#Epicurus, the precursor to #Lucretius in the #materialist #philosophical tradition, believed that we need knowledge only because without it we are unhappy. I find it wonderful that following one's curiosity to bring oneself #joy is fundamental to the roots of the Western philosophical tradition that led to #science.

« The just man is most free from disturbance, while the unjust is full of the utmost disturbance. »

— Epicurus

· https://poligraf.tumblr.com/post/736993407296274432/the-just-man-is-most-free-from-disturbance-while

Mother of us all, pleasure of humans and gods,
nourishing Venus, who, under the gliding stars,
vitalize the open sea and the fruitful lands,
because of you every living species
is conceived and born into the light of the sun:
at your approach the winds flee you and the clouds
scatter away, to you the prolific earth
offers lovely flowers, to you the surface of the sea smiles
and the serene sky shines with suffused light.
[#Lucretius, De Rerum Natura]

http://duplavis.com/the-nature-of-things/venus
#venus #epicurus

I really want to talk to someone about #Spinoza's anti-teleological view, which #Schopenhauer tries to blame on a wish to avoid "speculative theology."

I think it's the opposite; Spinoza's theological view comes as a result of his seeing through the anthropomorphic illusion of teleology in nature. In this way, his insight is similar to the #Buddha #Nietzsche #Darwin and #Taoism.

Possibly also #Epicurus #Democritus et al; I have yet to read enough #Lucretius to say for sure.