Epicurus (341-270 BC) was a Greek philosopher who believed that the purpose of philosophy was to find the key to a happy and peaceful life, one free from fear and pain. He was born on the Aegean island of Samos and studied with the teacher Pamphilus. After completing a period of military service, he became a teacher in Mytilene. He founded a school in Lampsacus and then one in Athens in 306 BC, where he lives for the remainder of his life. He aided the study of science through his advocacy of the idea that nothing could be believed unless it was tested and observed. Nicholas Gooding (introducer) received his PhD in Philosophy from the University of California, Berkeley, in 2019, writing a dissertation on Aristotle's discussion of love and friendship; since then, he's been an instructor in philosophy at Berkeley and a visiting professor at Deep Springs College. He's taught courses on a wide range of philosophical topics, with a particular emphasis on moral and political philosophy. Prior to embarking on his PhD, Nicholas worked in outdoor education, leading high school students on month-long backcountry trips in the Pacific Northwest.