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Chapter 4 - Moral Psychology

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 March 2024

Jan Maximilian Robitzsch
Affiliation:
Universität Greifswald
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Summary

This chapter argues that while being just is of supreme importance in Epicureanism, obeying the law in all cases is not: the Epicureans allow that laws whose adherence is not useful and whose violation does not entail negative consequences may be violated. In arguing for this claim, the chapter discusses a question that Epicurus posed himself in a work that is no longer extant, namely, whether a sage, an ideal agent, would violate a law, knowing he will escape detection. The chapter provides a detailed suggestion on how to understand Epicurus’ pronouncement, discusses alternative readings that have been advanced by other scholars, and addresses some objections that one could raise against the suggestion of the chapter.

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Chapter
Information
Epicurean Justice
Nature, Agreement, and Virtue
, pp. 98 - 117
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

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