Posts by Kalosyni

This article by Thompson is somewhat typical of pop-psychology / self-help articles, which aim to bring up tips for living well.

And so it brings in a feeling of eclecticism, for example when it mentions Sam Harris, and further ideas.

Overall there is a chance that it may end up causing someone misunderstand some of the deeper details of Epicurean philosophy.

And this struck me as an odd thing to think, unless you were sick on your deathbed:

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In Epicurean terms, the desire to live also falls on this spectrum. Tomorrow can be thought of as an Extravagant desire. We would welcome it and enjoy it if it comes, but it’s not Essential. All our tomorrows are extravagances.

So that gives an idea of not to be concerned about the future, and it seems contradictory a few paragraphs further down by saying you will consider yourself like a future friend.

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Secondly, to avoid suffering and seek pleasure for ourselves in the future.
This means balancing things that might be enjoyable in the moment with the suffering that might bring down the line. You can almost think of your future self like a friend, and think of how your actions might affect them.

And also the part which talks about "needs" has some issues that muddy up the waters. I may have more to say on that later.

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Edit note: Edited this greatly to increase clarity at 4:32pm ET.

I've now listened to an audio recording of Humphries' translation a number of times (by Charlton Griffin), and have gotten much more acclimated to it. (Perhaps it is now my favorite version). In Book 2 at the section which starts out: "Much poorer men are every bit as happy,", and a few lines from there in the audio version I thought I heard him say "beaver's heat departs no sooner..." but just today when reading the printed version I see it actually says "fever's heat". (Just some idle musings of summertime, and which was an lol !)

HollyGraves Welcome to the forum!

Quote from Julia

I just think it should be somehow specific, ...

Julia Let me know if there is something you'd like to see in a theme (describe some specific images), and I could create it.

Julia the new theme that Cassius made is the third in the drop-down list (unless there is some kind of restricted setting)...let us know if you still don't see it.

Quote from Julia

PS: I keep thinking we should have some original artwork somehow…not that I'd be able to do it... ......... somehow specific, instead of generic (stock photos, by their very nature, are all somehow generic

I totally agree, and as far as I currently understand, Cassius has mentioned that he prefers a clean and simple "default" page for everyone who is not signed into the forum, and he mentioned that once someone becomes a member then they can choose a different theme. I've been working on some fun Epicurean themes, and I know they are not quite up to the best quality yet (low resolution images and in need of better design layout)...but will be working to improve them within the next two weeks, plus maybe will add a few new options).

Thinking now that this could make a good "First Monday" discussion topic.

Here is a very good article:

https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2024/06/15/nx-s1-5006168/guilty-pleasure-meaning-brain-science

Not sure if this translator is useful, or has already been mentioned:

Akhos Morphology

Quote from Julia

using Dark Reader (a browser plugin)

Thanks for posting about how to use that to adjust to dark mode.

I am on a tablet that is running android, so I would need to see if there is an app for that.

I changed the black background to a blue-gray background (it has a mix of blue, gray, and black) and the theme name is:

"Ambiance Simple Blue-Gray Dark":

New theme:

"Ambiance Blue Plain Black"

Let me know if I should make the black background slightly less black (a ting of gray).

Quote from Cassius

new theme on request of Martin - it is labeled A-Default-Widescreen.

It's the same as the current default theme (Inspire) but it will go to 100% page width no matter how wide your screen might be - so there should be little if any background image visible to the right or left side of the screen.

It shows a narrow border of gray on my tablet, but it is wider format than the default theme.

(*edit)

Welcome to the forum David!

You may like this short "powerpoint" presentation (if you haven't already seen it):

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Seven Steps With Epicurus - A Slide Presentation

epicureanfriends.com/wcf/attachment/3636/

As part of our collaborative work toward an "Epicurean Week" we have come up with a series of "power-point" slides which introduce the philosophy in seven simple steps. The formulation here may change over time as we fine tune this as part of our course materials. This will eventually be expanded into a "7 Weeks with Epicurus". Questions and comments are welcome. Click here for the presentation or you can just click on the graphic above to begin the…

Cassius

April 4, 2023 at 9:31 AM

Quote from David

One particular point that is nagging me a little just now is how energy is (directly or by implication) dealt with in the physics.

Martin maybe can help?

Foxhole theme is now turned off.

The two new themes have been renamed:

- Ambiance Dark Garden

- Inspire Light Garden

(I'm not sure how to make the tiny preview image show in the drop-down list).

Quote from Julia

The Inspire version called "Garden" is nice

Thanks!

Somehow we cross-posted (in that I didn't see your post till after posting).

There is a "slideshow" programmed into that theme for the image across the top (it makes the image move from top to bottom), and not sure how to turn that off (hopefully it isn't a problem).

After an attempt to put a starry night sky in the background of the 'Stars' theme, I decided to scrap that idea (theme has been deleted), because I can't seem to get the right resolution or the right colors (looked too blurry).

Instead there is now a 'Garden' theme, which has olive trees, a bust of Epicurus and a segment of the Wall of Diogenes of Oinaoanda.

Snapshot of the "Stars" theme (which doesn't have stars, lol). This is the same as the default theme but has a blue background and has the water motif removed. The blue may vary depending on your own screen.

Here is a screenshot of a new website theme (I mentioned in previous post), and the logo needs a blue box behind it so that it will show up better (plus other image adjustments).

Cassius thank you for all your time in creating and maintaining this site! Since you installed the new website upgrade (which was at the end of 2023?) and I would guess that the theme background images somehow slipped "into the background" compared to all the other more pressing issues (there is so much going on here with text content and moderation, and the podcast, etc).

Now I am super excited by the realization of the ability to customize the themes, looking forward to further helping out with process. I am sure that we all want the forum to look inviting for visitors and members alike.

I've started working on a possible theme option, and it should be available for signed in members, although the new background will only show up for laptop and tablet views (not cell phones). It is a work in progress still with some tweeking still needed...to try the new theme click on "Kalosyni Ambiance Blue" under the change style option.

Welcome to the forum Remus

Based on your ongoing study and reading, here are some sections which may be of interest to you (if you haven't already seen them):

• Self-Study Quiz

• Draft Your Own Personal Outline of Epicurean Philosophy

  
  

Quote from Julia

But in the interest of growing the community

Yes, and I want to put a vote in for deleting the the rocks/ocean themes, and instead going with more neutral colors in a default light theme.

Perhaps we could set up these options (have only four options):

1. Default light neutral theme

2. Dark neutral theme

4. Greek lettering or De Rerum Natura theme

3. Epicurean garden theme (olive trees, blue sky, and sunshine)