Dreams

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Contrary to most ancient (and many current-day) thinkers, Epicurus attached absolutely no metaphysical or predictive significance to dreams: they are neither god-sent, nor do they in any way reveal the future. Epicurus viewed dreams instead as "replay" of images impressed upon one's memory from past experiences one has actually had, however connected, confused, or oddly conjoined amidst the semi-consciousness of sleep.

In this respect, the Epicurean explanation of dreams is closely related to the Epicurean concept of preconceptions (See: prolepses), e.g. one dreams of something one has previously experienced in reality, and has thereby developed such a prolepsis for. The Epicurean explanation of dreams is also closely related to the Epicurean concept of images in general (See: eidola)

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