c. 341-270 B.C.

Greek Philosopher

Epicurus founded the Epicurean school of philosophy, which sought attainment of happiness through simple living. His importance to science lies in modifying and promulgating Democritean atomism.

Epicurus was born at the Athenian colony of Samos around 341 B.C. His father, Neocles, was a schoolmaster who had emigrated from Athens. Epicurus traveled to Athens in 323 B.C. to complete his mandatory military service. He later rejoined his family at Colophon, on the coast of Asia Minor. There he studied philosophy with Nausiphanes, a former student of Democritus (c. 460-c. 370 B.C.) . He established a school at Mytilene, on the island of Lesbos, and another at Lampsacus, on the Hellespont. In 307 or 306 B.C. he returned to Athens and established an Epicurean community known as the Garden, which admitted men, women, and slaves alike. This remained the center of his activities until his death...