Note 10 — Chapter XVII · THE EPICUREAN VIEWS ON NATURE.

B. The gods according to Epicurus. (1) Reasons for his belief. With the denial of the popular Gods, the denial of demons,10 of course, goes hand in hand; and, together with Providence, the need of prayer11 and of prophecy is at the same time negatived.12 All these notions, according to Epicurus, are the result of ignorance and fear. Pictures seen in dreams have been confounded with real existences; regularity of motion in the heavenly bodies has been mistaken by the ignorant for the work of God; events which accidentally happened in combination with others have been regarded as portents; terrific natural phenomena, storms and earthquakes, have engendered in men’s minds the fear of higher powers.13 Fear is therefore the basis of religion;14 and, on the other hand, freedom from fear is the primary object aimed at by philosophy.