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

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2. The Argument That the Good Of Animals is Not the Same As The Good of Human Beings
  - 1
  - Cassius
  - March 3, 2025 at 3:10 PM
  - Cassius
  - March 3, 2025 at 3:10 PM
3. Replies
  
  0
  
  Views
  
  1.2k
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
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  0
  
  Views
  
  1.1k
2. Is All Desire Painful? How Would Epicurus Answer? 25
  - 1
  - Cassius
  - May 7, 2025 at 10:02 PM
  - Cassius
  - June 15, 2025 at 9:23 PM
3. Replies
  
  25
  
  Views
  
  9.2k
  
  25
4. TauPhi
  June 15, 2025 at 9:23 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
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  0
  
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  2k
2. 'Their God Is The Belly" / "The Root of All Good Is The Pleasure Of The Stomach" And Similar Attributions 14
  - 1
  - Cassius
  - November 24, 2025 at 9:55 AM
  - Cassius
  - June 12, 2026 at 12:58 PM
3. Replies
  
  14
  
  Views
  
  4.4k
  
  14
4. Pacatus
  June 12, 2026 at 12:58 PM
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
  
  2.3k
  
  10
4. kochiekoch
  February 1, 2026 at 8:33 PM
2. Eikadistes Article Discussion - 'No Politics'
  - Cassius
  - May 18, 2026 at 7:27 PM
  - Cassius
  - May 18, 2026 at 7:27 PM
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  0
  
  Views
  
  549
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 10:56 AM
  - Cassius
  - May 20, 2026 at 5:12 PM
3. Replies
  
  6
  
  Views
  
  1.2k
  
  6
4. Cassius
  May 20, 2026 at 5:12 PM
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. Clement on Epicurus' And Other Philosophers Opinions As To The Chief Good 3
  - 1
  - Cassius
  - May 20, 2026 at 7:22 PM
  - Cassius
  - May 20, 2026 at 11:03 PM
3. Replies
  
  3
  
  Views
  
  677
  
  3
4. Joshua
  May 20, 2026 at 11:03 PM
2. What Would Epicurus Say To Someone Who Said To Him That The Value of Being Dead and Being Alive Are Equal? 23
  - Cassius
  - June 24, 2026 at 12:57 PM
  - Cassius
  - July 8, 2026 at 9:31 AM
3. Replies
  
  23
  
  Views
  
  1.9k
  
  23
4. Kalosyni
  July 8, 2026 at 9:31 AM
2. Discussion Of The Article: "The Completeness Argument, Cicero's Knowledge Of It, And The Epicurean Response"
  - 1
  - Cassius
  - August 7, 2026 at 10:43 AM
  - Cassius
  - August 7, 2026 at 10:43 AM
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  0
  
  Views
  
  454
2. Discussion of Article - "Epicurus And The Pleasure Of Rebelling Against Plato" 13
  - 1
  - Cassius
  - August 28, 2026 at 6:15 PM
  - Cassius
  - September 5, 2026 at 11:05 AM
3. Replies
  
  13
  
  Views
  
  421
  
  13
4. Robert
  September 5, 2026 at 11:05 AM
2. Sedley paper on Plato with interesting Epicurean implications 2
  - 2
  - Don
  - April 30, 2022 at 7:32 AM
  - Don
  - April 30, 2022 at 9:35 AM
3. Replies
  
  2
  
  Views
  
  2.9k
  
  2
4. Don
  April 30, 2022 at 9:35 AM
2. Wanting vs Liking
  - 1
  - Elayne
  - January 24, 2021 at 9:05 AM
  - Elayne
  - January 24, 2021 at 9:05 AM
3. Replies
  
  0
  
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  1.2k
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
  
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  3.3k
2. On the associations between Virtue and Pleasure and my Epicurean Write up 1
  - Eoghan Gardiner
  - March 27, 2018 at 4:43 AM
  - Eoghan Gardiner
  - March 27, 2018 at 7:56 AM
3. Replies
  
  1
  
  Views
  
  2.4k
  
  1
4. Cassius
  March 27, 2018 at 7:56 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
  - 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. "Absence Of Pain Is Pleasure" - How Would You Articulate That To Someone? 37
  - Eoghan Gardiner
  - November 15, 2023 at 9:32 AM
  - Eoghan Gardiner
  - April 16, 2025 at 5:22 PM
3. Replies
  
  37
  
  Views
  
  27k
  
  37
4. Rolf
  April 16, 2025 at 5:22 PM
2. A Pleasant Life instead of Pleasure 7
  - 1
  - EricR
  - August 4, 2023 at 8:14 AM
  - EricR
  - August 5, 2023 at 8:27 PM
3. Replies
  
  7
  
  Views
  
  4.4k
  
  7
4. Kalosyni
  August 5, 2023 at 8:27 PM
2. Mental pleasure/pain more intense and longer lasting than physical pleasure/pain 33
  - 1
  - frank1syl
  - December 5, 2023 at 11:15 AM
  - frank1syl
  - December 13, 2023 at 10:19 PM
3. Replies
  
  33
  
  Views
  
  17k
  
  33
4. BrainToBeing
  December 13, 2023 at 10:19 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. 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
  
  16k
  
  30
4. Cassius
  September 12, 2020 at 7:44 PM
2. Inferential Foundations of Epicurean Ethics by David Sedley 1
  - Godfrey
  - June 3, 2021 at 4:18 PM
  - Godfrey
  - June 3, 2021 at 4:47 PM
3. Replies
  
  1
  
  Views
  
  2.1k
  
  1
4. Cassius
  June 3, 2021 at 4:47 PM
2. Pleasure, Desire and Limits 36
  - 3
  - Godfrey
  - July 17, 2022 at 9:25 PM
  - Godfrey
  - July 20, 2022 at 8:34 PM
3. Replies
  
  36
  
  Views
  
  25k
  
  36
4. Godfrey
  July 20, 2022 at 8:34 PM
2. Ruminations on leading with “Pleasure and Pain as the Guide” v “The Goal is Pleasure” 4
  - 2
  - Godfrey
  - June 7, 2023 at 9:10 PM
  - Godfrey
  - June 9, 2023 at 7:07 AM
3. Replies
  
  4
  
  Views
  
  4.6k
  
  4
4. Cassius
  June 9, 2023 at 7:07 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. 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. "Objective Morality" 3
  - Hiram
  - December 26, 2018 at 11:51 AM
  - Hiram
  - December 26, 2018 at 5:52 PM
3. Replies
  
  3
  
  Views
  
  5.7k
  
  3
4. Cassius
  December 26, 2018 at 5:52 PM
2. Why was Epicurus condemned to the sixth circle of hell in Dante's Divine Comedy? 4
  - 1
  - Hiram
  - January 7, 2019 at 10:55 AM
  - Hiram
  - August 16, 2025 at 10:10 PM
3. Replies
  
  4
  
  Views
  
  7.1k
  
  4
4. Eikadistes
  August 16, 2025 at 10:10 PM

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Is All Desire Painful? How Would Epicurus Answer? 25

'Their God Is The Belly" / "The Root of All Good Is The Pleasure Of The Stomach" And Similar Attributions 14

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

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

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

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

What Would Epicurus Say To Someone Who Said To Him That The Value of Being Dead and Being Alive Are Equal? 23

Discussion of Article - "Epicurus And The Pleasure Of Rebelling Against Plato" 13

Sedley paper on Plato with interesting Epicurean implications 2

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

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

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

A Pleasant Life instead of Pleasure 7

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

Epicurean virtues listed by importance 8

On "Desires" And Their Relationship To Pleasure 30

Inferential Foundations of Epicurean Ethics by David Sedley 1

Pleasure, Desire and Limits 36

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

Epicurean Freedom. Enslavement by culture. The mob. 15

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

"Objective Morality" 3

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

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