1. According to atomism
A) nothing is created out of nothing, nor can something be reduced to nothing.
B) compounds of atoms are eternal because the atoms that comprise them are eternal.
C) some things are created out of nothing, and some things can be reduced to nothing.
D) nothing is created out of nothing, and everything can be reduced to nothing.

2. Death, according to Epicurus,
A) is either a dreamless sleep or a journey to another world.
B) is deprivation of sensation.
C) is a journey to another world
D) remains a mystery to us.

3. If the fundamental claims of atomism are true, then
A) the cosmos is devoid of incorporeal beings.
B) the only truly divine things are the eternal, indestructible atoms.
C) there is no afterlife.
D) All of the above.

4. If “the impious man is not he who denies the gods of the many, but he who attaches to
the gods the beliefs of the many,” then
A) believers in personal immortality and divine providence are impious.
B) believers in atomism are impious, and believers in personal immortality are pious.
C) believers in atomism are pious.
D) Both A and C

5. According to Epicurus, the human soul
A) is made up of atoms
B) cannot survive the death of the body
C) is the organ of sensation
D) All of the above.

6. According to Epicurus,
A) One ought to pursue wealth, as it can afford us greater comfort and pleasure
B) Not all pleasures are to be chosen
C) The happy life requires that one pursue only the vain desires
D) No one knows whether death may not be the greatest of evils

7. Which of the following BEST describes the logical connection(s) between atomism
and hedonism in Epicurus’ thought? Read each answer option very carefully!
A) Atomism denies the existence of incorporeal beings, such as immortal souls. If the
human soul—the organ of perception and thought—is made up of atoms which disperse
back into nature at life’s end, then death would be nothing more than a dreamless, eternal
sleep and not a journey into another, potentially wretched, world. The Epicurean,
knowing this, thereby achieves a reassuring calmness of mind, a tranquility of soul.
B) According to atomism, the universe is made up exclusively of atoms and void, and
there are immortal gods which are highly complex compounds of atoms. These gods
direct the course of human events, and reward individuals who avoid overindulgence in
sensual pleasures, and punish with infirmity and disease those who do not.
C) According to atomism, the universe is made up exclusively of atoms and void, having
been created this way by the gods. In order to live a good and happy life, the human
being must practice moderation and self-restraint with regard to the bodily pleasures, and
concentrate all of his energies on “knowing the truth about god.” Only when he
understands that mankind was designed to live according to the universal moral law
established by his Maker can he enjoy the tranquility of soul which constitutes the very
highest kind of pleasure.
D) According to atomism, the universe is made up exclusively of atoms and void, and
the human being is thus nothing more than a body. A good life is a life lived in
accordance with nature. Epicurus says “every pleasure because of its natural kinship to us
is good, yet not every pleasure is to be chosen.” The very BEST life will be one dedicated
exclusively to the proper maintenance of the body, through healthy lifestyle choices.

8. A man brutally murders an innocent victim. According to Epicurus, in what way would
this act rightly be considered “evil”?
A) Such an act is a direct violation of the divine commandment: “Thou shalt not kill.”
B) Such an act is a direct violation of the victim’s unalienable right to life.
C) The criminal is doing irreparable harm to his own soul.
D) Such an act is evil insofar as it engenders a fear in the mind of the criminal of
eventually being caught and punished severely by the civil authorities.

9. Which of the following arguments against vulgar hedonism does Epicurus NOT make?
A) Even though every pain is an evil, not all pains are to be avoided.
B) Vulgar hedonism undermines traditional morality.
C) The pains consequent upon over-indulgence either cancel the pleasures or leave a
balance of pain.
D) The vulgar hedonist fails to discriminate properly among the various desires and the
different pleasures that come from their satisfaction.

10. Each of the following is, according to Epicurus, an essential ingredient to living well
EXCEPT:
A) Friendship
B) Equanimity
C) Health
D) Wealth

11. For Epicurus, the good life consists in
a. the delight one takes in a spirited game of chess.
b. Enjoying good food and drink.
c. Freedom from pain and mental anxiety.
d. experiencing a “runner’s high.”