Epicurus

The ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus was born in an Athenian settlement on the Aegean island of Samos. As a young man, Epicurus studied philosophy under the Platonist teacher Pamphilus and under Nausiphanes, who followed Democritus’s teachings. In 306 B.C., Epicurus founded a school in Athens called The Garden, where he taught a form of philosophy called Epicureanism, which attracted a small but devoted following. The purpose of Epicureanism was to promote happiness through friendship and freedom from pain and fear. Today, only fragments of his 300 written works remain. Epicurus never married nor had any children. He died of kidney stones at age 72.