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Don
May 16, 2026 at 11:15 PM Replied to the thread Was Epicurus a Psychological Hedonist, an Ethical Hedonist, Both, or Neither?.PostHonestly, I don't care what phrase is used. I've seen Epicurus described as a psychological hedonist, an ethical hedonist, a hedonist. Whatever. Eventually it comes down to hammering an ancient peg into a modern hole, so it only has limited value as a… -
Cassius
May 16, 2026 at 9:22 PM Replied to the thread New Epicurean Substack: Untroubled.PostI just realized that I forgot to include something that I always try to mention when the subject of Tim O'Keefe or any other professor comes up.
I try not to judge Tim O'Keefe or really even Emily Austin as primarily advocates for Epicurean philosophy. As… -
Cassius
May 16, 2026 at 9:14 PM Replied to the thread Was Epicurus a Psychological Hedonist, an Ethical Hedonist, Both, or Neither?.Post[…]
That's part of my unease with the entire discussion - I am not aware that there is a single authoritative statement of what psychological hedonism really means, or what should be taken to be its implications. I don't have any problem with the idea… -
Cassius
May 16, 2026 at 9:10 PM Reacted withReaction (Post)
to Don’s post in the thread Was Epicurus a Psychological Hedonist, an Ethical Hedonist, Both, or Neither?.[…]
I'm more receptive to the argument from infants and animals.
[…]
An infant is fully human, just not a fully formed adult. Same with animals, they are also living beings. Epicurus' argument is that all living beings pursue pleasure and flee pain. Animals… -
Cassius
May 16, 2026 at 9:10 PM Reacted withReaction (Post) to Todd’s post in the thread Was Epicurus a Psychological Hedonist, an Ethical Hedonist, Both, or Neither?.[…]
My response to the arguments against psychological hedonism there would be as follows:
Psychological hedonism only claims that people pursue pleasure, not that they succeed in obtaining it.
The individual is still faced with the problem of predicting… -
Don
May 16, 2026 at 9:01 PM Reacted withReaction (Post)
to Todd’s post in the thread Was Epicurus a Psychological Hedonist, an Ethical Hedonist, Both, or Neither?.[…]
My response to the arguments against psychological hedonism there would be as follows:
Psychological hedonism only claims that people pursue pleasure, not that they succeed in obtaining it.
The individual is still faced with the problem of predicting… -
Don
May 16, 2026 at 9:00 PM Replied to the thread Was Epicurus a Psychological Hedonist, an Ethical Hedonist, Both, or Neither?.Post[…]
I'm more receptive to the argument from infants and animals.
[…]
An infant is fully human, just not a fully formed adult. Same with animals, they are also living beings. Epicurus' argument is that all living beings pursue pleasure and flee pain. Animals… -
Todd
May 16, 2026 at 8:30 PM Replied to the thread Was Epicurus a Psychological Hedonist, an Ethical Hedonist, Both, or Neither?.Post[…]
My response to the arguments against psychological hedonism there would be as follows:
Psychological hedonism only claims that people pursue pleasure, not that they succeed in obtaining it.
The individual is still faced with the problem of predicting… -
wbernys
May 16, 2026 at 8:23 PM Reacted withReaction (Post) to Cassius’s post in the thread Was Epicurus a Psychological Hedonist, an Ethical Hedonist, Both, or Neither?.I can see the arguments on both sides and don't have a lot more to add at the moment, but I am adding a summary of what I understand the positions to be into the FAQ at the following entry:
http://www.epicureanfriends.com/wcf/faq-questi…oth-or-neither/ -
Cassius
May 16, 2026 at 7:57 PM Replied to the thread Was Epicurus a Psychological Hedonist, an Ethical Hedonist, Both, or Neither?.PostI can see the arguments on both sides and don't have a lot more to add at the moment, but I am adding a summary of what I understand the positions to be into the FAQ at the following entry:
http://www.epicureanfriends.com/wcf/faq-questi…oth-or-neither/
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