts of the life of Epicurus seem, however, fairly certain. His father was a poor
Athenian colonist in Samos; Epicurus was born in 342-1 B.C., but whether in Samos or in
Attica is not known. In any case, his boyhood was passed in Samos. He states that he took to the
study of philosophy at the age of fourteen. At the age of eighteen, about the time of Alexander's
death, he went to Athens, apparently to establish his citizenship, but while he was there the
Athenian colonists were turned out of Samos ( 322 B.C.). The family of Epicurus became
refugees in Asia Minor, where he rejoined them. At Taos, either at this time, or perhaps earlier,
he was taught philosophy by a certain Nausiphanes, apparently a follower of Democritus.
Although his mature philosophy owes more to Democritus than to any other philosopher, he
never expressed anything but contempt for Nausiphanes, whom he alluded to as "The Mollusc."
In the year 311 he founded his school, which was first in Mitylene, then in Lampsacus, and,
from 307 onwards, in Athens, where he died in 270-1 B.C.
After the hard years of his youth, his life in Athens was placid, and was only troubled by his ill
health. He had a house and a garden (apparently separate from the house), and it was in the
garden that he taught. His three brothers, and some others, had been members of his school
from the first, but in Athens his community was increased, not only by philosophic disciples,
but by friends and their children, slaves and betaerae. These last were made an occasion of
scandal by his enemies, but apparently quite unjustly. He had a very exceptional capacity for
purely human friendship, and wrote pleasant letters to the young children of members of the
community. He did
* The Stoics were very unjust to Epicurus. Epictetus, for example, addressing him, says:
"This is the life of which you pronounce yourself worthy: eating, drinking, copulation,
evacuation and snoring." Bk. II, Chap. XX, Discourses of Epictetus.â
€
Murray, Five Stages, p. 130.