Overcoming the fear of death

The eminent Greek philosopher Epicurus attracted a small number of followers in his lifetime perhaps due to his dismissive attitude towards religion. He also became unpopular among the mainstream philosophers. However, his ideas resurfaced in the 18th century influencing Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill. The tenets of Epicureanism echo in the United States’ Declaration of Independence: “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

Epicurus is remembered today mainly for his forthright views on happiness and death. He believed that happiness was the goal of life. Man’s unhappiness is caused by the fear of death. Therefore, if we can overcome the fear of death, we can be happy. On the other hand, Epicurus said death is the end of sensation. As a result, death cannot be physically painful. Death is also the end of subconsciousness. Therefore, it cannot be emotionally painful. His final conclusion is that death is not something to fear although we continue to do so.

Epicurus lived at a time the Macedonian King of Greece, Alexander the Great was ruling the Athenians. Although he was a great king, most Athenians resented his rule. On his death, they revolted against the regent he had appointed. However, the revolt was crushed and Epicurus learnt an important lesson: Political activities and ambitions are pointless.

Moral crusader

He had the fortune of studying philosophy from the followers of Plato and Aristotle. However, Epicurus did not agree with their philosophical ideas. He always referred to himself as a self-taught philosopher. He projected himself as a moral crusader who had a novel message for humanity. He professed that he could save others from unhappiness.

He said that philosophers could not heal the suffering of man. He drew a parallel with medicine. If a medicine fails to heal a sick man, it is simply useless. Similarly, if a philosophy fails to alleviate the suffering of man, it too is useless.

Most leading Greek philosophers had their own schools. Plato set up the Academy. Aristotle taught at the Lyceum. Epicurus called his school the Garden.

He planned his school as a retreat from social, political and philosophical turmoil in Athens. Soon it became a popular centre of learning. A notable feature was that women were encouraged to join the school and interact with men as equals. It came as a novel experience in the learning of philosophy.

The Garden

Epicurus practised what he preached. The Garden was open to anyone desirous of learning philosophy. As a result, the Garden became the most favourite destination for housewives, slaves, aristocrats and even prostitutes. His favourite pupil was Mysis, a slave. He had a long-standing affair with Leontium who was a courtesan.

His bold attitude in admitting all types of people to the Garden was resented by some Athenians. They viewed him as a dangerous rebel despite his philosophical bent. However, Epicurus had the tenacity to brush aside such criticism and welcome students from various walks of life.

Most people, including philosophers, recoil from death as though it is the greatest evil. But Epicurus did not consider death as an evil. Even in his time, many people mistakenly thought that Epicureanism was a philosophy of expensive self-indulgence. On the contrary, the highest forms of pleasure for him were intellectual.

Peace of mind

For him, the greatest good is peace of mind, not intense physical pleasure. He said, “The pleasant life is not the product of one drinking party after another or of sexual intercourse with women and boys or of the seafood and other delicacies afforded by a luxurious table.”

In the Garden, Epicurus perfected his theory of Epicureanism. His primary aim was to produce a sense of happiness in man.

But he realised that the main obstacle to happiness is the fear of death. He said that when we die we are unaware of our death. This is because our consciousness or soul ceases to exist at the time of death. He believed that even the soul is made up of atoms. However, the atoms dissolve when we die. As a result, we do not feel the pain of dying.

Therefore, there is no need for man to fear death. Only a fool will let the fear of death cause any pain in him while living.

True to his beliefs, Epicurus described the last day of his life as a truly happy day.