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 349 — "Navigating Questions of Knowledge With Ships And Heaps"

Website Overview Forum Navigation Map News & Forum Updates Recent Activity

1. - Title
    - Title
    - Author
    - Date
    - Replies
    - Reactions
    - Views
    - Last Reply
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
  
  15k
  
  33
4. Don
  March 31, 2023 at 10:10 AM
2. Iliustrations and Analogies For Explaining the "Two And Only Two Feelings" Argument 39
  - Cassius
  - May 20, 2026 at 5:24 PM
  - Cassius
  - May 22, 2026 at 1:06 PM
3. Replies
  
  39
  
  Views
  
  3.2k
  
  39
4. Todd
  May 22, 2026 at 1:06 PM
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
  - 3
  - Cassius
  - February 26, 2024 at 4:43 PM
  - Cassius
  - February 29, 2024 at 12:22 AM
3. Replies
  
  8
  
  Views
  
  5.9k
  
  8
4. Don
  February 29, 2024 at 12:22 AM
2. If Death Is Nothing To Us, Then Life Is Everything to Us 29
  - 1
  - Cassius
  - October 7, 2023 at 12:06 AM
  - Cassius
  - October 7, 2023 at 8:22 PM
3. Replies
  
  29
  
  Views
  
  15k
  
  29
4. Cassius
  October 7, 2023 at 8:22 PM
2. Identifying And Dealing With Significant Error / Mistakes in Ourselves (and Others)
  - 1
  - Cassius
  - April 21, 2022 at 9:38 AM
  - Cassius
  - April 21, 2022 at 9:38 AM
3. Replies
  
  0
  
  Views
  
  1.4k
2. Hypotheticals: Would An Epicurean Hook Himself Up To An "Experience Machine" or a "Pleasure Machine"? 32
  - 2
  - Cassius
  - March 23, 2020 at 2:05 AM
  - Cassius
  - December 6, 2025 at 2:41 PM
3. Replies
  
  32
  
  Views
  
  24k
  
  32
4. kochiekoch
  December 6, 2025 at 2:41 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
  - 1
  - Eoghan Gardiner
  - June 13, 2023 at 9:13 AM
  - Eoghan Gardiner
  - June 15, 2023 at 12:36 AM
3. Replies
  
  13
  
  Views
  
  7.5k
  
  13
4. Root304
  June 15, 2023 at 12:36 AM
2. How To Turn Epicurean Philosophy On Its Head As Quickly As Possible - A Quick Comment on Mark 12 3
  - Cassius
  - December 21, 2018 at 8:58 AM
  - Cassius
  - December 21, 2018 at 3:22 PM
3. Replies
  
  3
  
  Views
  
  3.5k
  
  3
4. Matt
  December 21, 2018 at 3:22 PM
2. How has the word epicurean come to mean excess? 22
  - 3
  - ThinkingCat
  - May 13, 2023 at 9:24 AM
  - ThinkingCat
  - May 19, 2023 at 6:50 PM
3. Replies
  
  22
  
  Views
  
  19k
  
  22
4. Cassius
  May 19, 2023 at 6:50 PM
2. Hiram Crespo on The Pursuit of Happiness, Epicurean Philosophy, and Changing Your Mindset 6
  - 1
  - Hiram
  - December 14, 2018 at 2:23 PM
  - Hiram
  - December 17, 2018 at 12:22 PM
3. Replies
  
  6
  
  Views
  
  5.8k
  
  6
4. Hiram
  December 17, 2018 at 12:22 PM
2. Health of the Body and Happiness of the Soul -vs- "The Goal is Pleasure" 4
  - 2
  - Kalosyni
  - June 4, 2024 at 1:34 PM
  - Kalosyni
  - September 9, 2024 at 6:56 AM
3. Replies
  
  4
  
  Views
  
  5.1k
  
  4
4. Cassius
  September 9, 2024 at 6:56 AM
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
  
  2
  
  Views
  
  4.3k
  
  2
4. Cassius
  February 11, 2018 at 9:50 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
  - 1
  - Cassius
  - February 26, 2024 at 4:51 PM
  - Cassius
  - February 26, 2024 at 10:48 PM
3. Replies
  
  4
  
  Views
  
  4.5k
  
  4
4. Don
  February 26, 2024 at 10:48 PM
2. Fundamental Issues In Hedonism 15
  - 1
  - BrainToBeing
  - December 10, 2023 at 8:18 AM
  - BrainToBeing
  - December 14, 2023 at 9:52 AM
3. Replies
  
  15
  
  Views
  
  8.1k
  
  15
4. Kalosyni
  December 14, 2023 at 9:52 AM
2. From Elli: ""And the pleasure which we daily feel in all these things helps us to banish any sorrow." - Pericles the Athenian.
  - 1
  - Cassius
  - January 6, 2021 at 10:27 AM
  - Cassius
  - January 6, 2021 at 10:27 AM
3. Replies
  
  0
  
  Views
  
  1.4k
2. Explaining Perspectives - Chart Of Whole Organism vs Discrete Feelings
  - Cassius
  - October 17, 2023 at 8:52 AM
  - Cassius
  - October 17, 2023 at 8:52 AM
3. Replies
  
  0
  
  Views
  
  1.4k
2. Explaining In Summary Form How A Man In Extreme Pain Can Be Said To Be "Happy" 22
  - 1
  - Cassius
  - April 20, 2024 at 5:38 AM
  - Cassius
  - July 1, 2024 at 1:24 PM
3. Replies
  
  22
  
  Views
  
  11k
  
  22
4. Kalosyni
  July 1, 2024 at 1:24 PM
2. Episode 208: Epicurus on Seeking Pleasure (Part Two) 1
  - 1
  - Hiram
  - February 4, 2019 at 3:12 PM
  - Hiram
  - February 5, 2019 at 7:04 AM
3. Replies
  
  1
  
  Views
  
  2.3k
  
  1
4. Cassius
  February 5, 2019 at 7:04 AM
2. Epicurus On Money, And A Connection With Limits Referenced By A Modern Philosopher 2
  - Cassius
  - June 11, 2021 at 8:29 AM
  - Cassius
  - June 11, 2021 at 9:42 AM
3. Replies
  
  2
  
  Views
  
  3.2k
  
  2
4. Cassius
  June 11, 2021 at 9:42 AM
2. Epicurus And Pleasure As The Awareness Of Smooth Motion 14
  - Cassius
  - May 10, 2023 at 9:18 AM
  - Cassius
  - December 31, 2025 at 7:04 AM
3. Replies
  
  14
  
  Views
  
  7.8k
  
  14
4. Cassius
  December 31, 2025 at 7:04 AM
2. Epicureans On Kingship 15
  - Cassius
  - August 2, 2022 at 10:16 AM
  - Cassius
  - October 10, 2022 at 5:11 AM
3. Replies
  
  15
  
  Views
  
  8.8k
  
  15
4. Sid
  October 10, 2022 at 5:11 AM
2. Epicureanism Vs Asceticism 8
  - Hiram
  - March 12, 2019 at 9:44 AM
  - Hiram
  - March 14, 2019 at 1:37 PM
3. Replies
  
  8
  
  Views
  
  8.4k
  
  8
4. Cassius
  March 14, 2019 at 1:37 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
  
  7.3k
  
  8
4. Cassius
  February 1, 2019 at 7:47 AM
2. Epicurean Golden Rule? 14
  - 5
  - Pacatus
  - July 5, 2023 at 5:55 PM
  - Pacatus
  - September 30, 2024 at 9:17 AM
3. Replies
  
  14
  
  Views
  
  9k
  
  14
4. Don
  September 30, 2024 at 9:17 AM
2. Epicurean Freedom. Enslavement by culture. The mob. 15
  - Harrington Andros
  - April 19, 2018 at 12:42 PM
  - Harrington Andros
  - May 14, 2018 at 12:11 PM
3. Replies
  
  15
  
  Views
  
  13k
  
  15
4. Hiram
  May 14, 2018 at 12:11 PM
2. Empathy vs pleasure 1
  - azbcethananderson
  - May 24, 2020 at 12:17 PM
  - azbcethananderson
  - May 24, 2020 at 2:27 PM
3. Replies
  
  1
  
  Views
  
  2.4k
  
  1
4. Don
  May 24, 2020 at 2:27 PM
2. Elena Nicoli - An Excellent Presentation On Epicurean Pleasure 11
  - Cassius
  - April 16, 2018 at 4:18 PM
  - Cassius
  - May 7, 2018 at 10:50 AM
3. Replies
  
  11
  
  Views
  
  13k
  
  11
4. Eoghan Gardiner
  May 7, 2018 at 10:50 AM
2. Eikadistes Article Discussion - 'No Politics'
  - Cassius
  - May 18, 2026 at 7:27 PM
  - Cassius
  - May 18, 2026 at 7:27 PM
3. Replies
  
  0
  
  Views
  
  549
2. Driving Away Bad Habits "Like Evil Men Who Have Long Done Us Great Harm" (Including Addictions)
  - 4
  - Cassius
  - April 23, 2025 at 4:17 PM
  - Cassius
  - April 23, 2025 at 4:17 PM
3. Replies
  
  0
  
  Views
  
  1.1k
2. Doubt is Unpleasant, But It's Not Your Worst Enemy
  - Cassius
  - December 20, 2015 at 11:56 AM
  - Cassius
  - December 20, 2015 at 11:56 AM
3. Replies
  
  0
  
  Views
  
  2.8k

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.

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

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

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

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

Hypotheticals: Would An Epicurean Hook Himself Up To An "Experience Machine" or a "Pleasure Machine"? 32

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

How To Turn Epicurean Philosophy On Its Head As Quickly As Possible - A Quick Comment on Mark 12 3

How has the word epicurean come to mean excess? 22

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

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

Graphic - Cassius To Cicero - A Question of Word Choice 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

Fundamental Issues In Hedonism 15

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

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

Epicurus On Money, And A Connection With Limits Referenced By A Modern Philosopher 2

Epicurus And Pleasure As The Awareness Of Smooth Motion 14

Epicureans On Kingship 15

Epicureanism Vs Asceticism 8

Epicurean virtues listed by importance 8

Epicurean Golden Rule? 14

Epicurean Freedom. Enslavement by culture. The mob. 15

Empathy vs pleasure 1

Elena Nicoli - An Excellent Presentation On Epicurean Pleasure 11

Display Options

Finding Things At EpicureanFriends.com

Here is a list of suggested search strategies:

Statistics

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