Atheism and naturalism versus Epicureanism
Atheism says there are no gods. Epicurus said the gods exist but take no interest in us, and he added a view of how to live that atheism does not have.
What they share
Both reject fear of divine punishment, explain the world by natural causes, and hold that death is the end of a person.
Where they differ
- Gods at all. Atheism, in its standard sense, says there is no God and no gods. Epicurus said gods do exist, but they take no interest in people.
- The aim of life. Epicurus held that the aim of life is pleasure, meaning freedom from pain and disturbance. Atheism has no view on the aim of life. It answers one question, whether there is a God.
A question that separates them
- Do gods exist? “There are no gods and no God” against “There may be gods, even if they take no interest in us”.
- What is life for? “Calm and freedom from pain are the point of life” against “Something matters more than comfort”.
This is why someone can call themselves an Epicurean and still not be an atheist. The question about whether anything divine exists asks about existence only, not about whether the divine cares.
Written by epchē in our own words, and checked against independent sources on 2 October 2026. The sources are listed below.
Read each on its own
Sources we used
- Atheism and Agnosticism · Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, read on 2 October 2026
- Epicurus · Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, read on 2 October 2026
- Epicurus · Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, read on 2 October 2026