The Stoic Creed - College of Stoic Philosophers

THE EPICUREAN CONTRAST 109
so far as it can be tested by the letters and
fragments
of Epicurus himself, stands the test, we may safely
enough accept Lucretius as a faithful expositor, even
while we do not ignore Lucretius s own ability and
originality.
Trusting thus to Lucretius, let us now give an
outline of the physical and the intellectual parts of the
system, 1 so as to point the contrast to Stoicism.
II
We begin with the Atomic theory, as explanatory
of the origin and formation of the world.
Basing his physics on the principle Ex nihilo nihil fit,
in nihilum nil posse reverti, "Out of nothing, nothing
comes ; into nothing, nothing can be turned (ovfev
ytVerat e/c TOV /Jir] OJ/TOS, ovBtv cfrOtiperai cts TO JUT) OP),"
Epicurus begins by positing Atoms and the Void
(TO KefoV) i.e. atoms in motion and empty space
as the sole existences. Not atoms as material par
ticles alone are sufficient ; they must be presumed
to be in motion : and not atoms and motion are
enough there must also be empty space, else how
;
could motion be possible, or how could an explanation
be given of such physical facts
as the different weights
of bodies similar in size or bulk? Furthermore, this
space must be taken as infinite or unbounded. As to
the atoms, they are conceived as absolutely dead things
exceedingly minute, invisible, solid, material bodies,
qualitatively identical, but quantitatively different
different, that is, in shape, size, and weight. They
1 The ethical part is, at present, outside our consideration.
2
See Epistle in Diog. Laert. x. 38.