Spinoza, Epicurus and the question of ‘epikoros'
With surprise, I heard from a Jewish friend that a Hebrew term for a heretic is epikoros, apparently derived from the Greek philosopher Epicurus (341-270 bc). The word cropped up recently in a row over a film on the life of Baruch Spinoza, showing that he is not forgiven more than 360 years after his expulsion from the Sephardic community in Amsterdam.
An American professor of philosophy, Yitzhak Melamed, asked the Portuguese Jewish synagogue there for permission to film some footage. The rabbi pointed out that Spinoza had been excommunicated 'with the severest possible ban, a ban that remains in force for all time'. So, no he could not visit the synagogue.
The rabbi's letter called Spinoza an epikouris, a form of the word used of him in the 17th century. The reason for Spinoza's excommunication (herem in Hebrew) is unknown. Spinoza did write difficult stuff later about all things being God, but not when he was cast out in 1656, aged 23.
Anyway, 12th-century Jewish philosopher Moses Maimonides discussed the nature of an epikoros as someone who denies God's providence. That is what Spinoza was to deny, as far as I can understand him, and what Epicurus had denied.
To add a complication. Maimonides said in an early work that epikoros came from Aramaic, and others have since derived it from the p-q-r Semitic root, signifying 'licentiousness'. By the time he wrote Guide for the Perplexed, Maimonides had learnt about Epicurus's philosophy. Do, then, epikoros and a modern form, apikoros, come from the Greek philosopher, or was his fame projected on to an extant Semitic word? Professor Melamed eventually received a letter from the Ma'amad (churchwardens) of the synagogue saying the rabbi had exceeded his authority and he was welcome to visit.
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The Herald Scotland
16 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Herald Education Awards recognise university and college achievements
Colleges and universities submitted entries in 16 individual and group categories. The judging panel named Queen Margaret University (QMU) the Higher Education Institute of the Year for 2025, based on its winning submissions in two categories and its nods on the shortlist in three more categories. QMU won the Outstanding Contribution from a Staff Member award for the work of Evelyn Weir, who has been a leading figure in podiatry for 30 years and Senior Lecturer in Podiatry, Clinical Lead for Podiatry, and Collaborative Academic Link for two podiatry programmes with QMU's Greek partner institution. Colleagues highlighted Evelyn's volunteer efforts to help homeless people and singled her out as the staff member who goes 'above and beyond' to support care-experienced students. 'Evelyn provides the extra care, encouragement and financial guidance necessary to ensure students have a transformative university experience – ensuring they reach their potential, during their degree and beyond.' QMU also won in the Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community category for their Wooden Spoon Frame Running Hub. Frame running uses purpose-built three-wheeled frames to allow individuals with limited or no independent walking ability the freedom of independent movement. QMU's hub is the first of its kind in Scotland and perhaps the first in the world. New College Lanarkshire (NCL) impressed this year's judges with the breadth of its submissions: NCL was shortlisted in eight categories and won for Outstanding Contribution from a College Student (Chloe Sandilands), Widening Access achievement in partnership with the University of the West of Scotland (UWS), and NCL Deputy Principal Ann Baxter took home the Lifetime Achievement Award. Judges were impressed by Chloe's work at the college to extend support and a welcoming hand to her fellow students. After beginning her college career while she was homeless, Chloe became a passionate advocate for diversity, inclusion and student wellbeing. Chloe also capitalised on the ability to enrol in NCL's Undergraduate School, Scotland's first undergraduate school located on a college campus developed in partnership with UWS. The Undergraduate School won the 2025 Widening Access Award, demonstrating an ability to create useful new routes to degrees for communities that are typically below the Scottish average for degree achievement. Chloe was joined in the category by co-winner Jorja Boyd from City of Glasgow College. College staff said that Jorja struggled to receive full support during her school career due to her autism. Despite limited opportunities for qualifications, Jorja applied to the college's free support learning programme in bakery in 2019. This proved a crucial stepping stone, as Jorja went on to SCQF levels 4, 5, 6, and 7 and pursued her HNC in Legal Services. Read more: She advocates for students with additional support needs (ASN), particularly through biweekly basketball sessions for ASN youths. Meanwhile, Ann Baxter was recognised with the Lifetime Achievement Award for her 30 years in the college sector. Before starting in education, Ms Baxter worked as a nurse and Matron in Northern Ireland, serving as a frontline healthcare worker at the height of The Troubles. After moving to Scotland and beginning work in the college, she battled sexism and under-resourcing to create a variety of new programmes meant to connect students with employment opportunities. Other awards on the night included colleges and universities scooping honours for technological innovations, community service projects, inclusion, and top-shelf marketing campaigns. One of the standouts for the judges was Glasgow Clyde College's 'Swiftie Masterclass,' which won for Marketing/PR Campaign of the Year. With Taylor Swift's Eras tour coming to Scotland in Summer 2024, the college decided that it would provide an opportunity to create an 'authentic and meaningful' campaign that would capitalise on the natural buzz surrounding the pop sensation's arrival. The result was a free, one-off 90-minute masterclass, which targeted parents and plus-ones who would be attending the concert but may not be on the same level of fandom as their fellow ticketholders. From background information on songs and lyrics to essential concert choreography and attire, a Taylor Swift expert walked attendees through everything they would need to know to fit in and make the most of the night. The college received over 200 pieces of media coverage for its project, generating millions of views globally. Less glitter but no less impactful for students, the University of St Andrews' Common Extension Request System took home the Innovative Use of Technology Award Sponsored by Jisc for creating a system to streamline student extension requests and ensure fairness and efficiency in the process. The project makes it easier for students to access the support they are entitled to and gives the university better tracking abilities to create and implement more useful policies. Jason Miles-Campbell, Director of Scotland and Northern Ireland for award sponsor Jisc, said: "Congratulations to all the winners at The Herald Education Awards for 2025, and, in particular, to the University of St Andrews. 'The winning project streamlines requests for coursework deadline extensions, improving the student experience, and allowing staff to spend more time on student support rather than bureaucracy. The innovative introduction of a relatively simple system has addressed what is often a long-standing issue, to everyone's benefit." Full list of winners at The Herald Education Awards 2025: Enhancing Student Learning Award – Sponsored by QAA City of Glasgow College – Inclusive Cross College Sports Development Project Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Award – Sponsored by Theorise University of Glasgow Adam Smith Business School – Pause Together: Work, Live Thrive: Kirsteen Daly and Professor Kathleen Riach Innovative Use of Technology Award – Sponsored by Jisc University of St Andrews – Common Extension Request System Marketing/PR Campaign of the Year Glasgow Clyde College – Swiftie Masterclass Outstanding Business Engagement in Colleges Glasgow Kelvin College on behalf of Glasgow City Regional Colleges – College Local Innovation Centres (CLIC) Outstanding Business Engagement in Universities Heriot-Watt University – GRID – Global Research Innovation Discovery Outstanding Contribution from a College Student (Joint winners) City of Glasgow College – Jorja Boyd New College Lanarkshire – Chloe Sandilands Outstanding Contribution from a Staff Member Queen Margaret University – Evelyn Weir Outstanding Contribution from a University Student University of St Andrews – Emma Hughes Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community Queen Margaret University – Wooden Spoon Frame Running Hub Partnership Award – Sponsored by QAA North East Scotland College on behalf of the National Energy Skills Accelerator (NESA) – Building Skills for a Just Energy Transition Partnership with Schools Award Edinburgh College – Modern Language Department Research Project of the Year University of Stirling – Permanently Progressing Building Secure Futures for Children - Winner Heriot-Watt University – Deaf Women's Access to Support after Experiencing Domestic Violence - Commendation Supporting Student Wellbeing Award – Sponsored by Studiosity University of Strathclyde – Early Intervention Team Widening Access Award New College Lanarkshire/University of the West of Scotland – The Undergraduate School Further Education Institute of the Year New College Lanarkshire Higher Education Institute of the Year Queen Margaret University Lifetime Achievement Award New College Lanarkshire – Ann Baxter
Reuters
a day ago
- Reuters
Air from beehives comforts patients in Turkey
KARABURUN, Turkey May 29 (Reuters) - At his farm tucked away in an idyllic valley near the Aegean Sea, beekeeper Huseyin Ceylan helps people recover from ailments by having them inhale air from hives. Ceylan says people come regularly in late spring to Karaburun, in Turkey's Aegean coastal province of Izmir, mainly to supplement conventional treatment with traditional "apitherapy," a term derived from the Greek for bees. Guests tend to stay several days in cabins in lush greenery, inhaling air from beehives for up to three hours a day, which Ceylan says helps with issues from allergies to migraines. The government does not officially recognise the therapy though it is practiced by many other beekeepers round Turkey as well as in other countries including Germany and Russia. Ceylan, who comes from a family of beekeepers and studied agriculture, started his bee farm in Karaburun 30 years ago. He has lobbied for years for the sector to be accepted, conducting research and presenting findings to officials. "We are not against what we call Western medicine. After all, it is also very important too," he said, adding that his method goes hand-in-hand with conventional treatment. "I have been doing this for fifteen years, trying to bring this into medicine." Ulku Ozman, 69, decided to try the therapy method after a friend suggested it when several surgeries and frequent use of medicines weakened her immune system. In her nearly week-long visit, Ozman and others enter a cabin where ventilators connected to beehives deliver air. Each session lasts 45 minutes, with participants moving every 15 minutes to breathe from three different beehives, each with a different smell. Guests pay around 5,000 lira ($128) per day for the treatment plus accommodation and food. Seated across from the beehives with ventilators on their faces, the guests take deep breaths. Senay Ilham, 68, has breast cancer that metastasized to her spine but is in remission after receiving conventional treatment. "This smell seems familiar. It's like it is (coming) from my childhood," she said, recalling being stung by bees while playing outside as children with beekeepers working nearby. "(The beehive air) always brings me a breeze from these things. It relaxes me both psychologically and physically." ($1 = 39.1026 liras)
Spectator
2 days ago
- Spectator
Spinoza, Epicurus and the question of ‘epikoros'
With surprise, I heard from a Jewish friend that a Hebrew term for a heretic is epikoros, apparently derived from the Greek philosopher Epicurus (341-270 bc). The word cropped up recently in a row over a film on the life of Baruch Spinoza, showing that he is not forgiven more than 360 years after his expulsion from the Sephardic community in Amsterdam. An American professor of philosophy, Yitzhak Melamed, asked the Portuguese Jewish synagogue there for permission to film some footage. The rabbi pointed out that Spinoza had been excommunicated 'with the severest possible ban, a ban that remains in force for all time'. So, no he could not visit the synagogue. The rabbi's letter called Spinoza an epikouris, a form of the word used of him in the 17th century. The reason for Spinoza's excommunication (herem in Hebrew) is unknown. Spinoza did write difficult stuff later about all things being God, but not when he was cast out in 1656, aged 23. Anyway, 12th-century Jewish philosopher Moses Maimonides discussed the nature of an epikoros as someone who denies God's providence. That is what Spinoza was to deny, as far as I can understand him, and what Epicurus had denied. To add a complication. Maimonides said in an early work that epikoros came from Aramaic, and others have since derived it from the p-q-r Semitic root, signifying 'licentiousness'. By the time he wrote Guide for the Perplexed, Maimonides had learnt about Epicurus's philosophy. Do, then, epikoros and a modern form, apikoros, come from the Greek philosopher, or was his fame projected on to an extant Semitic word? Professor Melamed eventually received a letter from the Ma'amad (churchwardens) of the synagogue saying the rabbi had exceeded his authority and he was welcome to visit.
