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Bryan
December 31, 2025 at 1:16 PM Replied to the thread Article By Dr. Emily Austin - "Epicurus And The Politics Of The Fear Of Death".PostAnd, as we have seen, Epicurus wrote a popular, but now lost, letter against the philosopher Stilpo -- and one of the things Stilpo was most known for was the position that only what is in the mind really matters to the wise man.
Seneca (fl. 35 CE),… -
Eikadistes
December 31, 2025 at 1:07 PM Replied to the thread Welcome Hyakinthos!.Post[…]
There are useful similarities between Epicurean Philosophy and parts of the Taoist tradition, for sure (and, of course, Yang Zhu's branch of Chinese hedonism even moreso). If you haven't come across it before, the "Dudeist" platform claims specific… -
Cassius
December 31, 2025 at 12:16 PM Replied to the thread Welcome Hyakinthos!.PostWelcome Hyankinthos --- What have you been reading so far? -
Cassius
December 31, 2025 at 7:40 AM Replied to the thread Article By Dr. Emily Austin - "Epicurus And The Politics Of The Fear Of Death".PostHere's an example from this weeks' podcast text. In this section of Tusculan Disputations Cicero says, referring to Stoics and those of similar viewpoint who hold that the condition of the mind is all that is important: What may they not do, who allow… -
Cassius
PostDecember 31, 2025 at 7:16 AM There is a section in this weeks text that might be of special interest to Don , since i recall him mentioning the issue several times.
In this section of Tusculan Disputations Cicero is sharply critical, but I find particularly interesting the "for I… -
Cassius
December 31, 2025 at 7:04 AM Replied to the thread Epicurus And Pleasure As The Awareness Of Smooth Motion.PostAdditional citation relevantto smoothness / smooth motion:
From Tusculan Disputations at Part 5 section XXVI
[…] -
Cassius
December 31, 2025 at 6:27 AM Replied to the thread Welcome Hyakinthos!.PostHyakinthos tells us:
This is to confirm my request for a new account.
Hey! I'm actually fairly new to Epicureanism but have studied other
philosophy before, especially Taoism. In fact I actually found Epicureanism
through studying Yang Zhu (a Taoist… -
Cassius
December 31, 2025 at 6:25 AM Posted the thread Welcome Hyakinthos!.ThreadWelcome Hyakinthos
There is one last step to complete your registration:
All new registrants must post a response to this message here in this welcome thread (we do this in order to minimize spam registrations).
You must post your response within 24… -
Cassius
December 31, 2025 at 4:05 AM Replied to the thread Happy Birthday General Thread.PostHappy Birthday to Ataraxmys! Learn more about Ataraxmys and say happy birthday on Ataraxmys's timeline: Ataraxmys -
Cassius
December 30, 2025 at 5:01 PM Posted the thread Video: "Reverse Goalsetting".ThreadThis is a new video which just hit Youtube today. Not sure how I came across it but I found it enjoyable to watch with many practical suggestions. I also don't detect many objectionable religious or philosophic overlays. He defines his outcome as… -
Cassius
December 30, 2025 at 4:11 PM Replied to the thread Article By Dr. Emily Austin - "Epicurus And The Politics Of The Fear Of Death".Post[…]
We are talking impressions here and I am sure everyone's will vary. What I would point to are the arguments that are contained in Tusculan Disputations and like works to the effect that "virtue alone" is sufficient for happiness. Part 5 of TD is… -
TauPhi
December 30, 2025 at 3:25 PM Replied to the thread Article By Dr. Emily Austin - "Epicurus And The Politics Of The Fear Of Death".Post[…]
Correct me if I'm wrong Cassius but I think it's widely accepted position that Hellenistic Philosophy was largely practical. And this applies not only to Epicureanism but to all main philosophical schools of that period. The main focus was how to… -
Cassius
December 30, 2025 at 8:59 AM Replied to the thread Article By Dr. Emily Austin - "Epicurus And The Politics Of The Fear Of Death".PostSimply thinking about things and not taking any physical action is not going to address the problem of safety or many other problems of similar nature.
I am repeating that statement because I think much of the discussion in our meeting came from questions… -
Cassius
December 30, 2025 at 8:48 AM Replied to the thread Article By Dr. Emily Austin - "Epicurus And The Politics Of The Fear Of Death".Post[…]
I think her point is that it cannot be done by reasoning ALONE. Every decision ultimately requires good judgment and that involves reasoning. As I see it the point she is making is that after we reason through the appropriate action to take, we must… -
Kalosyni
December 30, 2025 at 7:58 AM Replied to the thread Article By Dr. Emily Austin - "Epicurus And The Politics Of The Fear Of Death".PostIt was a good meeting back on Sunday, and one question came up for me afterward, which is regarding the idea of security...can we accurately judge if we are living a life that is safe or not, and whether our basic need for security is being met?
Epicurus… -
Cassius
December 30, 2025 at 4:05 AM Replied to the thread Happy Birthday General Thread.PostHappy Birthday to O2x Ohio! Learn more about O2x Ohio and say happy birthday on O2x Ohio's timeline: O2x Ohio -
Eikadistes
December 29, 2025 at 7:34 PM Replied to the thread New "TWENTIERS" Website.PostCheers, all!
I've created a companion to twentiers.com that will function as its "official forum" to facilitate social interaction and user engagement. I am primarily using the resource as a backup tool to consolidate my graphics. EpicureanFriends.com has… -
Kalosyni
December 29, 2025 at 9:27 AM Uploaded the image "Will the Real Epicurus of Samos Please Stand Up?".Image/Video
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kochiekoch
December 28, 2025 at 6:10 PM Replied to the thread Merry Christmas 2025!.PostLooks like the Saturnalia was quite a party! It was famous for social inversion! 🙃
SATURNALIA | Rome’s Holiday That Inspired Christmas -
Adrastus
December 28, 2025 at 5:50 PM Replied to the thread Merry Christmas 2025!.PostI just started a new job that I absolutely love and worked over the Holidays. I always get unsettled by Holidays since my Dad died back in 2019 and I more or less lost my extended family which was on the way out for me anyway. Also with seperation in my… -
Cassius
ThreadDecember 27, 2025 at 5:34 PM Welcome to Episode 314 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
December 27, 2025 at 3:52 PM Replied to the thread Episode 313 - TD40 - Diagnosing When Words Are Empty Of Meaning.PostEpisode 313 of the Lucretius Today Podcast is now available. This week our episode is entitled: "Diagnosing When Words Are Empty Of Meaning."
[media]https://www.spreaker.com/episode/69222736/media -
EdGenX
December 27, 2025 at 10:47 AM Replied to the thread Happy Birthday General Thread.PostHappy birthday jcblackmon -
Cassius
December 27, 2025 at 10:16 AM Replied to the thread Happy Birthday General Thread.PostHappy birthday jcblackmon ! -
Cassius
December 27, 2025 at 4:05 AM Replied to the thread Happy Birthday General Thread.PostHappy Birthday to jcblackmon! Learn more about jcblackmon and say happy birthday on jcblackmon's timeline: jcblackmon -
Bryan
December 27, 2025 at 1:53 AM Replied to the thread How Should We Evaluate Abstractions?.PostYes, Epicurus talks about “Speculative Judgement,” (hē theōrētikē doxa), i.e. judgement about conceivable universal characteristics; and the truth-value of this kind of judgement is tested by attestation and contestation via indirect practical… -
EdGenX
December 26, 2025 at 10:06 PM Replied to the thread Fourth Sunday Zoom - December 28, 2025 - Epicurean Philosophy Discussion - Agenda.PostUnfortunately, I can not attend this Sunday's Zoom. However, I did review the calendar for 2026 and will make some adjustments so I can attend future Zoom meets. -
Cassius
December 26, 2025 at 10:04 PM Replied to the thread How Should We Evaluate Abstractions?.PostOne additional thought to add to this is that I would recommend anyone interested in this issue to check out what Norman DeWitt has to say in emphasizing Epicurus' commitment to deductive reasoning.
While atoms are not abstractions, we don't have any… -
Cassius
December 26, 2025 at 9:58 PM Posted the thread How Should We Evaluate Abstractions?.ThreadOne of our recent participants asked me about this topic and it well deserves a thread. I recall in our podcast years ago that I consciously pulled back from some earlier statements that were probably too sweeping in viewing abstractions negatively. My… -
Don
December 26, 2025 at 1:13 PM Replied to the thread Merry Christmas 2025!.Post[…]
Io Saturnalia right back atcha! -
kochiekoch
December 26, 2025 at 12:10 PM Replied to the thread Merry Christmas 2025!.PostIo Saturnalia! A little belatedly.
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Cassius
December 25, 2025 at 7:51 PM Replied to the thread Episode 313 - TD40 - Diagnosing When Words Are Empty Of Meaning.PostYes I remember now thinking that the term "essentialism" probably applies more to Aristotle and "ideal forms" more to Plato. The concept appears almost the same with the main issue being "where" this metaphysical entity exists.
I suppose for the sake of… -
Joshua
December 25, 2025 at 5:58 PM Replied to the thread Episode 313 - TD40 - Diagnosing When Words Are Empty Of Meaning.Post[…]
I don't remember if we discussed this on Sunday, but the question of whether essence is prior to existence or, to put it in Platonic terms, being is prior to becoming, is also related to Aristotle's teleology. Aristotle proposed that everything that… -
Cassius
December 25, 2025 at 4:23 PM Replied to the thread Episode 313 - TD40 - Diagnosing When Words Are Empty Of Meaning.PostEarly in this episode Joshua will remind us of the problems with "essentialism."
We had a brief thread on this in 2022 here but the part from that thread that sticks in my memory the most is the article by Richard Dawkins attacking it here
… -
Daniel188
December 25, 2025 at 12:49 PM Replied to the thread Possible use of the Pythagorean exercise called "evening review" for Epicurean purposes..Post[…]
I completely agree. It's worth having such a regular practice, if only because it reminds us of philosophy and teaches us to analyze daily life through its lens. -
Don
December 25, 2025 at 10:03 AM Replied to the thread Merry Christmas 2025!.PostMerry Christmas to all!
As Epicurus took an active role in the civic and religious festivals and rites of his day, we too can participate in our time's civic and religious festivals with a fresh Epicurean perspective.
May Christmas/Yule/Solstice give us an… -
Kalosyni
December 25, 2025 at 10:01 AM Replied to the thread "But when we do not feel pain, we no longer need pleasure".Post[…]
Somehow, I think that I have developed what is called a "sweet tooth", and which I notice that the more "goodies" that I eat the more that I crave. (I've bought/made a certain amount of Christmas goodies this year, perhaps a bit too many).
When I clean… -
Kalosyni
December 25, 2025 at 9:40 AM Posted the thread Merry Christmas 2025!.Thread
Wishing Everyone a Merry Christmas!
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DaveT
December 25, 2025 at 9:17 AM Replied to the thread "But when we do not feel pain, we no longer need pleasure".Post[…]
One of the great attractions of Epicurus’ teaching for me is that it seems so grounded in common sense. He clearly was not an ascetic, denying himself even simple pleasures, even acknowledging the “pleasure” of enjoying unnecessary pleasures. Of… -
Don
December 25, 2025 at 8:05 AM Replied to the thread Possible use of the Pythagorean exercise called "evening review" for Epicurean purposes..PostAlthough not directly related to the topic at hand, I found this excellent summary of Dr. Austin's perspective on Epicurus' philosophy in an article I didn't remember her writing:
https://psyche.co/guides/how-to-…ke-an-epicurean
This forum and the podcast… -
Julia
December 25, 2025 at 1:37 AM Commented on the image The Gift of Summer.Comment (Image/Video)From Stallings' rhyming translation:
"Just as now cicadas in the summertime divest
Themselves of their shiny coats, and go out in the world in quest
Of life and livelihood. […]" -
Kalosyni
December 24, 2025 at 8:00 PM Replied to the thread Possible use of the Pythagorean exercise called "evening review" for Epicurean purposes..PostI think it is important here in this forum to speak up when seeing articles written which say or imply that "Epicurus said to do XYZ" when there isn't speciic textual evidence. -
Cassius
December 24, 2025 at 7:44 PM Replied to the thread Possible use of the Pythagorean exercise called "evening review" for Epicurean purposes..Post[…]
Well I and others are hoping your editorial output will continue in 2026 so that you will find many more opportunities for rewarding moments in the future!
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Don
December 24, 2025 at 7:33 PM Replied to the thread Possible use of the Pythagorean exercise called "evening review" for Epicurean purposes..Post[…]
LOL it's still weird - but rewarding - to see my work quoted and referred to. I'm glad it continues to be of service. -
Patrikios
December 24, 2025 at 7:20 PM Replied to the thread Possible use of the Pythagorean exercise called "evening review" for Epicurean purposes..Post[…]
Kalosyni , I appreciate you reading and taking time to comment on my post.
While I referenced Hiram Crespo based on his recent series of Eikas messages that made some references to meditation, I have also been studying the topic of meditation (… -
Don
December 24, 2025 at 7:00 PM Replied to the thread "But when we do not feel pain, we no longer need pleasure".PostFwiw, here's my translation of that section:
The steady contemplation of these things equips one to know how to decide all choice and rejection for the health of the body and for the tranquility of the mind, that is for our physical and our mental… -
Joshua
December 24, 2025 at 6:17 PM Replied to the thread "But when we do not feel pain, we no longer need pleasure".Post[…]
δεόμεθα (δέω) can have the meaning of need, but it can also mean lack, which is more in keeping with Epicurean ethics; when we are not in pain, we no longer lack pleasure because we are already experiencing the fullest possible pleasure (as described… -
Kalosyni
December 24, 2025 at 5:31 PM Replied to the thread "But when we do not feel pain, we no longer need pleasure".Post[…]
I think that this remedy is only for those who need it, and also worth remembering that the letter mentions that it is not the pleasures of the profligates that are being referred to as pleasures.
Also, we can anticipate that the pleasures of eating,… -
Daniel188
December 24, 2025 at 4:33 PM Replied to the thread Possible use of the Pythagorean exercise called "evening review" for Epicurean purposes..Post[…]
Here we have an example of the hidden philosophical assumptions behind meditation practices. Buddhist teachers often refer to the doctrine of anatta, the doctrine of non-self. Therefore, they recommend observing sensations and their transience and… -
Kalosyni
December 24, 2025 at 4:28 PM Posted the thread "But when we do not feel pain, we no longer need pleasure".ThreadSome thoughts on a practical application of the phrase: "...but when we do not feel pain, we no longer need pleasure."
The following is Bailey translation:
[128] "The right understanding of these facts enables us to refer all choice and avoidance to the…
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