Recent Activities
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Kalosyni
August 8, 2026 at 2:03 PM Replied to the thread "Meet-and-Greet" Zoom- August 3rd, 8pm ET & August 9th, 12:30pm ET, 2026.PostWe've sent out the Zoom link for tomorrow, looking to seeing you there!
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Noah Calderon
August 8, 2026 at 5:36 AM Replied to the thread "Meet-and-Greet" Zoom- August 3rd, 8pm ET & August 9th, 12:30pm ET, 2026.PostHi, I would love to attend tomorrow if it's possible. Thanks! -
Robert
August 7, 2026 at 9:33 PM Replied to the thread Desires necessary for Happiness..Postwbernys My take was probably too simplistic, so thank you for presenting a more nuanced view.
We sometimes hear the term "public service" used in connection with politics--that is, people who take up political careers like to describe themselves as… -
Cassius
August 7, 2026 at 7:00 PM Posted the thread Theme Updates For the Website.ThreadAfter far too long we now have available a "dark mode" version of the "Inspire" theme - the default site style.
If you'd like to try it go to the bottom of any page and you'll see a "Change Style" link.
That will take you to a page that looks like this:
… -
wbernys
August 7, 2026 at 5:02 PM Replied to the thread Desires necessary for Happiness..Post[…]
I don't entirely agree with your comment, i think Epicurus did care about the polis to some extent, even if it carried obligations, Epicurus did say we should enter politics in emergencies for example. He's largely against aiming for political power,… -
Cassius
August 7, 2026 at 2:00 PM Posted the thread Episode 346 - EATAQ28 - Not Yet Recorded.ThreadWelcome to Episode 345 of Lucretius Today. This is a podcast dedicated to the poet Lucretius, who wrote "On The Nature of Things," the most complete presentation of Epicurean philosophy left to us from the ancient world. Each week we walk you through the… -
Cassius
PostAugust 7, 2026 at 12:59 PM […]
That's correct, but if there is anything i am sure about it is that the attitudes expressed in the world's worst video collection are indeed the majority view, both of laymen and of "experts."
For one of an unlimited number of examples that could be… -
Kalosyni
August 7, 2026 at 11:19 AM Posted the thread The Kharites (Charites) or Graces.Thread -
Cassius
ThreadAugust 7, 2026 at 10:43 AM This thread is for discussion of the article linked below.
The issue of completeness and perfection was of great concern to the ancient Greeks, and we aren't going to understand what Epicurus had to say about pleasure as the supreme good unless we… -
Cassius
August 7, 2026 at 10:42 AM Wrote the blog article The Completeness Argument, Cicero's Knowledge Of It, And The Epicurean Response.Blog ArticleThe Completeness Argument
One of the oldest objections to placing the highest good in anything other than virtue runs like this: the good must be complete — whole, finished, lacking nothing — and cannot be a process, a becoming, or anything that admits of… -
DaveT
August 7, 2026 at 9:39 AM Replied to the thread Complexity, Contradictions, and "Testing Out" Epicurean Philosophy.Post[…]
[…]
Yes. And yes to both comments above. I can’t avoid using my decades of training and experience as an attorney when I read or study a topic. As an advocate, I needed to parse not only the words but the motivations, and first-hand knowledge of… -
Kalosyni
August 7, 2026 at 9:22 AM Replied to the thread Welcome EpicuriousDavid!.PostWelcome to the forum EpicuriousDavid
As far as an online course, we started preparing material but haven't finished it. (I will see what I can find with regard to some of what was being worked on and post soon).
In the meantime, I would recommend this… -
Kalosyni
August 7, 2026 at 9:09 AM Replied to the thread Complexity, Contradictions, and "Testing Out" Epicurean Philosophy.Post[…]
It's true that the idea of "a telos" is not something that your everyday person goes around thinking about.
Pleasure is often thought of as being "in process" and "changing". But as I see it, Epicurus taught that necessary desires are easy to fulfill,… -
DaveT
PostAugust 7, 2026 at 8:45 AM […]
I don't know. I guess it is a personal choice. Of course we never want to appear to be relying on a strawman argument to prove a point. -
Cassius
August 7, 2026 at 8:44 AM Replied to the thread Complexity, Contradictions, and "Testing Out" Epicurean Philosophy.PostIn regard to this part I think you are part-way to answering your own question:
In the last two years especially, there has been more focus on the forum and in the podcast to gain a deeper context of Epicurean philosophy through study of other textual… -
Kalosyni
August 7, 2026 at 8:41 AM Commented on blog article Reflections on Five Years on the EpicureanFriends Forum.Comment (Blog Article)I've just set up this thread to further discuss philosophical ideas of complexity, contradictions, and testing out things:
Complexity, Contradictions, and "Testing Out" Epicurean Philosophy -
Kalosyni
August 7, 2026 at 8:38 AM Posted the thread Complexity, Contradictions, and "Testing Out" Epicurean Philosophy.ThreadIn a recent blog post I wrote the following (and opening up this thread to discuss further):
"In the last two years especially, there has been more focus on the forum and in the podcast to gain a deeper context of Epicurean philosophy through study of… -
Cassius
August 7, 2026 at 6:45 AM Replied to the thread Welcome EpicuriousDavid!.Post -
Cassius
August 7, 2026 at 6:43 AM Commented on blog article Reflections on Five Years on the EpicureanFriends Forum.Comment (Blog Article)Thank you for being here!
In regard to this part I think you are part-way to answering your own question:
In the last two years especially, there has been more focus on the forum and in the podcast to gain a deeper context of Epicurean philosophy through… -
Cassius
August 7, 2026 at 6:27 AM Replied to the thread Welcome EpicuriousDavid!.PostWelcome David - And yes you followed the instructions correctly. I particularly appreciate how you emailed us without being prompted, just on the basis of the registration instructions. We have a lot of spam registrations and you are proof that it is… -
Cassius
August 7, 2026 at 6:24 AM Replied to the thread Welcome EpicuriousDavid!.PostEpicuriousDavid tells us:
Hi,
I recently signed up with username EpicuriousDavid
I was brought to the forum specifically by searching for 'Epicurus online class', your website showed up and looked very interesting. I was looking for a structured way to… -
Cassius
August 7, 2026 at 6:23 AM Posted the thread Welcome EpicuriousDavid!.ThreadWelcome EpicuriousDavid
There is one last step to complete your registration: All new registrants must email Cassius so that this Welcome Thread can contain basic information about your background and interest in Epicurus. In that email, please tell us… -
Cassius
PostAugust 7, 2026 at 6:20 AM […]
Yes, I would agree that different lived experiences are going to have a huge impact on what one views as the goal of living or the highest good. That's why I don't think we see Epicurus talking too much about the details of enjoyment of particular… -
Robert
August 6, 2026 at 10:15 PM Replied to the thread Desires necessary for Happiness..Postwbernys Your approach to this question makes sense to me. More specifically, I agree that it's important to view happiness in Epicurean terms--as there are other notions of happiness out there. Some would consider success in public life or high… -
Cassius
PostAugust 6, 2026 at 5:09 PM -
Kalosyni
August 6, 2026 at 11:36 AM Has received the trophy Active Member 5 Years or more.TrophyAwarded for 5 Years or more on the forum as an active member -
Kalosyni
August 6, 2026 at 11:33 AM Wrote the blog article Reflections on Five Years on the EpicureanFriends Forum.Blog ArticleReflections on Five Years on the EpicureanFriends Forum
Today is my five year anniversary on the forum, and here are some thoughts and reflections.
My interest in Epicurean philosophy began five years ago during the summer of 2021, just as Covid was… -
Kalosyni
August 6, 2026 at 7:40 AM Replied to the thread "Meet-and-Greet" Zoom- August 3rd, 8pm ET & August 9th, 12:30pm ET, 2026.PostThank you for your RSVP EdGenX ...we'll send out the link the day before the meeting -
EdGenX
August 5, 2026 at 9:57 PM Replied to the thread "Meet-and-Greet" Zoom- August 3rd, 8pm ET & August 9th, 12:30pm ET, 2026.PostI can attend Sunday @1230 -
Cassius
August 5, 2026 at 3:16 PM Replied to the thread Episode 344 - EATAQ26 - What Is Our Mind's Role In Determining Truth?.PostThis is from the wikipedia page:Epistemology
Main article: Epistemology
According to the Stoics, knowledge can be attained through the application of reason to the impressions (phantasiai) received by the mind through the senses. The mind can judge… -
Patrikios
August 5, 2026 at 2:51 PM Replied to the thread Episode 344 - EATAQ26 - What Is Our Mind's Role In Determining Truth?.Post -
DaveT
PostAugust 5, 2026 at 2:07 PM […]
Yes, thanks for catching that. I edited the statement to say what I meant to read: I am in no way even inferrring. -
Cassius
PostAugust 5, 2026 at 11:18 AM […]
On this point, I don't think there's a general Epicurean rule that says. "First, deal with pain." Certainly not "First, deal with all pain." Now there clearly is a hierarchy for teaching about the nature of the universe (no supernatural gods; true… -
Cassius
PostAugust 5, 2026 at 11:06 AM […]
Dave I am the world's worst at dropping "nots." Was this suppose to be "I am not even inferring"..... Or Iam i just misreading that sentence? -
DaveT
PostAugust 5, 2026 at 11:05 AM […]
As I feel the same way about your part of this discussion
[…]
I can't agree with this "If--then" proposition. Pleasure and pain can exist in the same space, if you meant to say simultaneously. Is that even arguable?
And so say any particular pleasure can… -
Cassius
PostAugust 5, 2026 at 11:03 AM NOTE: I spent a long time composing this so it does not reflect any posts by Dave or others made after #45. I'll come back to those.
Thank you Patrikios - that's what I get for writing at 2:00 AM.
Here's what i typed:
[…]
And here's the untangled version:
… -
DaveT
PostAugust 5, 2026 at 10:42 AM […]
Respectfully, I don't see that as a problem. I see it as a feature that anyone, from the wise man, to the common man can grasp within each of their ability. We are after all trying to being this philosophy to the common man as you had essentially… -
DaveT
PostAugust 5, 2026 at 10:39 AM […]
No, I don't think that is the issue which you then off your support for. The hedonic calculus does not spell out what each individual can (must?) do to achieve the ultimate good. I think PD 09 addresses this, no? -
DaveT
PostAugust 5, 2026 at 10:36 AM […]
Here, it is good to see we agree. Again, and as always he trusts us to use the hedonic calculus, but as to the beginning of our journey, deal with the pain, and you are already a good solid step in a happy life. -
DaveT
PostAugust 5, 2026 at 10:23 AM […]
Your quote of Cicero, I think does not address my thesis. I am not questioning the academic analysis of pleasure is the chief good. Epicurus said it, and I hoped it was clear I'm not focusing on it. -
DaveT
PostAugust 5, 2026 at 10:19 AM […]
Yes and no. You understand the part about eliminating pain. Except once you experience pleasure , you are mistaken in the second part of your restatement. I am in no way even inferring obliquely that whatever you find available after the pain is gone.… -
Patrikios
PostAugust 5, 2026 at 9:09 AM -
Cassius
August 4, 2026 at 9:40 PM Replied to the thread Epicurus And Homer's Odyssey.Post -
Cassius
PostAugust 4, 2026 at 9:03 PM […]
Dave, the further I read into Arenson's book the more i would encourage the part I underlined. I'm not disagreeing with what you are saying about your more practical approach - I am saying that i don't think you are going far enough.
Arenson is… -
Cassius
August 4, 2026 at 5:40 PM Replied to the thread Preparing A Public Domain Audio And Text Version Lucretius In Modern American English.PostI have returned to this project now that the audiobook generation technology continues to advance, and below is a link to my latest version of Lucretius. This is largely the Bailey version but with various edits to shorten sentences so as to prevent the… -
Cassius
PostAugust 4, 2026 at 2:33 PM Let me expand and double down on this:
[…]
So yes as far as I can tell Epicurus never says that all pleasures are equally desirable, any more than he says that all pains are equally undesirable. It would be ludicrious to take those positions, but the … -
Cassius
PostAugust 4, 2026 at 1:45 PM Dave, I appreciate your engaging on this; it was your posts yesterday that led to a discussion last night at our "meet and greet" and kept me awake last night thinking about it all.
[…]
While this does some work toward clarification I don't think it goes… -
Cassius
PostAugust 4, 2026 at 1:14 PM […]
Sort of similar to pleasures in that respect. There's always a context that is going to have great influence on when and how you address relieving a pan, just like how you address pursuing a pleasure..
To me that's another reason why "Maximize Net…
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