Forum Shortcuts

Regularly Checking In On A Small Screen Device? Bookmark THIS page!

These short-cuts get you quickly to major sections and sub-forums.

Forum MembershipNew member welcome threads | Community Standards and Rules of the Forum | Statement of Purpose | Announcements | Forum Friends Level 01+ Social Posts | Level 03+ Discussion 
Zoom MeetingsSundays | First Mondays| Wednesdays | Twentieth Gatherings
Private SectionLogistical Planning and Moderator Team Communications.
Lucretius Today PodcastEpisode Guide | Newest Recordings | Full Archive.
EpicureanFriends VideosIntroduction to the EpicureanFriends YouTube Channel
Study ResourcesFAQ discussion | Brochures, pamphlets, & handouts | Outlines, guides, & maps
ActivismTechnology, social media, & internet activism |Creating Epicurean Groups | Online and local meetings, events, & organizations
Epicurean lifestyle general discussion
Uncategorized DiscussionUse this sub-forum when the topic doesn't fit into any of the existing categories.
Epicurean PhysicsPhysics
Epicurean CanonicsCanonics
Epicurean EthicsEthics (theory) | Friendship |
Ancient Texts DiscussionFor discussion of Epicurean extant texts from the ancient world: Letters and Will of Epicurus | Letter to Menoeceus| Principal Doctrines | De Rerum Natura | Vatican Sayings | Epicurus Fragments | Wall of Diogenes of Oinoanda | Philodemus | Cicero's "Torquatus"

Modern Books, Articles, Videos, etc.


For discussion of modern books, articles, podcasts, YouTube videos, and other multimedia. Including subforums on DeWitt's "Epicurus and His Philosophy" | Wright's "A Few Days in Athens" | Emily Austin's "Living For Pleasure"
Epicurean Historical Figures

For discussion of the lives of Epicurean historical figures such as Epicurus, Hermarchus, Metrodorus, Lucretius, Philodemus of Gadara, and others.

Also discussion of historical figures who were non-Epicureans of special significance: Gassendi, Thomas Jefferson, Nietzsche, and others.

Comparisons |Notable OpponentsFor discussion of comparison of Epicurean philosophy with opposing religions and philosophies (the differences between Epicurus and Stoicism, Buddhism, Platonism, Aristotelianism, Cyreniacs, etc.)
Places of Interest To Epicurean HistoryFor discussion of specific physical locations of interest to Epicurean history, such as Athens and Herculaneum.
History, Culture, & Customs For discussion of history and culture during the time of Epicurus and Epicurean communities.
Epicurean Art and Symbolism - Historical and ModernFor discussion of art which is Epicurean-inspired or Epicurean-friendly, past or present including sculptures, reproductions -- Iconography of Epicurus.


PhysicsAtomicsCanonics
Nothing From Nothing Or To NothingNothing Except Atoms And Void Have Eternal and Unchanging Properties. The Atoms Are Constantly In Motion, But Not So Fast That We Cannot Comprehend The Nature Of The Universe, Knowledge, and How To LiveKnowledge Is Possible
Atomic Swerve and Rejection of DeterminismRejection of Atomic ReductionismSenses, Feelings, And Anticipations Are Criteria of Knowledge
Eternal - Boundless - Life-Filled Universe All Sensations Are "True"
Nothing But Atoms Are Eternal - No Immortal Soul Priority of Nature Over Reason
Nothing Is Supernatural - No Gods Over Nature Embrace of Practical Reason
Rejection of Platonic Idealism and Aristotelian Essences Rejection of Dialectical Logic and Skepticism

Ethics

There Are Only Two Categories of Feelings - Pleasure and Pain - And Nature Gives Nothing Else By Which To Determine What to Choose and What to AvoidPleasure Includes All Bodily And Mental Experiences Which Are Not Painful - There Is No Pain Where Pleasure Is Present - and Thus Pleasure Is Present Where Pain Is Absent
Pleasure Has A Limit In Quantity That Can Be Experienced, And That Limit Is Reached When All Bodily And Mental Experiences Are Filled With Pleasure And No Pain Is PresentPleasure Is Desirable - Pleasure Is The Alpha and Omega And Guide Of Life
Mental Pleasures And Pains Can Be More Significant Than Bodily Pleasures And PainsPain is Undesirable - But Pain Should Be Chosen When Greater Pleasure Or Lesser Pain Results
Pain Is Manageable - It Is Short If Intense, Endurable If Long, And Terminable By DeathOnly This Life And This World - No Other World Or Reward Or Punishment After Death
Personal Freedom, Responsibility, And Proper Attitude Toward "The Gods" and "Fate"Rejection Of Absolute Virtue, But Embrace Of Practical Virtue As Instrumental For Achieving A Life of Pleasure
Two Equal-Rank Categories Within Pleasure (Stimulative/Kinetic - Non-Stimulative/Katastematic)

Virtues

PrudenceFriendshipTemperance
CourageConsideratenessJustice
HopeHonestyGratitude
ConfidenceLiving In the PresentBeneficence

You can also try out the "Key Concepts Navigation Map" in Portrait Orientation and Landscape Orientation.

Unread Threads

    1. Title
    2. Replies
    3. Last Reply

    2. Philodemus' "On Anger" - General - Texts and Resources 20

      • Cassius
      • July 8, 2025 at 7:33 AM
    3. Replies
      20
      Views
      7.1k
      20

    4. Kalosyni

      July 8, 2025 at 7:33 AM

    2. Mocking Epithets 3

      • Bryan
      • July 6, 2025 at 9:47 PM
    3. Replies
      3
      Views
      476
      3

    4. Bryan

      July 6, 2025 at 9:47 PM

    2. Best Lucretius translation? 12

      • Rolf
      • July 1, 2025 at 1:59 PM
    3. Replies
      12
      Views
      1.2k
      12

    4. Eikadistes

      July 1, 2025 at 1:59 PM

    2. The Religion of Nature - as supported by Lucretius' De Rerum Natura 4

      • Kalosyni
      • June 23, 2025 at 12:36 AM
    3. Replies
      4
      Views
      1k
      4

    4. Godfrey

      June 23, 2025 at 12:36 AM

    2. New Blog Post From Elli - " Fanaticism and the Danger of Dogmatism in Political and Religious Thought: An Epicurean Reading"

      • Cassius
      • June 20, 2025 at 4:31 PM
    3. Replies
      0
      Views
      2.7k

Finding Things At EpicureanFriends.com

What's the best strategy for finding things on EpicureanFriends.com? Here's a suggested search strategy:

  • First, familiarize yourself with the list of forums. The best way to find threads related to a particular topic is to look in the relevant forum. Over the years most people have tried to start threads according to forum topic, and we regularly move threads from our "general discussion" area over to forums with more descriptive titles.
  • Use the "Search" facility at 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." Also check the "Search Assistance" page.
  • Use the "Tag" facility, starting with the "Key Tags By Topic" in the right hand navigation pane, or using the "Search By Tag" page, or the "Tag Overview" page which contains a list of all tags alphabetically. We curate the available tags to keep them to a manageable number that is descriptive of frequently-searched topics.