He rejected the fatalism contained in the theories of some of the Stoics, and admitted a limited range of empire to chance, or irregularity.

But he maintained that the will, far from being among the phenomena essentially irregular, is under the influence of motives; for no man can insist more strenuously than he does (see the Letter to Menoecens) on the complete power of philosophy,--if the student could be made to feel its necessity and desire the attainment of it, so as to meditate and engrain within himself sound views about the gods, death, and human life generally,--to mould our volitions and character in a manner conformable to the exigencies of virtue and happiness.
When we read the explanations given by Epicurus and Lucretius of what the Epicurean theory really was, and compare them with the numerous attacks made upon it by opponents, we cannot but remark that the title or formula of the theory was ill chosen, and was really a misnomer.
What Epicurus meant by Pleasure was, not what most people meant by it, but something very different--a tranquil and comfortable state of mind and body; much the same as what Democritus had expressed before him by the phrase [Greek: euthymia].

This last phrase would have expressed what Epicurus aimed at, neither more nor less.

It would at least have preserved his theory from much misplaced sarcasm and aggressive rhetoric.
THE NEO-PLATONISTS.
PLOTINUS (A.D.

205--70), PORPHYRY, &c.
Constructed with reference to the broken-down state of ancient society, and seeking its highest aim in a regeneration of humanity, the philosophical system of Neo-Platonism was throughout ethical or ethico-religious in spirit; yet its ethics admits of no great development according to the usual topics.