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 338 - "Are Knowledge And Wisdom Available Only To Gods?"   | Website Overview | Forum Navigation Map   | Latest Blog Post:  "The Continuing Vitality of Epicurean Physics"

New Graphics: Are You On Team Epicurus? | Comparison Chart: Epicurus vs. Other Philosophies | Chart Of Key Epicurean Quotations | Accelerating Study Of Canonics Through Philodemus' "On Methods Of Inference" | Note to all users: If you have a problem posting in any forum, please message Cassius  

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. 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
      2.4k
      1

    4. Cassius

      February 13, 2019 at 9:09 AM

    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
      2.2k
      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
      1.9k
      1

    4. Cassius

      January 27, 2019 at 12:01 PM

    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
      6.4k
      4

    4. Eikadistes

      August 16, 2025 at 10:10 PM

    2. "Objective Morality" 3

      • Hiram
      • December 26, 2018 at 11:51 AM
      • Hiram
      • December 26, 2018 at 5:52 PM
    3. Replies
      3
      Views
      5.4k
      3

    4. Cassius

      December 26, 2018 at 5:52 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
      5.5k
      6

    4. Hiram

      December 17, 2018 at 12:22 PM

    2. Epicurean Freedom. Enslavement by culture. The mob. 15

      • Harrington Andros
      • May 14, 2018 at 12:11 PM
    3. Replies
      15
      Views
      12k
      15

    4. Hiram

      May 14, 2018 at 12:11 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
      4.3k
      4

    4. Cassius

      June 9, 2023 at 7:07 AM

    2. Pleasure, Desire and Limits 36

      • Godfrey
      • July 20, 2022 at 8:34 PM
    3. Replies
      36
      Views
      24k
      36

    4. Godfrey

      July 20, 2022 at 8:34 PM

    2. Inferential Foundations of Epicurean Ethics by David Sedley 1

      • Godfrey
      • June 3, 2021 at 4:47 PM
    3. Replies
      1
      Views
      2k
      1

    4. Cassius

      June 3, 2021 at 4:47 PM

    2. On "Desires" And Their Relationship To Pleasure 30

      • Godfrey
      • September 10, 2020 at 2:53 PM
      • Godfrey
      • September 12, 2020 at 7:44 PM
    3. Replies
      30
      Views
      15k
      30

    4. Cassius

      September 12, 2020 at 7:44 PM

    2. Epicurean virtues listed by importance 8

      • godek
      • January 28, 2019 at 8:45 PM
      • godek
      • February 1, 2019 at 7:47 AM
    3. Replies
      8
      Views
      7k
      8

    4. Cassius

      February 1, 2019 at 7:47 AM

    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
      16k
      33

    4. BrainToBeing

      December 13, 2023 at 10:19 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
      4.2k
      7

    4. Kalosyni

      August 5, 2023 at 8:27 PM

    2. "Absence Of Pain Is Pleasure" - How Would You Articulate That To Someone? 37

      • Eoghan Gardiner
      • April 16, 2025 at 5:22 PM
    3. Replies
      37
      Views
      24k
      37

    4. Rolf

      April 16, 2025 at 5:22 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
      7.1k
      13

    4. Root304

      June 15, 2023 at 12:36 AM

    2. On the associations between Virtue and Pleasure and my Epicurean Write up 1

      • Eoghan Gardiner
      • March 27, 2018 at 7:56 AM
    3. Replies
      1
      Views
      2.3k
      1

    4. Cassius

      March 27, 2018 at 7:56 AM

    2. A Man’s Neighbor And His Dog (PDs' 32 & 39 &40)

      • Elli
      • November 5, 2018 at 10:36 AM
      • Elli
      • November 5, 2018 at 10:36 AM
    3. Replies
      0
      Views
      3.3k

    2. Wanting vs Liking

      • Elayne
      • January 24, 2021 at 9:05 AM
      • Elayne
      • January 24, 2021 at 9:05 AM
    3. Replies
      0
      Views
      1.1k

    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
      2.8k
      2

    4. Don

      April 30, 2022 at 9:35 AM

    2. Clement on Epicurus' And Other Philosophers Opinions As To The Chief Good 3

      • Cassius
      • May 20, 2026 at 11:03 PM
    3. Replies
      3
      Views
      375
      3

    4. Joshua

      May 20, 2026 at 11:03 PM

    2. Iliustrations and Analogies For Explaining the "Two And Only Two Feelings" Argument 39

      • Cassius
      • May 22, 2026 at 1:06 PM
    3. Replies
      39
      Views
      1.9k
      39

    4. Todd

      May 22, 2026 at 1:06 PM

    2. Discussion of Blog Article - "Why It Is Incorrect to Say Epicurean Philosophy Is Primarily About 'Absence of Pain'" 6

      • Cassius
      • May 20, 2026 at 5:12 PM
    3. Replies
      6
      Views
      645
      6

    4. Cassius

      May 20, 2026 at 5:12 PM

    2. Eikadistes Article Discussion - 'No Politics'

      • Cassius
      • May 18, 2026 at 7:27 PM
    3. Replies
      0
      Views
      297

    2. Would It Be Fair To Say That Epicurus Taught "Lower Your Expectations And You'll Never Be Disappointed"? 10

      • Cassius
      • January 26, 2026 at 1:38 PM
      • Cassius
      • February 1, 2026 at 8:33 PM
    3. Replies
      10
      Views
      1.8k
      10

    4. kochiekoch

      February 1, 2026 at 8:33 PM

    2. 'Their God Is The Belly" / "The Root of All Good Is The Pleasure Of The Stomach" And Similar Attributions 16

      • Cassius
      • November 24, 2025 at 9:55 AM
      • Cassius
      • June 12, 2026 at 12:58 PM
    3. Replies
      16
      Views
      3.7k
      16

    4. Pacatus

      June 12, 2026 at 12:58 PM

    2. Cicero's Comparison of the Life of Lucius Balbus (Pleasure) Against That Of Marcus Regulus (VIrtue)

      • Cassius
      • August 6, 2025 at 8:55 AM
      • Cassius
      • August 6, 2025 at 8:55 AM
    3. Replies
      0
      Views
      1.9k

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

      • Cassius
      • June 15, 2025 at 9:23 PM
    3. Replies
      25
      Views
      8.4k
      25

    4. TauPhi

      June 15, 2025 at 9:23 PM

    2. Driving Away Bad Habits "Like Evil Men Who Have Long Done Us Great Harm" (Including Addictions)

      • Cassius
      • April 23, 2025 at 4:17 PM
      • Cassius
      • April 23, 2025 at 4:17 PM
    3. Replies
      0
      Views
      892

    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
      1.1k

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.