The chapter evaluates a life lived in accordance with the Epicurean view that ‘death is nothing to us’. It agrees with Cicero's criticisms of Epicurus' own practice of leaving a will on the grounds that it is not possible for an Epicurean to motivate desires for post mortem states of affairs. It also considers Philodemus' explanation of the attitude of the Epicurean 'wise man' and suggests that an Epicurean complete life should not contain any projects about the potential frustration of which the Epicurean might be anxious. In that case, it is difficult to see what positive reasons an Epicurean has for continuing to live once his life is complete.
Keywords: Cicero, desires, reasons for living, suicide, will and testament,