The question about the coherence of the notion of friendship in Epicurean system: towards a dissolution of the problem
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Abstract
A common assumption within the interpretive debate surrounding the Epicurean description of friendship is that the hedonism promulgated by this school implied selfishness as its necessary conceptual and doctrinal consequence. This work proposes that Epicurean friendship, far from being a concept that contradicts its own system, illuminates areas of hedonism that had been obscured by this assumption. For this reason, the objective of this research is to dissolve – and not resolve – the problem of coherence between the Epicurean concept of friendship and supposedly selfish hedonism. The first part of this work is dedicated to describing at least part of the academic discussion around the Epicurean concept of friendship. Thus, the second part seeks to question, based on Epicurean texts that deal with friendship and justice, the assumption that Epicurus and the Epicureans based their system on selfishness. Finally, in the conclusion, the results of the questioning are summarized and some consequences that the dissolution of the aforementioned problem could have in future research on the social dimension of pleasure in Epicurus are raised.
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