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. - Replies
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    - Author
    - Date
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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. '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. Should Epicurus be viewed as a pure consequentialist, virtue ethicist, or both? 14
  - wbernys
  - May 7, 2026 at 8:21 PM
  - wbernys
  - May 8, 2026 at 7:32 PM
3. Replies
  
  14
  
  Views
  
  1.3k
  
  14
4. Don
  May 8, 2026 at 7:32 PM
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. 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. 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. 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
  - 3
  - Cassius
  - January 1, 2024 at 7:03 AM
  - Cassius
  - January 27, 2024 at 5:25 PM
3. Replies
  
  15
  
  Views
  
  8.4k
  
  15
4. Eikadistes
  January 27, 2024 at 5:25 PM
2. Valueless Virtue in Modern Stoicism 16
  - 3
  - Matt
  - January 10, 2019 at 8:48 AM
  - Matt
  - January 22, 2019 at 6:28 PM
3. Replies
  
  16
  
  Views
  
  13k
  
  16
4. Condorcet
  January 22, 2019 at 6:28 PM
2. Would There Be Benefit In Adapting the "Benjamin Franklin Journaling Model" To Our Discussion of Practical Exercises? 16
  - Cassius
  - July 8, 2021 at 11:07 AM
  - Cassius
  - July 12, 2021 at 12:26 PM
3. Replies
  
  16
  
  Views
  
  10k
  
  16
4. A_Gardner
  July 12, 2021 at 12:26 PM
2. Scientific Support for Psychological Hedonism 19
  - 4
  - kochiekoch
  - April 19, 2024 at 1:43 PM
  - kochiekoch
  - April 23, 2024 at 8:04 PM
3. Replies
  
  19
  
  Views
  
  12k
  
  19
4. Little Rocker
  April 23, 2024 at 8:04 PM
2. As to the Term "Hedonic Calculus" or the "Calculus of Advantage" 22
  - 1
  - Cassius
  - February 27, 2022 at 7:26 AM
  - Cassius
  - March 1, 2022 at 12:03 PM
3. Replies
  
  22
  
  Views
  
  12k
  
  22
4. Godfrey
  March 1, 2022 at 12:03 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. 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. 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. 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. Tips On Offsetting Pleasures Against Pains 24
  - 1
  - Cassius
  - November 28, 2023 at 8:27 AM
  - Cassius
  - November 29, 2023 at 9:56 AM
3. Replies
  
  24
  
  Views
  
  12k
  
  24
4. Cassius
  November 29, 2023 at 9:56 AM
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. 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. Are You Epicurean Or Hieronymian? 26
  - 1
  - Cassius
  - October 1, 2019 at 2:08 PM
  - Cassius
  - June 30, 2022 at 5:44 AM
3. Replies
  
  26
  
  Views
  
  23k
  
  26
4. Cassius
  June 30, 2022 at 5:44 AM
2. We Need A Game Show With A Lightning Round Question: "Happiness or Pleasure? - Why?" 28
  - 1
  - Cassius
  - February 2, 2023 at 8:16 PM
  - Cassius
  - February 5, 2023 at 3:43 PM
3. Replies
  
  28
  
  Views
  
  13k
  
  28
4. Little Rocker
  February 5, 2023 at 3:43 PM
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. 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. Multiple Components Comprise the Epicurean Life 30
  - 1
  - Kalosyni
  - October 21, 2021 at 7:59 PM
  - Kalosyni
  - October 23, 2021 at 1:53 PM
3. Replies
  
  30
  
  Views
  
  17k
  
  30
4. Godfrey
  October 23, 2021 at 1:53 PM
2. Is pleasure as the natural goal of life falsifiable? 30
  - 1
  - waterholic
  - December 8, 2022 at 6:08 AM
  - waterholic
  - February 10, 2023 at 11:02 PM
3. Replies
  
  30
  
  Views
  
  17k
  
  30
4. Don
  February 10, 2023 at 11:02 PM
2. Is All "Ataraxia" Equal? 30
  - Cassius
  - November 18, 2023 at 7:47 PM
  - Cassius
  - February 19, 2024 at 12:29 PM
3. Replies
  
  30
  
  Views
  
  17k
  
  30
4. Cassius
  February 19, 2024 at 12:29 PM
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. 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. 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. Why Minimizing All Desire Is Incorrect (And What To Do Instead) 34
  - 5
  - Kalosyni
  - December 4, 2024 at 11:15 AM
  - Kalosyni
  - December 8, 2024 at 2:08 PM
3. Replies
  
  34
  
  Views
  
  13k
  
  34
4. Cassius
  December 8, 2024 at 2:08 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

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Epicurean Golden Rule? 14

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

Should Epicurus be viewed as a pure consequentialist, virtue ethicist, or both? 14

Epicurean Freedom. Enslavement by culture. The mob. 15

Epicureans On Kingship 15

Fundamental Issues In Hedonism 15

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

Valueless Virtue in Modern Stoicism 16

Would There Be Benefit In Adapting the "Benjamin Franklin Journaling Model" To Our Discussion of Practical Exercises? 16

Scientific Support for Psychological Hedonism 19

As to the Term "Hedonic Calculus" or the "Calculus of Advantage" 22

How has the word epicurean come to mean excess? 22

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

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

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

Tips On Offsetting Pleasures Against Pains 24

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

Is All Desire Painful? How Would Epicurus Answer? 25

Are You Epicurean Or Hieronymian? 26

We Need A Game Show With A Lightning Round Question: "Happiness or Pleasure? - Why?" 28

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

On "Desires" And Their Relationship To Pleasure 30

Multiple Components Comprise the Epicurean Life 30

Is pleasure as the natural goal of life falsifiable? 30

Is All "Ataraxia" Equal? 30

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

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

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

Why Minimizing All Desire Is Incorrect (And What To Do Instead) 34

Pleasure, Desire and Limits 36

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