Posts by Kalosyni

  • Registered user private conversations

    I don't know if there is a glitch in the software, but at times it appears that private conversations (private messages) go "unread"... and there could be one of the following causes:

    1. The android version of the forum doesn't make it very obvious when there is a new private conversation...and either the notification isn't seen or it isn't even showing a notification.

    2. The individual is "ignoring" the little red dot that indicates that there is a new message.

    3. The message has been read, but the system is registering it as "unread".

    So...just a heads up to newer members...to double-check for new private conversations. :)

  • July 1, 2024 - First Monday Philosophy Discussion - Agenda

    Hi Everyone, Coming up next Monday on July 1st is our next "First Monday Epicurean Philosophy Hour - Meet-and-Greet and Discussion" - Via Zoom, 8pm ET.

    Open to all forum members! And we especially invite those who are new to the forum! This is a great way to meet, converse, and engage with others who are studying the philosophy of Epicurus.

    Agenda:

    • Welcome (and introductions)
    • Discuss some of the lastest popular threads on the forum
    • Special discussion topic (includes a very short presentation to introduce the topic)

    This month's topic: "Guilty pleasures"? From PD8 to Seneca's "Do everything as if Epicurus were watching you."

    We'll be using the same link as last month.

    If you have not yet attended a Zoom, please let us know here if you are interested (or send a private message to Cassius or myself) and we will get the link to you by private message (no later than the day before the meeting).

    Looking forward to seeing you there! :)

  • Estimation of Category Breakdown of Extant Texts

    Then the next question is how much time to invest in each category? But this will be different for each person, depending on how important they feel it is to know details, as well as if they enjoy the study of science.

    For myself, I'm thinking something like this, regarding how much time to invest:

    Natural Science - 20% (My reasoning is that every modern person went to school (and many of us went to college) and so we are already familiar with important aspects of science and physics. It actually might make sense to spend some time reviewing the modern understanding of the physics of atoms, etc, if we want accurate details on which to base our materialist view).

    Canonics - 20% (I am still currently in the process of trying to understand Epicurean canonics, and this section would also include how to make inferences.)

    Ethics - 60% (Vain is the word of the philosopher which does not heal any suffering of man. (...and does not lead to a good life). This is where the importance is at, for me.)

    And, this is all relevant to creating teaching materials, because each person could put more or less importance on each category...thereby creating a very different outline for study.

  • High-Quality Narration of: Cicero - On the Ends of Good and Evil

    I very much enjoy this reading by Joshua...there is so much here on the forum that it may not have been noticed:

    Post

    RE: New Audio Version of Torquatus' Presentation of Epicurean Ethics - Read By Joshua

    We are very pleased to be able to present to you, here at the end of 2021, one of the best and most helpful audio presentations of an ancient Epicurean text available anywhere.

    youtu.be/ZVGgP55_wUY


    The "Torquatus" narrative of Epicurean Philosophy found in Book One of Cicero's "On Ends" is probably the most detailed and important summaries of Epicurean Ethics that survives from the ancient world. In important respects it is more detailed and clear than even Epicurus' own "Letter to Menoeceus."…
    Cassius
    December 28, 2021 at 7:54 PM

  • Episode 234 - Cicero's OTNOTG - 09 - Dealing With Marcus Aurelius And The Canonical Basis For the Epicurean View Of Divinity

    The following post is a reposting from last night's zoom thread:

    Thinking that perhaps my "prolepsis" of the phrase "canon of truth" is incorrect, especially if it is really refering not to "truth" but to aletheia:

    Aletheia is variously translated as "unconcealedness", "disclosure", "revealing", or "unclosedness". The literal meaning of the word ἀ–λήθεια is "the state of not being hidden; the state of being evident." It also means factuality or reality.

    Source: Wikipedia

    ---------------

    So the canon is not the method of how we get to "that which is true" but how we get to "that which is revealed"... am I wrong in this?

  • New "Medium" Post Referencing Epicurus and "Living For Pleasure"

    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:

    Quote

    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.

    Quote

    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.

    ***********

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

  • Favorite Translation of Lucretius

    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 !)

  • Default Theme Update - June 8, 2024

    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). :)

  • Default Theme Update - June 8, 2024

    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":

Finding Things At EpicureanFriends.com

Here is a list of suggested search strategies:

  • Website Overview page - clickable links arrranged by cards.
  • Forum Main Page - list of forums and subforums arranged by topic. Threads are posted according to relevant topics. The "Uncategorized subforum" contains threads which do not fall into any existing topic (also contains older "unfiled" threads which will soon be moved).
  • Search Tool - icon is located on the top right of every page. Note that the search box asks you what section of the forum you'd like to search. If you don't know, select "Everywhere."
  • Search By Key Tags - curated to show frequently-searched topics.
  • Full Tag List - an alphabetical list of all tags.