Posts by Kalosyni

  • "Zines' - By Kalosyni

    I just remembered that this came up in a different thread, and found this good outline for a zine, by Don:

  • "Zines' - By Kalosyni

    I am thinking about making zines which could be handed out at meet-up groups (or any where). Zines could feature short sayings and/or basic outlines of some good points in Epicurean philosophy.

    If you have anything you think should be in a zine, please add it here to this thread. And you are welcome to create your own zines as well, and share them on this thread.

    To read about the history and art of making a zine, click here.

    For a simple folded one page zine, click here.

  • Importance of Cultivating Friendships and Further Advice

    Meditations on the importance of friendship -- this writing by Michele Pinto (which I just discovered today) starts off with an idea of solitary happiness and then moves forward to cite Epicurean references on friendship and the importance of friendship.

    Quote

    Epicurus traveled to friends, and wrote letters such as these: "I am quite ready, if you do not come to see me, to spin thrice on my own axis and be propelled to any place that you, including Themista, agree upon." (U 125), "The way in which you have provided for me in the matter of sending the grain was godlike and magnificent, and you have given tokens of your regard for me that reach to high heaven." (U 183).

    Epicurus and his friends worked to build a network of relations throughout Greece, so much so that the wise man of the Garden came to sing: "Friendship dances around the world, bidding us all to awaken to the recognition of happiness!” (VS 52).

    Friendship is therefore an essential ingredient in the recipe of happiness, so much so that Epicurus no longer speaks of the happiness of the wise, but of the happiness of the community of friends: "As many as possess the power to procure complete immunity from their neighbours, these also live most pleasantly with one another, since they have the most certain pledge of security, and, after they have enjoyed the fullest intimacy, they do not lament the previous departure of a dead friend, as though he were to be pitied." (PD 40) and "The noble soul occupies itself with wisdom and friendship; of these, the one is a mortal good, the other immortal." (SV 78).

    Blog Article

    Michele Pinto: "Friendship: A Natural And Necessary Desire"

    Inspired by the considerations on the Epicurean friendship of Phillp Mithis in the book "The Ethical Theory of Epicurus - The pleasures of Invulnerability," I want to summarize the thought of Epicurus on friendship, trying to use his own words as much as possible, and adding mine where necessary. I am indebted to Carlo Diano because his thematic collection of Epicurus's maxims was essential. The first Epicurean festival, whose general theme was about friendship, was also very useful. I thank

    …
    Cassius
    November 1, 2019 at 3:38 PM

  • Let's explore and reclaim pleasure

    For easier reading, here is my list in simple text format:

    1. Pleasant sensations - sights, sounds, flavors, scents, skin sensations

    2. Pleasant relief - from hunger/thirst; hot/cold; sickness/pain; fear/worry; fatigue/stress

    3. Enjoyment of vigor and health - in bodily movement or exertion

    4. Enjoyment of novelty - of sensation, new places, new friends, new information, new learning

    5. Enjoyment of possessions and the act of acquiring the objects of necessity, well-being, security, or enjoyment

    6. Enjoyment of skill, craft, or work - competence of control of tools, technology, or knowledge

    7. Enjoyment of friendship - conversation, commonality, emotional intimacy and support, and mutual fun

    8. Enjoyment of community - participation, acceptance, and belonging

    9. Enjoyment of sports and games

    10. Enjoyment of aesthetics - art, music, theater, world culture

    11. Enjoyment of pleasant memories

    12. Enjoyment of imagination and anticipation

    13. Enjoyment of leadership and teaching

    14. Enjoyment of giving - service and aid

    15. Enjoyment of loving and gratitude

    16. Enjoyment of relaxation - solitude, meditation, sleep

  • Let's explore and reclaim pleasure

    Quote

    Interoception is the perception of sensations from inside the body and includes the perception of physical sensations related to internal organ function such as heart beat, respiration, satiety, as well as the autonomic nervous system activity related to emotions

    That is a great article Don (I read a portion and definitely want to read all of it).

    Here is a quick sketch of something less "woo-woo" -- though it leaves a lot out and would be open to hearing feedback or additional ideas for labels, etc. And may need to show how to integrate of feelings, emotions, sensations, desires, etc.

  • Let's explore and reclaim pleasure

    It just came to me that there could be a kind of map of pleasure in the body, based on the chakra system. Seeing this as a mix of mental awareness, emotion, and physical sensation. Even as materialists we can have a kind of understanding of "spirit" as arising out of, and dependent upon, the material elements. And would also say that chakras need not be something "otherworldly" but just a way of thinking about the combined energies of the body and mind.

    I found this article, which covers all the chakras:

    The 7 Chakras and Their Connection to Pleasure
    A brief intro
    staceyherrera.medium.com

    Here are some good excerpts:

  • Article by Voorhoeve: Epicurus on Pleasure, A Complete Life, and Death: A Defense

    I haven't read the full article from the first post, but just the excerpts shown. This thread brings up a lots of good issues, and good contrasts:

    I still believe that Epicureanism can be understood and applied in two ways, according to one's disposition:

    1) pleasure (and pain) as guiding choice and avoidance, and living a full social lifestyle, from an extroverted disposition and a physically visceral experience.

    2) pleasure (and pain) as guiding choice and avoidance, and living a quiet and reserved lifestyle, from an introverted disposition and a mentally rich experience.

    So how you choose to live most pleasantly is coming from your in-born nature (or nurtured) disposition.

    Also, there are some of us who have come through early life trauma, and so we need a more "therapeutic" approach -- this means that without a certain amount of tranquility we will feel too troubled to fully experience pleasure. Also, if we are confronted by unkind, or anxious, troubled people, then that can pull us down. So it depends on circumstances. And we need support from a gentle and loving Epicurean community.

    I will need to re-read various posts above again, and may say more :)

  • What holds me back from embracing EP

    Quote from EricR

    It is this question that holds me back from buying into EP fully since I see other ideas such as the eastern notion that "all is Mind (consciousness or spirit)" as among those other ways of seeing the structure of reality.

    I will quietly and gently ask you to consider:

    Will understanding the hidden structure of reality help you live a happy life? Will it help you make good decisions? Will it give you motivation to pursue what is natural and necessary for happiness?

    About my own experience -- I found that "eastern notions" of reality caused me to feel like giving up on life (no need to do, just be) and so they didn't work as a path toward happiness, for me.

    And yet maybe for you, there is something that does work for you in "eastern notions of reality"...and if for you it leads to a happy and content life, then you should continue on with it :)

    Quote from EricR

    So, do Epicureans know there are only atoms and void, or do they believe this.


    I think of reality as a "fully material universe" -- just as Don put it. So no heaven, no rebirth, just this very life, with all its simplicity, feeling the body, feeling the breath, and everything continually unfolding in awareness.

    Maybe an Epicurean would say "Life is body and mind joyfully dancing toward pleasure, and calmly walking away from pain."

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

    Quote from Joshua

    "The poorest person in the world is the person with the..."

    And now I am wondering about the happiest person?

    The happiest person in the world is the person who:

    1. Sleeps soundly and dreams good dreams at night

    2. Wakes up feeling refreshed and enthusiastically leaps out of bed with a smile

    3. Drinks a single cup of coffee with breakfast every morning and feels mentally sharp

    4. Lives unknown yet surrounded by loving friends and family

    5. Has an enjoyable work, craft, or hobby

    6. Lives according to basic simple human needs (lives free from societal pressures for wealth, status, and fancy house and clothing)

    7. Studies, or keeps in mind, the principles of a happy and pleasurable life together with like-minded friends and family

    8. Every day does one or more pleasurable activities:

    a. a meal shared with family/friends

    b. an engaging discussion on wise philosophy

    c. a conversation sharing of happy past memories

    d. a conversation describing gratitude or savoring of a current good thing (a lovely view at the local park, beautiful flowers in bloom down at the street corner, the best cheese now available for purchase at the grocery store, etc.)

    e. enjoying nature -- an enjoyable stroll either in delicious solitude, or as lively boisterous hike with friends

    f. enjoyable sensations -- such as a bath or shower, and then the feeling of enjoyment of nice moisturizer or ointments for the body (even simply using coconut oil), a good stretch of the body, a nice cool glass of water on a hot day,....etc. etc. etc.

    9. Feels at ease and content with life (is not troubled by stress, worries, fears, or feelings of being "too busy")

    10. Has deep and supportive relationships with friends and family, which arise out of an agreeable disposition -- exhibiting kindness, friendliness, good-will, patience, curiousity, benevolence, honesty, trust-worthiness, and optimism, etc.


    Is there anything else to add to this list?

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

    Quote from Martin

    We use our knowledge and experience to estimate whether it is likely that the considered action produces the desired outcome and that this outcome actually produces the expected pleasure. A severely adverse outcome needs to be expected to be very unlikely to take the risk.

    We consider this for all feasible options we would consider and choose the one which appears to be the most efficient or which we simply like the most among several good options.

    We should not worry too much about actually hitting the maximum pleasure. It is enough if the result provides considerable net pleasure which is worth the pain in preparations or consequences.

    Thank you Martin :) And I think this looks like a mix of reason and intuition, which is helpful for me to see. With certain decisions we will want to take into account and consider our values regarding safety and economic costs -- which makes sense with big important decisions.

    Don and Joshua, hedons and dolors, and these Bentham variables are generally only in regard to bodily sensations? And I would propose that the phrase "hedonic calculus" is good for bodily sensation, such as to decide if one would benefit from a second helping at dinnertime -- or how likely will a second helping cause one to feel unpleasantly full -- but then the shortcoming here is that one could still gain too much weight over time because the brain often delays the fullness signal (and it is a subjective decision about what weight is unhealthy). Over-eating makes one feel sleepy and lethargic. Extra pounds make exercise more difficult. You could argue regarding the "extent" -- everyone you know and who sees you will judge whether or not you are carrying extra pounds. You are what you eat in that sense. Also this shows how the variables aren't broad enough, because of extended time and personal values. There is a time component missing and a long-term happiness or long-term pain variable.

    But when it comes to purely mental pleasures, then instead of the phrase "calculus of advantage" maybe the phrase "calculus of enjoyment"? -- Such as when deciding which hobbies to pursue, since we only have limited time.

  • Rarely read writer DeCasseres on Epicurus' great discovery

    Thank you @EricR, your last thread helps clarify "egoist" and "egoism" -- as being the way of being which comes out of the internal subjective feeling of a given person.

    Quote from EricR

    I don't know what you mean by "the fullness of joy". But whatever it exactly is, the statement seems to indicate that one cannot experience it without other people. I have deep, satisfying, complete feeling experiences on my own all the time so I must differ on this point.

    Okay, that is good to know, and reminds me that everyone has individual preferences and experiences, and so I need to be more careful before I assume a given level of social involvement as being best for everyone.

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

    There are different levels of choices in life. There are simple everyday decisions that we can easily use our "gut" to decide, such as whether to cook beans or chicken for dinner. And many simple decisions don't cause much of a long-term impact.

    But for big life decisions, it can require some decision making "calculus". And some big decisions can be very difficult to make when they are "hard choices" -- meaning that either one will greatly impact your life, but yet neither one seems better than the other (both are on par).

    The only way through is to ask yourself "Who do I want to be?" -- to see that each choice will create something new in your life. Then you commit to get behind that choice to become that person. (These ideas come from Ruth Chang, professor of jurisprudence at the University of Oxford).

    I still think there is something useful about the "hedonic calculus"... Martin, you are really good with explaining "hedonic calculus" for big decisions, can you help out by adding in your explanation to this thread?

  • Rarely read writer DeCasseres on Epicurus' great discovery

    Quote from EricR

    "And Mind entered the skull of Epicurus, the Goethe of antiquity -

    "The meaning of Life is Life itself"...

    The mind of Epicurus had made a tremendous discovery, the greatest that had ever been made - that the will-to-live and the will-to-pleasure are one. Whatever lives, lives for egoistic gratification."

    I would add that "egoistic gratification" cannot come to the fullness of joy and will not be completely pleasurable unless we join together with others in friendship and savoring of life -- we would then come to let go of a hyper self-focused individualism, and would learn that the mutual consideration of others within a community leads to the greatest ease and enjoyment in life -- and come to see that other's needs are equally important as our own -- the greatest pleasure arises when we interdependently "feed" each other -- but this depends on the safety and trust in a private community kepos. (This is just a vision I see of a well-established Epicurean philosophy garden).

  • Tetrapharmakos in Philodemus's On Choices and Rejections

    Quote from Don

    The gods provide no reason to fear them... because they're not motivated by anger or gratitude.

    Death is to be approached with no suspicion... because we don't exist after we die.

    The Good is easily obtained... because of the reasons laid out in various texts.

    The Terrible is easily endured... because ditto.

    The first two are easy (in my mind) but the last two are difficult.

    Are there threads that we can cross reference to the "the good is easily obtained" and "the terrible is easily endured"? At times it seems that these last two depend on using stoic "mind over matter"?

  • Toward a Future Kepos 2022 and Beyond

    As I think of the future, my goal is to create some type of in person Epicurean philosophy group. Ideally this would take place at an "Epicurean Church" which would come into existence after a core group of people become dedicated toward making that a reality. Otherwise it will be a weekly meet-up type group, which would be held at coffeehouses or other public places.

    I see a way to teach "mini-courses" which address common everyday issues, using and pointing back to wise sayings of the Principle Doctrines/Vatican Sayings, Diogenes Laertius book 10 regarding the wise man, and Cicero's Torquatus presentation on Epicurean teachings.

    The mini-courses would be on such topics as the following:

    1) Increasing daily pleasure

    2) Reducing fear and worry

    3) Eliminating superstitious thinking

    4) Friendship 101 (could be a much longer course)

    5) Choice and avoidance in decision making

    6) Cultivating joy and the the attitude of savoring

    7) Healthy diet and exercise for long-term self-sufficency

    8 ) Dealing with death and mourning

    9) Kepos - developing, maintaining, and enhancing community well-being (could be a much longer course)

    10) Modern science and the scientific process

    11) Living ethically

    12) Enjoying nature

    13) Ancient Epicurean canonics and epistemology

    14) Ancient Epicurean physics

    15) Study of ancient Epicurean texts (could be an on-going course)

    16) Epicurean book study groups (on-going)

    17) Party planning committee - information sharing festivals, annual symposium, weekly potlucks, monthy 20th celebration, and other planning (on-going)

    If anyone has any other ideas, comments, or questions, please share.

    Also, if anyone would like to help create this and feels that their city would be a good place for an "Epicurean Church", then please let me know, since I am looking to relocate to any place that is more likely to support a real kepos. We would start with meet-ups and then see where we can go from there.

  • An Article on Epicurean Views of Marriage From An Interesting Source Website.

    I just read the first few pages and must say: THIS IS INCORRECT for a number of reasons:

    A modern marriage won't last if it is just based on sex. The article doesn't define the word "love" and in the way it is used it appears to mean "naive lust". It doesn't take into consideration that people marry for companionship. After the sex drive inevitably cools down a bit, then hopefully you have found yourself someone who is a "partner in fun", meaning someone with whom you can enjoy fun things and the simple pleasures of life together. Unfortunately the modern world is so individualized and compartmentalized that only the extremely extroverted people can manage to live happily without being married (because their extroverted nature helps them have a wide range of friends so that they are never lonely). So marriage for introverted quiet people is important for the simple sake of friendship.

Finding Things At EpicureanFriends.com

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