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What are the Principal Doctrines of Epicurus?

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Bronze bust of Epicurus with a full beard and draped clothing, displayed on a round inscribed base at the National Archaeological Museum of Naples. — Epicureanism Epicurus, bronze bust from a Greek original, c. 280–270 bce; in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Naples.

The Kyriai doxiai, or "Principal Doctrines," are a collection of 40 short, aphoristic statements attributed to Epicurus that summarize the core tenets of his philosophy. These doctrines serve as a guide for achieving a life of tranquility by addressing the primary sources of human unhappiness: fear of the gods, fear of death, and the pursuit of vain desires.12

A central summary of his wisdom, often associated with these teachings, is the Tetrapharmacon (or "four-part cure"), which states: "The gods are not to be feared. Death is not a thing that one must fear. Good is easy to obtain. Evil is easy to tolerate."2

The doctrines emphasize that:
* Happiness is the ultimate end, defined as the absence of pain in the body and trouble in the mind.23
* Death is not to be feared because it is merely the dissolution of the body; as long as we exist, death is not present, and when death arrives, we no longer exist.2
* Friendship is essential for security and a happy life, transforming from a matter of utility into a profound bond.23
* Desires should be limited to what is natural and necessary to maintain equilibrium.23