Independent pleasure - Democritus, Epicurus, Arto Kivimäki, Tua Korhonen, Sampo Vesterinen

This work introduces readers to Democritus and Epicurus, who supported the atomic theory in their natural philosophy. In this materialist trend, everything that exists was seen as a result of the relationships and properties between atoms. However, the atomism of Democritus and Epicurus is also associated with an obligatory ethic. According to common sense, atomistic materialism and hedonism that seeks pleasure and enjoyment only lead to a selfish attitude: you only live once, it is best to grab as many pleasures as possible for yourself. However, Democritus and Epicurus showed that the foundations of materialism and hedonism can also lead to an obligatory ethic, in other words, an ethic that takes other people into account.

Democritus (c. 460-357 BCE) and Epicurus (341-270 BCE) are both philosophers of equal importance to Plato and Aristotle, but unfortunately only fragments of their extensive literary output have survived. Both philosophers had a prominent position both in their own time and later. Epicurus developed the atomic theory, believing that happiness based on lasting peace of mind is achieved by freeing oneself from prejudice and minimizing suffering. Epicurus's doctrine of happiness emphasizes friendship and the small pleasures of life.

Sampo Vesterinen has translated Democritus' ethical fragments, which can be read as fiction, but with the help of the extensive explanatory section, the reader can also delve into the philosopher's world of ideas. Arto Kivimäki has translated Epicurus's meditations into Finnish. Epicurus' letter to Menoikeus has been translated by Tua Korhonen, PhD, a researcher of ancient philosophy, who is also primarily responsible for the overall structure of the work.