Who is Epicurus from Beyond Good and Evil and what is their importance?

Epicurus (341 BC-270 BC) was an ancient Greek philosopher and the founder of Epicureanism, a popular school of thought in Hellenistic Philosophy. Out of more than 300 works, only a few fragments and letters survive. As with Socrates, historical fact about Epicurus is derived from the works of followers and scholars.

Epicurus believed that the purpose of philosophy was to attain the happy, serene existence, characterized by the absence of pain and fear. He cherished the ideal of a self-sufficient life surrounded by friends and colleagues.