# The Riddle of Epicurus

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-riddle-of-epicurus/153297>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [February 6, 2003, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-riddle-of-epicurus/153297 "2003-02-06T20:20:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 5

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**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2003, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-riddle-of-epicurus/153297/81 "2003-02-10T08:05:53Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Captain Amazing \*  
> \*\*Except Deists do believe in the supernatural…but for them, the supernatural world doesn’t interact with the natural. \*\*

Right. So what difference does that belief make?

> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Apos \*  
> \*\*I don’t agree, but then it’s a matter of semantics. Regardless of what you define things to mean, the fact remains that “desists” believe something that “atheists” do not believe. \*\*

Right. So what difference does that belief make?

Alright, alright, ‘difference’ conceded! But can we at least agree to call them “first cousins”? 😉

As for **Epicurus** , beyond attribution of that particular quote or not, I think the more salient point is that he is widely credited with the original version of the problem of evil – or at the very least, the teachings leading up to it. Or are you gentlemen saying that is in question as well?

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**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2003, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-riddle-of-epicurus/153297/82 "2003-02-10T22:43:24Z")

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—But can we at least agree to call them “first cousins”?—

Are you implying that atheists and deists shouldn’t have children?

—As for Epicurus, beyond attribution of that particular quote or not, I think the more salient point is that he is widely credited with the original version of the problem of evil – or at the very least, the teachings leading up to it.—

That seems to be the case, as many philosophical and theological writers ascribe it to him, with no known correction from others. Of course, it’s still possible, even plausible, that they were all parroting something that traces back to an “urban legend.”

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