EPICURUS’ UNDERSTANDING OF THE CONCEPT OF FREEDOM

Abstract

This paper examines Epicurus’ understanding of the concept of freedom. Although Epicurus provides a materialistic explanation of the origin and way of existence of nature and people, this philosopher indicates the possibility of one’s free action, highlighting the phenomenon of atom deviation or slight alteration of the usual path (which implies a movement that does not deviate from its course). By negating determinism, Epicurus claims that human actions are not predetermined. This way of understanding freedom inevitably leads to questions that arise from attempts to understand the phenomenon of chance that is characteristic for modern physics: can we define one’s actions as truly one’s own or as a result of a random set of circumstances. This presents a problem for determining the role and importance of reason in Epicurus’ philosophy. We will try to show that one’s freedom implies one’s ability to control desires that find their satisfaction in needs that go beyond one’s natural and necessary aspects and that have nothing to do with one’s nature, but with one’s thinking. Also, we will show in what way reason presents a basic means in reaching bliss.