THINKER'S ALMANAC - April 26

How did one ancient philosopher undergo a publicity campaign to spread his ideas to the general public?

Subject:  Epicureanism - The Philosopher’s Stone 

Event:  Birthday of archaeologist Martin Ferguson Smith, 1940.

In 1968, scholar and classicist Martin Ferguson Smith -- who was born on this day in 1940 -- made a pilgrimage to the ruins of an ancient Greco-Roman town in Southwestern Turkey called Oinoanda.  Smith wanted to see stone fragments that had originally been discovered there in 1884. The fragments were inscribed with writings by an Epicurean philosopher named Diogenes of Oinoanda.  

Epicureanism is a school of philosophy that dates back to the fourth century B.C.  Founded by the Greek philosopher Epicurus, the goal of this school of philosophy is the pursuit of happiness via self-sufficiency, independence, fellowship, and an analyzed, reflective life. Hoping to spread the good news of Epicureanism, Diogenes in 120 A.D. paid to have his words inscribed on the wall 

of a stoa, or covered walkway, in the town’s public square.  In the philosophical tradition of the examined life, Diogenes hoped to publicize his prescription for the good life.  As one of the fragments reads, “The majority of people suffer from a common disease, as in a plague, with their false notions about things . . . . I wished to use this stoa to advertise publicly the [medicines] that bring salvation.”

                                        Epicurus - Image by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay 

Martin Smith discovered 136 previously unknown fragments from the original wall and speculated that the wall was either destroyed by an earthquake or was deliberately torn down in antiquity by Christians who were hostile to Epicurean ideas.  Smith speculated that the wall once stood 12 feet tall, stretched more than 200 feet, and contained some 25,000 words.

Epicureans were not known for making public declarations; instead, they typically lived in private communities.  Nevertheless, Diogenes’ wall is one of the earliest examples of a publicity campaign, an attempt to reach out to ordinary people in the marketplace, sharing with them the virtues of Epicureanism, and offering them some of the ingredients of a happy life (1).

Recall, Retrieve, Recite, Ruminate, Reflect, Reason:  Why did Diogenes want his writing inscribed on the walls of Oinoanda? What is Epicureanism?

Challenge - Billboard Philosophy:  Imagine that a huge billboard was going to be put up in your hometown. Do some research on quotations by Epicurus.  What is a quotation by him that you think would be worthy enough to be placed on a billboard, the modern equivalent of Diogenes’ wall?

Sources: 

1-Powel, Eric A. “In Search of a Philosopher’s Stone.”  Archaeology.org July/August 2015.