—_Yr rate 
178 
. His manners were easy and affable ; his life tempe- 
virtuous. Having devoted his days to the pro- 
of science, he died of an in ion, occa- 
sioned by a stone in the bladder, after suffering the 
most excruciating pain with admirable composure and 
patience, in the 127th Olympiad, and the seventy-se- 
cond year of his age. 
It is unnecessary for vi gh at pan eer inp 
discussion respecting principles incul- 
Suis Epicurus, as we have ae exhibited a view 
of his ical hypothesis in a former article: (See 
Aromicat Pamosorny.) But whatever objections the 
combined lights of reason and revelation may have af- 
forded us against the principles of that system, it must 
wn be acknow to have new the ntspring ct a 
, Vigorous, and. scientific mind ; and it is, perhaps, 
the only rational profane: , on the subject of cos- 
mogony, which has had sufficient merit to attract re- 
disciples in modern times. 
The moral principles promulgated by Epicurus have 
age theme of reprehension to Jud ascetic philoso- 
phers of all 3; and, by a sin miscon ion 
of the So ent alters of his opiniens, age 
name of that illustrious sage has been converted into an 
epithet expressive of every thing that is unprincipled, 
licentious, base, and grovelling, m human conduct and 
manners. Having assumed, as the basis of his ethical 
system, the principle, that pleasure is the chief good 
of man, it has been unwarrantably sed, that his 
doctrines give countenance to habitual intemperance, 
and even recommend the unrestrained gratification of 
every illicit passion, Nothing, however, can be more 
unjust than such a representation of the moral theo- 
ry of Epicurus, His system, indeed, as we have al- 
ready a tte was directly opposite to that of the 
Stoical school. _ He rejected the eel doctrine of fa- 
tality, which constituted the foundation of the philoso- 
phy of Zeno, and boldly contended for the free 
of man: a principle, without the admission of whi 
it were vain to attempt to erect any rational system of 
morality. Disclaiming the external aid of gravity in 
speech, and of any singular austerity in dress and de- 
meanour, and being himself arses. endowed with 
an affable and cheerful disposition, he deemed it not 
necessary for a wise man to be morose, but ht his 
disciples, on the con , to look for pleasure in the 
pursuit of wisdom, and to consider 
concomitant of virtue. ‘ Wisdom,” says 
self, in his epistle to Menwceus, “ is the 
icurus him- 
ief blessi 
of philosophy, since she gives birth to all other, vir- 
tues, W unite in teaching us, that no man can live 
happily who does not live vials: conscientiously, and. 
j ; nor, on the other hand, can he live wisely, 
conscientiously, and justly, without living 
for virtue is inseparable from a life of iness, and 
epris virtue.” 
Such principles, whether resulting from correct } 
of human nature or not, po yh be pe ail ; 
‘ 8 
as holding out any encouragement to in te cons 
or indulgence in illicit pleasures, ‘“ Those,” says 
of his disciples, “ whom we call lovers of pleasure, 
real lovers of goodness and justice ; are men 
practise and cultivate every virtue: for no true 
can exist without a good and virtuous life. 
e assert, then, that pleasure is the chief 
felicity of man, we do not mean the plea- 
idi the pleasures 
$18 
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those who wilfully mistake our opi- 
y assert ; but what constitutes pleasure 
nappiners asthe that th 
EPICURUS. 
with us, is the pessmsion.of a hedy euneept framnanias 
anc « mind deren Ahegiaanelaty ” &e. Th 
bonum of Epicurus, ore, was nothing . 
the mens sana in corpore sano of the Roman poet; he 
proposed to conduct mankind to happiness, not. ’ 
the deceitful labyrinths of sensual. gratification, but 
along the plement pette of knowledge and of virtue... 
Among those, i |, who controverted the doctrines. 
of Epicurus, there were some who ventured to arraign, 
his personal character, and who had recourse even to 
falsehood and forgery, in order to vilify and degrade 
him in. te egenoa et soe people. . These attempts, it. 
must be confessed, however unjustifiable, have been too, 
successful ; as the vulgar prejudices of mankind, from 
the age of that philosopher down to the present times, 
sufficiently evince. But the. malicious _ whi 
were industriously circulated, and too ally. believed, 
A ig the moral character of Epicurus is disci-. 
ples, are abundantly refuted by the concurrent testimo- 
of the t res ie authorities,—of men who,. 
ough tley might dissent from. his. principles, yet. 
bore witness to. the virtuous tenor of his life, and to the, 
purity and excellence of his preeeyts- Sess 
In reality, both the Stoic and the Epicurean profes- 
sed temperance and virtue, though from opposite. prin-, 
ciples. According to the former, virtue consisted ina. 
total subjection of the passions, and in the constant and. 
habitual practice of austerity and discipline. The Epi- 
curean, on the other hand, assumed pleasure as the chief. 
good, but, at the same time, sought. this pleasure ina 
restraint of the desires and passions, and in the 
attainment of wisdom, and the exercise of virtue... Pain, 
according to the Stoic, ought to be considered as an ob-, 
ject of indifference, beneath the regard of a wise man ;, 
with the Epicurean, on the contrary, it was a great evil, 
and to be avoided by all means. The . of the lat. 
ter sect preserved the influence of the social.and moral, 
affections entire; while that of the former. evi 
tended to produce ascetic and indifference, We 
shall hove ne reeset. - fore, poauaran mith She ethi- 
stem of Epicurus, if its principles under- 
Fat g in the nos sense in which ns seems a in: 
culcated them, To teach mankind the true road to hap= 
piness, has been the professed object of almost every 
theory of morals ; and of all those means by which we. 
can promote our happiness, it will be admit 
t there are none more efficacious than the cultivation. 
of temperate and virtuous habits, and the exercise of our 
intellectual faculties, and benevolent affections. _... 
The doctrines of Epicurus long continued to be fa- 
voured by the Romans; and his school was. found to 
flourish under the emperors, after other institutions had 
begun to decay. The most celebrated adherents to this. 
system were the elder Pliny, Celsus, Lucian, and, Dio- 
genes Laertius. The Epicurean theory, however, was, 
not at Alexandria, which, after the decline 
of Grecian learning, became the chief seat. of literature 
and science ; where the eclectics; who still continued 
to call themselves Platonists, superseded every. 
school. In the earlier ages of the Christian church, i 
fell into utter neglect and obscurity ; but, during the 
15th century, the doctrines of Epicurus again began to 
sare some Ee pigs eyr Bem 3 and ae ane, 
uently revived in the 17th cen writings. 
ndi, Du Rondelle, and aie - See Di $ 
Laertius X. Gassendi and Rondellius, or Du Rondelle, ~ 
Couturis, Sur la Morale. 
se) 
