Ethics - General Discussion

In this section we discuss Epicurean Ethics and how to live as an Epicurean in a world where there are no supernatural gods and no life after death.

LATEST LUCRETIUS TODAY PODCAST: Episode 311 - "Is Pain The Only Reason To Be Concerned About Any Aspect of Death And Dying?"  | Website Overview | Forum Navigation Map       

SUNDAY WEEKLY ZOOM - 12:30 PM EDT - Ancient Text Study: De Rerum Natura by Lucretius -- Meeting is open to Level 03 members and above -- Read the agenda for December 14, 2025 by clicking here.

Welcome to the EpicureanFriends Forums! -- Please be sure that all posts conform to our policies for posting as linked at our Terms of Use page. -----Scroll down to navigate through the forum. ----- You can also: Search by Forum Tags / Search by Forum Shortcuts / Read Featured Threads / Return to Main Forum Board. Not sure where to post? Read our guidance on where to post. To see reference material (and more) visit our Website Navigation Page.

List Of Frequently Used Forums
  1. Ancient Epicurean Texts (300 BC to 300 AD)
  2. The Lucretius Today Podcast and other Projects
  3. Study Resources and Activism
  4. Physics - The Nature of the Universe
  5. Canonics - The Tests of Truth: The Five Senses, Anticipations, and Feelings of Pleasure and Pain
  6. Ethics - How to Live As An Epicurean
  7. Uncategorized Section
  8. Epicurean Books, Articles, and Videos (1500's - Present)
  9. Epicurean Historical Figures - Biographies of Epicureans from Epicurus To The Present
  10. Comparisons With Non-Epicurean Philosophies
  11. History, Locations, and Customs Relevant to Ancient Epicureans
  12. Epicurean Symbolism in Art, Music, Literature, and Poetry
  13. Level 03 And Above Discussions
  14. EpicureanFriends Zoom Meetings

    2. You Only Live Once

      • Cassius
      • October 6, 2018 at 10:48 AM
      • Cassius
      • October 6, 2018 at 10:48 AM
    3. Replies
      0
      Views
      1.4k

    2. You Have Been Deceived!

      • Cassius
      • February 18, 2017 at 3:46 PM
      • Cassius
      • February 18, 2017 at 3:46 PM
    3. Replies
      0
      Views
      1.4k

    2. Would You Rather Live For A Week As (1) Epicurus During the Last Week of His Life or (2) An Anonymous Shepherd Laying In The Grass In The Summertime With No Pain At All? 104

      • Cassius
      • September 6, 2023 at 2:36 PM
      • Cassius
      • October 22, 2023 at 3:28 PM
    3. Replies
      104
      Views
      35k
      104

    4. Pacatus

      October 22, 2023 at 3:28 PM

    2. Would There Be Benefit In Adapting the "Benjamin Franklin Journaling Model" To Our Discussion of Practical Exercises? 16

      • Cassius
      • July 12, 2021 at 12:26 PM
    3. Replies
      16
      Views
      8.6k
      16

    4. A_Gardner

      July 12, 2021 at 12:26 PM

    2. Wikipedia on "Pleasure"

      • Kalosyni
      • October 18, 2023 at 6:24 PM
    3. Replies
      0
      Views
      973

    2. Why was Epicurus condemned to the sixth circle of hell in Dante's Divine Comedy? 4

      • Hiram
      • January 7, 2019 at 10:55 AM
      • Hiram
      • August 16, 2025 at 10:10 PM
    3. Replies
      4
      Views
      5k
      4

    4. Eikadistes

      August 16, 2025 at 10:10 PM

    2. Why Minimizing All Desire Is Incorrect (And What To Do Instead) 34

      • Kalosyni
      • December 8, 2024 at 2:08 PM
    3. Replies
      34
      Views
      9.1k
      34

    4. Cassius

      December 8, 2024 at 2:08 PM

    2. Why Do We Focus On "Pleasure" as the Goal and the Good, Rather than "Happiness?" 3

      • Cassius
      • December 18, 2018 at 8:50 AM
      • Cassius
      • December 18, 2018 at 12:47 PM
    3. Replies
      3
      Views
      3.9k
      3

    4. Cassius

      December 18, 2018 at 12:47 PM

    2. When Epicureans Choose Pain / When Epicureans Treat Pain As Good 4

      • Cassius
      • December 22, 2024 at 8:51 AM
      • Cassius
      • December 22, 2024 at 11:50 AM
    3. Replies
      4
      Views
      1.9k
      4

    4. Don

      December 22, 2024 at 11:50 AM

    2. What amount of effort should be put into pursuing pleasure or removing pain? 23

      • Kalosyni
      • July 6, 2025 at 10:14 AM
    3. Replies
      23
      Views
      4.2k
      23

    4. Patrikios

      July 6, 2025 at 10:14 AM

    2. We Need A Game Show With A Lightning Round Question: "Happiness or Pleasure? - Why?" 28

      • Cassius
      • February 2, 2023 at 8:16 PM
      • Cassius
      • February 5, 2023 at 3:43 PM
    3. Replies
      28
      Views
      10k
      28

    4. Little Rocker

      February 5, 2023 at 3:43 PM

    2. We are All Born Hedonists 1

      • Hiram
      • January 27, 2019 at 11:39 AM
      • Hiram
      • January 27, 2019 at 12:01 PM
    3. Replies
      1
      Views
      1.7k
      1

    4. Cassius

      January 27, 2019 at 12:01 PM

    2. Wanting vs Liking

      • Elayne
      • January 24, 2021 at 9:05 AM
      • Elayne
      • January 24, 2021 at 9:05 AM
    3. Replies
      0
      Views
      957

    2. Valueless Virtue in Modern Stoicism 16

      • Matt
      • January 10, 2019 at 8:48 AM
      • Matt
      • January 22, 2019 at 6:28 PM
    3. Replies
      16
      Views
      10k
      16

    4. Condorcet

      January 22, 2019 at 6:28 PM

    2. Understanding of good vs. bad desires? 1

      • Hiram
      • February 13, 2019 at 6:54 AM
      • Hiram
      • February 13, 2019 at 9:09 AM
    3. Replies
      1
      Views
      2.1k
      1

    4. Cassius

      February 13, 2019 at 9:09 AM

    2. To What Extent Is This Consistent With Epicurean Ethics: "Life is Short - Life Passionately"

      • Cassius
      • October 6, 2021 at 4:08 PM
      • Cassius
      • October 6, 2021 at 4:08 PM
    3. Replies
      0
      Views
      1k

    2. Tips On Offsetting Pleasures Against Pains 24

      • Cassius
      • November 28, 2023 at 8:27 AM
      • Cassius
      • November 29, 2023 at 9:56 AM
    3. Replies
      24
      Views
      9.8k
      24

    4. Cassius

      November 29, 2023 at 9:56 AM

    2. Things that happen after we die 7

      • SimonC
      • February 4, 2022 at 6:29 AM
      • SimonC
      • February 4, 2022 at 9:54 AM
    3. Replies
      7
      Views
      4.4k
      7

    4. Don

      February 4, 2022 at 9:54 AM

    2. The Normal Curve of Pleasure 5

      • kochiekoch
      • July 23, 2024 at 5:59 PM
    3. Replies
      5
      Views
      3.1k
      5

    4. kochiekoch

      July 23, 2024 at 5:59 PM

    2. The Meaning of Eudaemonia - "Good Demon" 1

      • Cassius
      • January 22, 2018 at 9:56 AM
      • Cassius
      • January 22, 2018 at 10:50 AM
    3. Replies
      1
      Views
      4.6k
      1

    4. Hiram

      January 22, 2018 at 10:50 AM

    2. The Full Cup / Fullness of Pleasure Model

      • Cassius
      • February 17, 2017 at 8:02 PM
      • Cassius
      • February 17, 2017 at 8:02 PM
    3. Replies
      0
      Views
      1.2k

    2. The Argument That the Good Of Animals is Not the Same As The Good of Human Beings

      • Cassius
      • March 3, 2025 at 3:10 PM
    3. Replies
      0
      Views
      769

    2. Star Conclusions of Epicurean Theory 1

      • Cassius
      • October 24, 2018 at 9:09 AM
      • Cassius
      • October 26, 2018 at 7:10 PM
    3. Replies
      1
      Views
      1.8k
      1

    4. Cassius

      October 26, 2018 at 7:10 PM

    2. Spitting Upon the Beautiful... 3

      • Adrastus
      • October 24, 2025 at 4:06 PM
    3. Replies
      3
      Views
      534
      3

    4. Cassius

      October 24, 2025 at 4:06 PM

    2. Some Epicurean conclusions 7

      • Stan85
      • May 19, 2018 at 7:23 PM
      • Stan85
      • May 25, 2018 at 4:38 AM
    3. Replies
      7
      Views
      6.1k
      7

    4. Cassius

      May 25, 2018 at 4:38 AM

    2. Social feelings/actions to not-friends(or strangers, animals) (Philantropy /compassion /sympathy / kindness / charity /) 4

      • Matteng
      • May 17, 2023 at 11:00 AM
    3. Replies
      4
      Views
      2.8k
      4

    4. Joshua

      May 17, 2023 at 11:00 AM

    2. Sedley paper on Plato with interesting Epicurean implications 2

      • Don
      • April 30, 2022 at 7:32 AM
      • Don
      • April 30, 2022 at 9:35 AM
    3. Replies
      2
      Views
      2.3k
      2

    4. Don

      April 30, 2022 at 9:35 AM

    2. Scientific Support for Psychological Hedonism 19

      • kochiekoch
      • April 23, 2024 at 8:04 PM
    3. Replies
      19
      Views
      7.9k
      19

    4. Little Rocker

      April 23, 2024 at 8:04 PM

    2. Ruminations on leading with “Pleasure and Pain as the Guide” v “The Goal is Pleasure” 4

      • Godfrey
      • June 9, 2023 at 7:07 AM
    3. Replies
      4
      Views
      3.3k
      4

    4. Cassius

      June 9, 2023 at 7:07 AM

    2. Regarding categories | Will to Power: a natural or un-natural desire? 7

      • shahabgh66
      • August 7, 2021 at 10:04 AM
    3. Replies
      7
      Views
      4.5k
      7

    4. Cassius

      August 7, 2021 at 10:04 AM

Display Options

Finding Things At EpicureanFriends.com

Here is a list of suggested search strategies:

  • Website Overview page - clickable links arrranged by cards.
  • Forum Main Page - list of forums and subforums arranged by topic. Threads are posted according to relevant topics. The "Uncategorized subforum" contains threads which do not fall into any existing topic (also contains older "unfiled" threads which will soon be moved).
  • Search Tool - icon is located on the top right of every page. Note that the search box asks you what section of the forum you'd like to search. If you don't know, select "Everywhere."
  • Search By Key Tags - curated to show frequently-searched topics.
  • Full Tag List - an alphabetical list of all tags.