Letter to Herodotus

Abstract The analysis of the Letter to Herodotus in this chapter confirms the findings of Chapter 1 and offers new elements. First, it highlights the primacy of individual experience in generating knowledge, as Epicurus is not simply forwarding ready-made truths to the readers but rather foregrounding their origin in each one of us in an empowering way. Second, the chapter defends an interpretation of the usefulness of epitomai at any level of expertise—a point that is particularly visible in the variable clusivity of the first-person plural deixis. Third, it argues that Epicurus acknowledges the limits of perception and knowledge and believes that these do not constitute a problem for happiness. On the contrary, they are actually constitutive of the reliability of the results, while exceeding them would undermine their validity and efficacy. Epicurus’ theory of multiple explanations is interpreted accordingly. The chapter highlights throughout that Epicurus’ methodology entertains a negative conception of happiness, in which rationalization is primarily intended to do away with troubles and compel us to cross-examine beliefs at any stage rather than reach an exhaustive state of knowledge or contribute to a prosthetic improvement of oneself. There is thus a need to oppose a hedonistic therapeutic model against a truth-seeking model. An important concluding proposition of this chapter is that Epicurus implies a commonality of perceptual apparatus to prop up the commensurability and communicability of individuals’ experiences, as well as mutual help and education.