Though often remembered today merely for the modern word “epicurean,” which has become associated with luxurious food and refined tastes, the actual philosophy of Epicureanism was far more complex and intellectually ambitious than simple indulgence. At its heart, Epicureanism sought to answer life’s most pressing issues, namely how to achieve happiness and pleasure while avoiding physical pain and mental anguish in a world of uncertainty.

To offer answers, Epicurus founded his philosophical school in Athens around 306 B.C. during one of the most turbulent periods in Greek history. The Classical Era was gone, replaced by the vast kingdoms created after the conquests of the Macedonians, and traditional political life had become unstable, warfare remained constant, and many Greeks experienced growing uncertainty about religion, identity, and the future.

Earlier philosophers such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle had focused heavily on politics, metaphysics, and the ideal organization of society, but the new Hellenistic philosophies increasingly focused on the personal lives of individuals attempting to live in a far different kind of world than Classical Athens.

Like the Stoics and Cynics, the Epicureans focused on how people could live meaningful and tranquil lives regardless of political instability or external circumstances, but they reached far different conclusions. Epicurus established his school in a private garden outside Athens, but unlike many Greek philosophical schools, which often emphasized elite intellectual debate or political training, the Epicurean community welcomed a remarkably broad range of followers.

Women, foreigners, and even slaves reportedly participated in Epicurean circles, something that shocked the Greeks and Romans. The school promoted friendship as one of the highest human values, and Epicureans often lived together in tightknit communities centered on philosophical discussion and mutual support.