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. A General Thought About The Future Of Epicurean Philosophy - On The Meaning of "Pleasure" 2

      • Cassius
      • April 13, 2018 at 12:54 PM
    3. Replies
      2
      Views
      3.5k
      2

    4. Hiram

      April 13, 2018 at 12:54 PM

    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. Is All Desire Painful? How Would Epicurus Answer? 25

      • Cassius
      • June 15, 2025 at 9:23 PM
    3. Replies
      25
      Views
      5.7k
      25

    4. TauPhi

      June 15, 2025 at 9:23 PM

    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. "Peace and Safety" vs. "Conflict and Danger" 7

      • Cassius
      • February 2, 2025 at 9:00 AM
      • Cassius
      • February 2, 2025 at 3:47 PM
    3. Replies
      7
      Views
      2.8k
      7

    4. Cassius

      February 2, 2025 at 3:47 PM

    2. Questions re Pleasure 2

      • Matteng
      • November 9, 2024 at 5:35 AM
      • Matteng
      • November 9, 2024 at 3:50 PM
    3. Replies
      2
      Views
      2.5k
      2

    4. Matteng

      November 9, 2024 at 3:50 PM

    2. Explaining In Summary Form How A Man In Extreme Pain Can Be Said To Be "Happy" 22

      • Cassius
      • April 20, 2024 at 5:38 AM
      • Cassius
      • July 1, 2024 at 1:24 PM
    3. Replies
      22
      Views
      8.6k
      22

    4. Kalosyni

      July 1, 2024 at 1:24 PM

    2. Given The Stress That Many Greek Philosophers' Placed On "Virtue" or a perfect view of "The Good" As The Ultimate Goal, To What Extent Would An Epicurus Have Considered That Approach An "Unnatural and Unnecessary Desire?" 4

      • Cassius
      • February 26, 2024 at 4:51 PM
      • Cassius
      • February 26, 2024 at 10:48 PM
    3. Replies
      4
      Views
      3.2k
      4

    4. Don

      February 26, 2024 at 10:48 PM

    2. Mental pleasure/pain more intense and longer lasting than physical pleasure/pain 33

      • frank1syl
      • December 13, 2023 at 10:19 PM
    3. Replies
      33
      Views
      12k
      33

    4. BrainToBeing

      December 13, 2023 at 10:19 PM

    2. Wikipedia on "Pleasure"

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

    2. If Death Is Nothing To Us, Then Life Is Everything to Us 29

      • Cassius
      • October 7, 2023 at 12:06 AM
      • Cassius
      • October 7, 2023 at 8:22 PM
    3. Replies
      29
      Views
      10k
      29

    4. Cassius

      October 7, 2023 at 8:22 PM

    2. A Pleasant Life instead of Pleasure 7

      • EricR
      • August 4, 2023 at 8:14 AM
      • EricR
      • August 5, 2023 at 8:27 PM
    3. Replies
      7
      Views
      3.6k
      7

    4. Kalosyni

      August 5, 2023 at 8:27 PM

    2. How would you respond to an existentialist who says "You Epicureans have chosen pleasure as your meaning but it's not universal" do Epicureans hold that pleasure is the universal Good? 13

      • Eoghan Gardiner
      • June 15, 2023 at 12:36 AM
    3. Replies
      13
      Views
      5.5k
      13

    4. Root304

      June 15, 2023 at 12:36 AM

    2. Imagery On The Interplay Between "Pursue Pleasure" and 'Avoid Pain" 33

      • Cassius
      • March 28, 2023 at 9:09 AM
      • Cassius
      • March 31, 2023 at 10:10 AM
    3. Replies
      33
      Views
      11k
      33

    4. Don

      March 31, 2023 at 10:10 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. “How Epicurean Science Saves Humanity” 3

      • Pacatus
      • September 8, 2022 at 6:13 PM
      • Pacatus
      • September 8, 2022 at 6:54 PM
    3. Replies
      3
      Views
      2.3k
      3

    4. Cassius

      September 8, 2022 at 6:54 PM

    2. Identifying And Dealing With Significant Error / Mistakes in Ourselves (and Others)

      • Cassius
      • April 21, 2022 at 9:38 AM
      • Cassius
      • April 21, 2022 at 9:38 AM
    3. Replies
      0
      Views
      1k

    2. As to the Term "Hedonic Calculus" or the "Calculus of Advantage" 22

      • Cassius
      • February 27, 2022 at 7:26 AM
      • Cassius
      • March 1, 2022 at 12:03 PM
    3. Replies
      22
      Views
      9.3k
      22

    4. Godfrey

      March 1, 2022 at 12:03 PM

    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. Multiple Components Comprise the Epicurean Life 30

      • Kalosyni
      • October 23, 2021 at 1:53 PM
    3. Replies
      30
      Views
      13k
      30

    4. Godfrey

      October 23, 2021 at 1:53 PM

    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

    2. From Elli: ""And the pleasure which we daily feel in all these things helps us to banish any sorrow." - Pericles the Athenian.

      • Cassius
      • January 6, 2021 at 10:27 AM
      • Cassius
      • January 6, 2021 at 10:27 AM
    3. Replies
      0
      Views
      1.1k

    2. On The Relationship of Eudaemonia And Pleasure

      • Cassius
      • July 10, 2019 at 7:02 AM
    3. Replies
      0
      Views
      1.3k

    2. Episode 208: Epicurus on Seeking Pleasure (Part Two) 1

      • Hiram
      • February 4, 2019 at 3:12 PM
      • Hiram
      • February 5, 2019 at 7:04 AM
    3. Replies
      1
      Views
      2k
      1

    4. Cassius

      February 5, 2019 at 7:04 AM

    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. A Place to Start

      • Cassius
      • January 21, 2019 at 4:41 PM
      • Cassius
      • January 21, 2019 at 4:41 PM
    3. Replies
      0
      Views
      981

    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. Hiram Crespo on The Pursuit of Happiness, Epicurean Philosophy, and Changing Your Mindset 6

      • Hiram
      • December 14, 2018 at 2:23 PM
      • Hiram
      • December 17, 2018 at 12:22 PM
    3. Replies
      6
      Views
      4.7k
      6

    4. Hiram

      December 17, 2018 at 12:22 PM

    2. Major Controversies In Understanding Epicurean Philosophy

      • Cassius
      • December 11, 2018 at 2:25 AM
      • Cassius
      • December 11, 2018 at 2:25 AM
    3. Replies
      0
      Views
      2.5k

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.