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.

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  1. Ancient Epicurean Texts (300 BC to 300 AD)
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  4. Physics - The Nature of the Universe
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    2. After Religion and Death, The Third Greatest Threat To Happiness As The Highest Goal of Life 5

      • Cassius
      • December 27, 2018 at 4:33 PM
      • Cassius
      • December 28, 2018 at 10:42 AM
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    4. Cassius

      December 28, 2018 at 10:42 AM

    2. Epicurean Golden Rule? 14

      • Pacatus
      • September 30, 2024 at 9:17 AM
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      6.4k
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    4. Don

      September 30, 2024 at 9:17 AM

    2. My 2024 Resolution: Get A More Accurate Picture of Epicurean Pleasure To The World Rather Than "Tranquility" or "Live Unkown"(Comment on Irish Times Article) 15

      • Cassius
      • January 1, 2024 at 7:03 AM
      • Cassius
      • January 27, 2024 at 5:25 PM
    3. Replies
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      6.3k
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    4. Eikadistes

      January 27, 2024 at 5:25 PM

    2. Some Epicurean conclusions 7

      • Stan85
      • May 19, 2018 at 7:23 PM
      • Stan85
      • May 25, 2018 at 4:38 AM
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    4. Cassius

      May 25, 2018 at 4:38 AM

    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
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      5.7k
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    4. Cassius

      February 1, 2019 at 7:47 AM

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

      • Cassius
      • June 15, 2025 at 9:23 PM
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      5.7k
      25

    4. TauPhi

      June 15, 2025 at 9:23 PM

    2. Fundamental Issues In Hedonism 15

      • BrainToBeing
      • December 14, 2023 at 9:52 AM
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    4. Kalosyni

      December 14, 2023 at 9:52 AM

    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
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    4. Root304

      June 15, 2023 at 12:36 AM

    2. New Book by Erler (Würzburg Center): "Epicurus: An Introduction to His Practical Ethics and Politics" 3

      • Titus
      • June 24, 2021 at 3:39 PM
      • Titus
      • November 16, 2025 at 10:41 AM
    3. Replies
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    4. Patrikios

      November 16, 2025 at 10:41 AM

    2. Pleasure vs pain - example and thoughts! 10

      • ThinkingCat
      • May 21, 2023 at 9:08 PM
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    4. Don

      May 21, 2023 at 9:08 PM

    2. Epicurus And Pleasure As The Awareness Of Smooth Motion 13

      • Cassius
      • February 6, 2024 at 12:24 PM
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    4. Cassius

      February 6, 2024 at 12:24 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
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    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
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    4. Hiram

      December 17, 2018 at 12:22 PM

    2. "Objective Morality" 3

      • Hiram
      • December 26, 2018 at 11:51 AM
      • Hiram
      • December 26, 2018 at 5:52 PM
    3. Replies
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    4. Cassius

      December 26, 2018 at 5:52 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
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    4. Hiram

      January 22, 2018 at 10:50 AM

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

      • shahabgh66
      • August 7, 2021 at 10:04 AM
    3. Replies
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    4. Cassius

      August 7, 2021 at 10:04 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
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    4. Don

      February 4, 2022 at 9:54 AM

    2. If We Agree For The Sake of Argument That "The Perfect Should Not Be The Enemy of The Good," then let's ask "What *Should* We Consider To Be The Proper Relationship Between The Perfect And The Good?" 8

      • Cassius
      • February 26, 2024 at 4:43 PM
      • Cassius
      • February 29, 2024 at 12:22 AM
    3. Replies
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    4. Don

      February 29, 2024 at 12:22 AM

    2. Nietzsche Channeling Epicurus "Never Losing One's Own Way," and How To Proceed With Philosophical Therapy 3

      • Cassius
      • December 23, 2018 at 10:13 AM
      • Cassius
      • February 1, 2019 at 10:27 AM
    3. Replies
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    4. Cassius

      February 1, 2019 at 10:27 AM

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

      • Kalosyni
      • July 6, 2025 at 10:14 AM
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    4. Patrikios

      July 6, 2025 at 10:14 AM

    2. A Debate About Hedonism

      • Cassius
      • January 13, 2018 at 3:35 PM
      • Cassius
      • January 13, 2018 at 3:35 PM
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    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
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    4. Cassius

      December 18, 2018 at 12:47 PM

    2. Graphic - Cassius To Cicero - A Question of Word Choice 2

      • Cassius
      • February 11, 2018 at 8:53 AM
      • Cassius
      • February 11, 2018 at 9:50 AM
    3. Replies
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      3.7k
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    4. Cassius

      February 11, 2018 at 9:50 AM

    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
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    4. Kalosyni

      August 5, 2023 at 8:27 PM

    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
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    4. Hiram

      April 13, 2018 at 12:54 PM

    2. Health of the Body and Happiness of the Soul -vs- "The Goal is Pleasure" 4

      • Kalosyni
      • September 9, 2024 at 6:56 AM
    3. Replies
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      3.5k
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    4. Cassius

      September 9, 2024 at 6:56 AM

    2. Criticisms of An Article Entitled "Epicurean Pleasure" (October 1, 2018) 4

      • Cassius
      • October 2, 2018 at 9:28 AM
      • Cassius
      • October 9, 2018 at 8:40 AM
    3. Replies
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      3.5k
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    4. Cassius

      October 9, 2018 at 8:40 AM

    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
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      3.3k
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    4. Cassius

      June 9, 2023 at 7:07 AM

    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
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      3.2k
      4

    4. Don

      February 26, 2024 at 10:48 PM

    2. "Philosophize This" - A Statement of the Position That Ataraxia is "True Pleasure" and that Epicureans Should Have No Ambitions Other than to Remove the Desire For Ambition - Your Focus is the Complete Removal of Pain - Agree or Disagree?

      • Cassius
      • February 14, 2018 at 8:49 AM
      • Cassius
      • February 14, 2018 at 8:49 AM
    3. Replies
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      3.2k

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