Posts by Kalosyni

Quote from Cassius

At least that's the way I would interpret the "Captain Kirk perspective" on Epicurean philosophy - do everything possible to achieve more pleasure than pain, and push the envelope as far as you can on what is possible, because you're not going to get a second chance.

This may be slightly off-topic... but the problem with "Captain Kirk" is that he is a fictional character, and the on-going story gives him a kind of "immortality" - if he dies then the story ends - so he can't die for the sake of entertainment. In real life, the people who take on certain actions with great risks do end up dying due to events taking a bad turn. Also, I see him as a being like a "modern stoic".

Just yesterday I was reading over the Ethics section of the Wall of Diogenes of Oinoanda, at this website:

The inscripion

It is so fascinating how the maxiums of Epicurus are there, and it must have been magnificient in its original form. The phrasing is slightly different on some so it helps with a fuller cognition.

Very interesting to see Martin Ferguson Smith and the wall in this video released in 2015 (same video was recently posted in other thread by TauPhi):

Perhaps the gods could be this kind of "preconception". This occurred to me as I was looking at an old book cover.

Face pareidolia - spotting faces in objects that have none. Pareidolia is a mistake of the mind, part of a human tendency to perceive patterns in random circumstances.

Some simplified ideas:

1. All cultures have had conceptions of gods that they worshipped.

2. The gods have no influence on our lives.

3. Since the conception of gods is everywhere (especially so in Epicurus' time), we should take it upon ourselves to think about them as living blessed lives as a result of their perfectly virtuous and incorruptible nature.

Cassius That statement by Atticus according to Cicero could indicate a later development. We know that in Epicurus' will in Diogenes Laertius Book X, that Epicurus asked that Metrodorus and Epicurus' brothers be commemorated, not just himself (...or this could be part of a rhetorical ploy by Cicero).

We have a good thread already started for discussion on organizing communities:

Thread

Thoughts and Discussion on Organizing Epicurean Community

This is a thread to explore ideas about organizing and developing Epicurean community. Any one can add any thoughts or ideas about this.

Who are we?

What do we need or want?

What are we hoping for?

Here is an interesting article excerpt:

[…]

In the future we could become a registered non-profit, but we need to clarify what it is we are doing and what we want to see happen within our Epicurean community.

Also perhaps we have differing viewpoints or ideas about what we want?

Who are we?

What do we need or…

Kalosyni

September 15, 2022 at 7:31 PM

Quote from Don

When this conversation bubbles up, I have to ask: What reconstruction or recreation are you envisioning or anticipating?

I think that there are as many dreams of a modern "Kepos" as there are individuals who enjoy Epicurus, and to create any kind of organization would require a leader (or leaders) who can clarify the Epicurean philosophy in such a way that a group of people find it appealing and worthwhile to join together to study and discuss (and to have shared 20th meals ).

So would modern science include 1, 2, and 4 from Bryan's list in post 15?

If you want to give your mind some direct interaction with regard to the consideration of what is possible and what is impossible, try watching a "sci-fi/fantasy" movie.

In fact, just last night I watched a sci-fi movie that had all sorts of impossible things happening.

Now in our current world we have technology built upon science. But science is a complicated thing in itself. And science uses concepts, models, and theories.

Quote

Concept

I have this concept of a unicorn in my thoughts. I know unicorns do not exist but I have this idea of what they would look like if they existed

Model

I had this model made to make it easy to explain my concept. You can see from my model my concept idea looks like a horse with a horn growing from the forehead

Theory

I have a theory that unicorns might exist on other planets and that is where our concept of unicorns comes from. I intend to test my multiple ideas into the theory of unicorns on our planets by checking people who think about unicorns and what planets they also think of. Perhaps I can narrow it down to 1 planet

Concept - Generally (there can be exceptions) a idea about something which does not exist or a idea about something which might exist if we build it

Model - Build a model or make a drawing to show what the concept will look like if made

Theory - A collection of ideas which can be arranged or linked together to produce a new idea which can be tested to see if agrees with reality

(Source)

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Here is an interesting read:

List of existing technologies predicted in science fiction - Wikipedia

Forecast just for Don and kochiekoch ...but they say you need to get out from the city lights.

Also, this website has Aurora forecast (for US):

Homepage | NOAA / NWS Space Weather Prediction Center

Joshua Tonight, the aurora borealis may be viewable for you:

Take a look up at the sky this weekend, Iowa. You may see the northern lights

A severe geomagnetic storm is predicted for Friday evening. That means an aurora borealis may be visible. Here's how you can see it in Iowa.

www.desmoinesregister.com

A G4 storm this weekend!

Just saw this:

Quote

Koine Greek, the variety of Greek used after the conquests of Alexander the Great in the fourth century BC, is sometimes included in Ancient Greek, but its pronunciation is described in Koine Greek phonology.

Source: Wikipedia

I found this in Reddit, a sub-Reddit forum dedicated to learning ancient Greek.

Pacatus ...just this morning I found a 1947 edition in the attic and this link shows what it is, and it is illustrated by Mahmoud Sayah:

Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam by Omar, Khayyam, Edward Fitzgerald on Blind Horse Books

New York: Random House, 1947. Mahmoud Sayah. Hardcover. Translated into English Quatrains by Edward Fitzgerald, a complete reprint of the first edition and the…

www.blindhorsebooks.com

Now I will be able to read real pages...and can verify what parts are Epicurean!

Golbach a link has been sent to you by private message. Looking forward to meeting you at tonight's meeting.

It seems to me that the "conversations notification" is not very noticeable, and then when a member logs onto the forum very quickly, they don't notice that they have received a private message.

I sent a message and it shows that the person was "online" but it still shows that they did not read my message.

This happens with new members in particular, it seems.

Golbach Welcome to the forum! You might enjoy listening to the podcast interview of Emily Austin (if you haven't already):

Episode 156 Part One

Episode 157 Part Two

Coming up Monday night 8pm ET - for our First Monday Epicurean Philosophy Discussion - Via Zoom - We will discuss what place ambition has within an Epicurean lifestyle.

There are two shades of meaning for the word "ambition" so this is important to take into consideration. It can refer to any kind of aspiration or it can refer to something to do with career, gaining wealth, power, or fame. Since we already understand that Epicurus refers to power and fame as vain desires, then for Monday night's discussion I am wanting to refer to ambition as "a strong wish to achieve something" (see the Cambridge Dictionary online).

From the Cambridge Dictionary:

B1 [ C ]

a strong wish to achieve something:

Synonyms

aim (INTENTION)

aspiration (HOPE)

dream (HOPE)

goal (AIM)

hope

intent formal or specialized

intention

object (PURPOSE)

objective

target (AIM)

B2 [ U ]

a strong wish to be successful, powerful, rich, etc.:

Welcome to the forum Julia

Here is our discussion topic for this next Monday evening, First Monday Zoom meeting:

"What place does ambition have within the practical application of Epicurean philosophy?"

Thomas Jefferson wrote to William Short the following:

"I take the liberty of observing that you are not a true disciple of our master Epicurus, in indulging the indolence to which you say you are yielding. One of his canons, you know, was that “that indulgence which prevents a greater pleasure, or produces a greater pain, is to be avoided.” Your love of repose will lead, in its progress, to a suspension of healthy exercise, a relaxation of mind, an indifference to everything around you, and finally to a debility of body, and hebetude of mind, the farthest of all things from the happiness which the well-regulated indulgences of Epicurus ensure; fortitude, you know is one of his four cardinal virtues. That teaches us to meet and surmount difficulties; not to fly from them, like cowards; and to fly, too, in vain, for they will meet and arrest us at every turn of our road. Weigh this matter well; brace yourself up; take a seat with Correa, and come and see the finest portion of your country, which, if you have not forgotten, you still do not know, because it is no longer the same as when you knew it."

I will bring some thought provoking questions to spur on the discussion.

We'll be using the same Zoom link as previous meetings (and I will send out a meeting reminder before the meeting).

For anyone who has not attended previously and wishes to join us, please let us know here in this thread and we will get the Zoom link to you by private message.

Looking forward to seeing you there!