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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2. A Fable on Unattainable Expectations 6
  - 3
  - Pacatus
  - October 16, 2024 at 5:12 PM
  - Pacatus
  - November 22, 2024 at 11:32 AM
3. Replies
  
  6
  
  Views
  
  3.9k
  
  6
4. Don
  November 22, 2024 at 11:32 AM
2. The Normal Curve of Pleasure 5
  - 2
  - kochiekoch
  - July 22, 2024 at 1:28 PM
  - kochiekoch
  - July 23, 2024 at 5:59 PM
3. Replies
  
  5
  
  Views
  
  4.1k
  
  5
4. kochiekoch
  July 23, 2024 at 5:59 PM
2. A General Thought About The Future Of Epicurean Philosophy - On The Meaning of "Pleasure" 2
  - 2
  - Cassius
  - April 5, 2018 at 7:50 PM
  - Cassius
  - April 13, 2018 at 12:54 PM
3. Replies
  
  2
  
  Views
  
  4.1k
  
  2
4. Hiram
  April 13, 2018 at 12:54 PM
2. Criticisms of An Article Entitled "Epicurean Pleasure" (October 1, 2018) 4
  - 1
  - Cassius
  - October 2, 2018 at 9:28 AM
  - Cassius
  - October 9, 2018 at 8:40 AM
3. Replies
  
  4
  
  Views
  
  4.2k
  
  4
4. Cassius
  October 9, 2018 at 8:40 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. "Peace and Safety" vs. "Conflict and Danger" 7
  - 1
  - Cassius
  - February 2, 2025 at 9:00 AM
  - Cassius
  - February 2, 2025 at 3:47 PM
3. Replies
  
  7
  
  Views
  
  4.3k
  
  7
4. Cassius
  February 2, 2025 at 3:47 PM
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. 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. Neither "ataraxia" nor "not ataraxia", but "Joy as the goal" 24
  - 1
  - Kalosyni
  - February 25, 2026 at 10:08 AM
  - Kalosyni
  - May 3, 2026 at 3:59 PM
3. Replies
  
  24
  
  Views
  
  4.5k
  
  24
4. Don
  May 3, 2026 at 3:59 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
  - 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. 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. A Debate About Hedonism
  - Cassius
  - January 13, 2018 at 3:35 PM
  - Cassius
  - January 13, 2018 at 3:35 PM
3. Replies
  
  0
  
  Views
  
  4.6k
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
  
  3
  
  Views
  
  4.9k
  
  3
4. Cassius
  December 18, 2018 at 12:47 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. 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
  
  3
  
  Views
  
  5.5k
  
  3
4. Cassius
  February 1, 2019 at 10:27 AM
2. The Meaning of Eudaemonia - "Good Demon" 1
  - 1
  - Cassius
  - January 22, 2018 at 9:56 AM
  - Cassius
  - January 22, 2018 at 10:50 AM
3. Replies
  
  1
  
  Views
  
  5.6k
  
  1
4. Hiram
  January 22, 2018 at 10:50 AM
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. Regarding categories | Will to Power: a natural or un-natural desire? 7
  - 1
  - shahabgh66
  - August 7, 2021 at 6:02 AM
  - shahabgh66
  - August 7, 2021 at 10:04 AM
3. Replies
  
  7
  
  Views
  
  5.7k
  
  7
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
  
  7
  
  Views
  
  5.7k
  
  7
4. Don
  February 4, 2022 at 9:54 AM
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. 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. Pleasure vs pain - example and thoughts! 10
  - 2
  - ThinkingCat
  - May 20, 2023 at 4:02 AM
  - ThinkingCat
  - May 21, 2023 at 9:08 PM
3. Replies
  
  10
  
  Views
  
  6.9k
  
  10
4. Don
  May 21, 2023 at 9:08 PM
2. New Book by Erler (Würzburg Center): "Epicurus: An Introduction to His Practical Ethics and Politics" 3
  - 1
  - Titus
  - June 24, 2021 at 3:39 PM
  - Titus
  - November 16, 2025 at 10:41 AM
3. Replies
  
  3
  
  Views
  
  7k
  
  3
4. Patrikios
  November 16, 2025 at 10:41 AM
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
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. Some Epicurean conclusions 7
  - Stan85
  - May 19, 2018 at 7:23 PM
  - Stan85
  - May 25, 2018 at 4:38 AM
3. Replies
  
  7
  
  Views
  
  7.4k
  
  7
4. Cassius
  May 25, 2018 at 4:38 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. What amount of effort should be put into pursuing pleasure or removing pain? 23
  - 1
  - Kalosyni
  - June 24, 2025 at 7:31 AM
  - Kalosyni
  - July 6, 2025 at 10:14 AM
3. Replies
  
  23
  
  Views
  
  7.6k
  
  23
4. Patrikios
  July 6, 2025 at 10:14 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. 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
3. Replies
  
  5
  
  Views
  
  7.9k
  
  5
4. Cassius
  December 28, 2018 at 10:42 AM

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A Fable on Unattainable Expectations 6

The Normal Curve of Pleasure 5

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

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

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

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

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

A Pleasant Life instead of Pleasure 7

Neither "ataraxia" nor "not ataraxia", but "Joy as the goal" 24

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

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

Why Do We Focus On "Pleasure" as the Goal and the Good, Rather than "Happiness?" 3

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

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

The Meaning of Eudaemonia - "Good Demon" 1

"Objective Morality" 3

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

Things that happen after we die 7

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

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

Pleasure vs pain - example and thoughts! 10

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

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

Epicurean virtues listed by importance 8

Some Epicurean conclusions 7

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

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

Epicurus And Pleasure As The Awareness Of Smooth Motion 14

After Religion and Death, The Third Greatest Threat To Happiness As The Highest Goal of Life 5

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Finding Things At EpicureanFriends.com

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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