EPICURUS, son of Neocles and Chaerestrate, 341-271 B.C., was born in Samos and died in Athens. He founded the school of philosophy named after him, which held that the absence of pain, the result of perfect harmony between body and mind, was the only good. The goal of life was freedom from anxiety through the study of philosophy. Epicurus did not advocate sensuality and self-indulgent profligacy, as his later reputation suggests. Diogenes Laertius quotes several people who criticized Epicurus in his lifetime, adding that such people are all stark mad. Augustine (City of God XIV.2) expresses the medieval point of view that the Epicurean philosophers live by the flesh.

The Franklin is "Epicurus owene sone," Gen Prol 336-338, and believes that full delight is perfect happiness, showing a perfect misunderstanding of Epicurus's philosophy. Epicurus is meant but not named, MerchT 2021-2022, Tr III.1691-1692. Lady Philosophy, arguing against Epicurus's position, says that he claimed delight as the sovereign good, Bo III, Prosa 2.