# Epicurus — Beyond Good and Evil character guide

> Epicurus in Beyond Good and Evil by Friedrich Nietzsche.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Epicurus

**First appearance:** 0002-i-prejudices-of-philosophers

## Who they are

Ancient Greek philosopher referenced for his views on pleasure and the gods.

## Relationships

### [Plato](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beyond_good_and_evil_se/characters/plato)

_rivalry_

They are presented as opposing philosophical types, with Epicurus often favored for his subtlety against Plato's dogmatism.

## In the story

### [I: Prejudices of Philosophers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beyond_good_and_evil_se/chapters/i-prejudices-of-philosophers)

Mocked Plato and the Platonists as 'Dionysiokolakes' (flatterers of Dionysius/actors), revealing Nietzsche's theme of philosophers' hidden motives and theatricality.

### [7](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beyond_good_and_evil_se/chapters/7)

Portrayed as malicious and envious; his joke ('Dionysiokolakes') attacks Plato's theatricality. He is the 'old schoolteacher of Samos' who wrote prolifically, possibly from 'rage and ambitious envy.'

### [III: The Religious Mood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beyond_good_and_evil_se/chapters/iii-the-religious-mood)

Referenced as the type of 'god' whose derisive, impartial eye would find the comedy of European Christianity a source of marvel and laughter.

### [The Philosopher's Use of Religion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beyond_good_and_evil_se/chapters/61)

His philosophy is referenced as a parallel to how religion operates on higher sufferers, refining and making suffering acceptable.

### [The Cost of Religions as Final Ends](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beyond_good_and_evil_se/chapters/62)

Invoked as the perspective of a derisive, impartial god observing the 'comedy of European Christianity.'

### [The Man of Late Culture](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beyond_good_and_evil_se/chapters/200)

His philosophy is cited as an example of a 'soothing medicine' sought by the weak type longing for repose from internal conflict.

### [The Sufferer's Pride and the Sanctity of the Mask](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beyond_good_and_evil_se/chapters/270)

Epicurism is presented as a refined form of disguise, a bold taste that takes suffering lightly to defend against the sorrowful and profound.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beyond_good_and_evil_se/characters/epicurus
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beyond_good_and_evil_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beyond_good_and_evil_se/characters