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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List Of Frequently Used Forums
  1. Ancient Epicurean Texts (300 BC to 300 AD)
  2. The Lucretius Today Podcast and other Projects
  3. Study Resources and Activism
  4. Physics - The Nature of the Universe
  5. Canonics - The Tests of Truth: The Five Senses, Anticipations, and Feelings of Pleasure and Pain
  6. Ethics - How to Live As An Epicurean
  7. Uncategorized Section
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  9. Epicurean Historical Figures - Biographies of Epicureans from Epicurus To The Present
  10. Comparisons With Non-Epicurean Philosophies
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  12. Epicurean Symbolism in Art, Music, Literature, and Poetry
  13. Level 03 And Above Discussions
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    2. Spitting Upon the Beautiful... 3

      • Adrastus
      • October 24, 2025 at 4:06 PM
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    4. Cassius

      October 24, 2025 at 4:06 PM

    2. Driving Away Bad Habits "Like Evil Men Who Have Long Done Us Great Harm" (Including Addictions)

      • Cassius
      • April 23, 2025 at 4:17 PM
      • Cassius
      • April 23, 2025 at 4:17 PM
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      571

    2. A Fable on Unattainable Expectations 6

      • Pacatus
      • October 16, 2024 at 5:12 PM
      • Pacatus
      • November 22, 2024 at 11:32 AM
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      2.7k
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    4. Don

      November 22, 2024 at 11:32 AM

    2. Scientific Support for Psychological Hedonism 19

      • kochiekoch
      • April 23, 2024 at 8:04 PM
    3. Replies
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      7.9k
      19

    4. Little Rocker

      April 23, 2024 at 8:04 PM

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

      • Kalosyni
      • December 8, 2024 at 2:08 PM
    3. Replies
      34
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      9.1k
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    4. Cassius

      December 8, 2024 at 2:08 PM

    2. Practical Pleasure-Pain Perspectives: How Different is 99% Pleasure From 100% Pleasure? 13

      • Cassius
      • October 5, 2023 at 12:06 PM
      • Cassius
      • October 6, 2023 at 10:24 AM
    3. Replies
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      8k
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    4. Cassius

      October 6, 2023 at 10:24 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. 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
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      4.3k
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    4. Don

      February 29, 2024 at 12:22 AM

    2. List of Epicurean philosophical remedies

      • Kalosyni
      • November 8, 2023 at 10:52 AM
    3. Replies
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      1.2k

    2. Desiderata 2

      • Pacatus
      • August 2, 2023 at 7:02 PM
      • Pacatus
      • August 2, 2023 at 7:45 PM
    3. Replies
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      1.8k
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    4. Pacatus

      August 2, 2023 at 7:45 PM

    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
      4
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      3.3k
      4

    4. Cassius

      June 9, 2023 at 7:07 AM

    2. Sedley paper on Plato with interesting Epicurean implications 2

      • Don
      • April 30, 2022 at 7:32 AM
      • Don
      • April 30, 2022 at 9:35 AM
    3. Replies
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      2.3k
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    4. Don

      April 30, 2022 at 9:35 AM

    2. Do you believe in psychological hedonism/egoism? Any philosophers on this? 6

      • wbernys
      • October 17, 2025 at 6:18 PM
      • wbernys
      • October 23, 2025 at 12:14 AM
    3. Replies
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      921
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    4. Adrastus

      October 23, 2025 at 12:14 AM

    2. The Normal Curve of Pleasure 5

      • kochiekoch
      • July 23, 2024 at 5:59 PM
    3. Replies
      5
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      3.1k
      5

    4. kochiekoch

      July 23, 2024 at 5:59 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. 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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      Views
      6.3k
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    4. Eikadistes

      January 27, 2024 at 5:25 PM

    2. How has the word epicurean come to mean excess? 22

      • ThinkingCat
      • May 19, 2023 at 6:50 PM
    3. Replies
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      10k
      22

    4. Cassius

      May 19, 2023 at 6:50 PM

    2. Perspectives On "Proving" That Pleasure is "The Good" 209

      • Todd
      • December 19, 2022 at 4:34 PM
      • Todd
      • July 15, 2025 at 12:11 PM
    3. Replies
      209
      Views
      61k
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    4. Matteng

      July 15, 2025 at 12:11 PM

    2. Pleasure, Desire and Limits 36

      • Godfrey
      • July 20, 2022 at 8:34 PM
    3. Replies
      36
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      18k
      36

    4. Godfrey

      July 20, 2022 at 8:34 PM

    2. Wanting vs Liking

      • Elayne
      • January 24, 2021 at 9:05 AM
      • Elayne
      • January 24, 2021 at 9:05 AM
    3. Replies
      0
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      960

    2. Natural versus Unnatural 12

      • Matt
      • December 30, 2020 at 8:54 AM
      • Matt
      • January 10, 2021 at 12:33 PM
    3. Replies
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      7.1k
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    4. Cassius

      January 10, 2021 at 12:33 PM

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

      • Cassius
      • March 23, 2020 at 2:05 AM
      • Cassius
      • December 6, 2025 at 2:41 PM
    3. Replies
      32
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      32

    4. kochiekoch

      December 6, 2025 at 2:41 PM

    2. Valueless Virtue in Modern Stoicism 16

      • Matt
      • January 10, 2019 at 8:48 AM
      • Matt
      • January 22, 2019 at 6:28 PM
    3. Replies
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    4. Condorcet

      January 22, 2019 at 6:28 PM

    2. 'Their God Is The Belly" / "The Root of All Good Is The Pleasure Of The Stomach" And Similar Attributions 13

      • Cassius
      • November 24, 2025 at 9:55 AM
      • Cassius
      • December 11, 2025 at 12:07 AM
    3. Replies
      13
      Views
      1.4k
      13

    4. Joshua

      December 11, 2025 at 12:07 AM

    2. Fundamental Issues In Hedonism 15

      • BrainToBeing
      • December 14, 2023 at 9:52 AM
    3. Replies
      15
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      5.5k
      15

    4. Kalosyni

      December 14, 2023 at 9:52 AM

    2. Tips On Offsetting Pleasures Against Pains 24

      • Cassius
      • November 28, 2023 at 8:27 AM
      • Cassius
      • November 29, 2023 at 9:56 AM
    3. Replies
      24
      Views
      9.8k
      24

    4. Cassius

      November 29, 2023 at 9:56 AM

    2. Pleasure vs pain - example and thoughts! 10

      • ThinkingCat
      • May 21, 2023 at 9:08 PM
    3. Replies
      10
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      5.2k
      10

    4. Don

      May 21, 2023 at 9:08 PM

    2. Is pleasure as the natural goal of life falsifiable? 30

      • waterholic
      • December 8, 2022 at 6:08 AM
      • waterholic
      • February 10, 2023 at 11:02 PM
    3. Replies
      30
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      13k
      30

    4. Don

      February 10, 2023 at 11:02 PM

    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
      3
      Views
      5.4k
      3

    4. Patrikios

      November 16, 2025 at 10:41 AM

    2. Are You Epicurean Or Hieronymian? 26

      • Cassius
      • October 1, 2019 at 2:08 PM
      • Cassius
      • June 30, 2022 at 5:44 AM
    3. Replies
      26
      Views
      18k
      26

    4. Cassius

      June 30, 2022 at 5:44 AM

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