Ethics - General Discussion

In this section we discuss Epicurean Ethics and how to live as an Epicurean in a world where there are no supernatural gods and no life after death.

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Episode 356 — "The Skeptics Argue All Sides But Conceal Their Conclusions"

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2. Suggestions For - "What I Wish I Had Known At 21 That I Now Know From Studying Epicurus" 11
  - 2
  - Cassius
  - September 21, 2026 at 8:02 AM
  - Cassius
  - September 30, 2026 at 2:12 PM
3. Replies
  
  11
  
  Views
  
  747
  
  11
4. Kalosyni
  September 30, 2026 at 2:12 PM
2. Discussion of Article - "Epicurus And The Pleasure Of Rebelling Against Plato" 13
  - 1
  - Cassius
  - August 28, 2026 at 6:15 PM
  - Cassius
  - September 5, 2026 at 11:05 AM
3. Replies
  
  13
  
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4. Robert
  September 5, 2026 at 11:05 AM
2. Complexity, Contradictions, and "Testing Out" Epicurean Philosophy 6
  - Kalosyni
  - August 7, 2026 at 8:38 AM
  - Kalosyni
  - August 20, 2026 at 5:08 AM
3. Replies
  
  6
  
  Views
  
  796
  
  6
4. Cassius
  August 20, 2026 at 5:08 AM
2. Discussion Of The Article: "The Completeness Argument, Cicero's Knowledge Of It, And The Epicurean Response"
  - 1
  - Cassius
  - August 7, 2026 at 10:43 AM
  - Cassius
  - August 7, 2026 at 10:43 AM
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2. What Would Epicurus Say To Someone Who Said To Him That The Value of Being Dead and Being Alive Are Equal? 23
  - Cassius
  - June 24, 2026 at 12:57 PM
  - Cassius
  - July 8, 2026 at 9:31 AM
3. Replies
  
  23
  
  Views
  
  2.5k
  
  23
4. Kalosyni
  July 8, 2026 at 9:31 AM
2. 'Their God Is The Belly" / "The Root of All Good Is The Pleasure Of The Stomach" And Similar Attributions 14
  - 1
  - Cassius
  - November 24, 2025 at 9:55 AM
  - Cassius
  - June 12, 2026 at 12:58 PM
3. Replies
  
  14
  
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  4.8k
  
  14
4. Pacatus
  June 12, 2026 at 12:58 PM
2. Iliustrations and Analogies For Explaining the "Two And Only Two Feelings" Argument 39
  - Cassius
  - May 20, 2026 at 5:24 PM
  - Cassius
  - May 22, 2026 at 1:06 PM
3. Replies
  
  39
  
  Views
  
  4.1k
  
  39
4. Todd
  May 22, 2026 at 1:06 PM
2. Clement on Epicurus' And Other Philosophers Opinions As To The Chief Good 3
  - 1
  - Cassius
  - May 20, 2026 at 7:22 PM
  - Cassius
  - May 20, 2026 at 11:03 PM
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  3
  
  Views
  
  868
  
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4. Joshua
  May 20, 2026 at 11:03 PM
2. Discussion of Blog Article - "Why It Is Incorrect to Say Epicurean Philosophy Is Primarily About 'Absence of Pain'" 6
  - Cassius
  - May 20, 2026 at 10:56 AM
  - Cassius
  - May 20, 2026 at 5:12 PM
3. Replies
  
  6
  
  Views
  
  1.4k
  
  6
4. Cassius
  May 20, 2026 at 5:12 PM
2. Eikadistes Article Discussion - 'No Politics'
  - Cassius
  - May 18, 2026 at 7:27 PM
  - Cassius
  - May 18, 2026 at 7:27 PM
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  0
  
  Views
  
  705
2. Should Epicurus be viewed as a pure consequentialist, virtue ethicist, or both? 14
  - wbernys
  - May 7, 2026 at 8:21 PM
  - wbernys
  - May 8, 2026 at 7:32 PM
3. Replies
  
  14
  
  Views
  
  1.7k
  
  14
4. Don
  May 8, 2026 at 7:32 PM
2. Neither "ataraxia" nor "not ataraxia", but "Joy as the goal" 24
  - 1
  - Kalosyni
  - February 25, 2026 at 10:08 AM
  - Kalosyni
  - May 3, 2026 at 3:59 PM
3. Replies
  
  24
  
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  5.2k
  
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4. Don
  May 3, 2026 at 3:59 PM
2. Would It Be Fair To Say That Epicurus Taught "Lower Your Expectations And You'll Never Be Disappointed"? 10
  - Cassius
  - January 26, 2026 at 1:38 PM
  - Cassius
  - February 1, 2026 at 8:33 PM
3. Replies
  
  10
  
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  2.6k
  
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4. kochiekoch
  February 1, 2026 at 8:33 PM
2. Epicurus And Pleasure As The Awareness Of Smooth Motion 14
  - Cassius
  - May 10, 2023 at 9:18 AM
  - Cassius
  - December 31, 2025 at 7:04 AM
3. Replies
  
  14
  
  Views
  
  8.2k
  
  14
4. Cassius
  December 31, 2025 at 7:04 AM
2. Defining and Summarizing Epicurean Ethics 4
  - Kalosyni
  - December 18, 2025 at 8:40 AM
  - Kalosyni
  - December 18, 2025 at 3:10 PM
3. Replies
  
  4
  
  Views
  
  1.6k
  
  4
4. Kalosyni
  December 18, 2025 at 3:10 PM
2. Hypotheticals: Would An Epicurean Hook Himself Up To An "Experience Machine" or a "Pleasure Machine"? 32
  - 2
  - Cassius
  - March 23, 2020 at 2:05 AM
  - Cassius
  - December 6, 2025 at 2:41 PM
3. Replies
  
  32
  
  Views
  
  25k
  
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4. kochiekoch
  December 6, 2025 at 2:41 PM
2. New Book by Erler (Würzburg Center): "Epicurus: An Introduction to His Practical Ethics and Politics" 3
  - 1
  - Titus
  - June 24, 2021 at 3:39 PM
  - Titus
  - November 16, 2025 at 10:41 AM
3. Replies
  
  3
  
  Views
  
  7.2k
  
  3
4. Patrikios
  November 16, 2025 at 10:41 AM
2. Spitting Upon the Beautiful... 3
  - 7
  - Adrastus
  - October 23, 2025 at 10:28 PM
  - Adrastus
  - October 24, 2025 at 4:06 PM
3. Replies
  
  3
  
  Views
  
  1.6k
  
  3
4. Cassius
  October 24, 2025 at 4:06 PM
2. Why was Epicurus condemned to the sixth circle of hell in Dante's Divine Comedy? 4
  - 1
  - Hiram
  - January 7, 2019 at 10:55 AM
  - Hiram
  - August 16, 2025 at 10:10 PM
3. Replies
  
  4
  
  Views
  
  7.4k
  
  4
4. Eikadistes
  August 16, 2025 at 10:10 PM
2. Cicero's Comparison of the Life of Lucius Balbus (Pleasure) Against That Of Marcus Regulus (VIrtue)
  - Cassius
  - August 6, 2025 at 8:55 AM
  - Cassius
  - August 6, 2025 at 8:55 AM
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  0
  
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  2k
2. Perspectives On "Proving" That Pleasure is "The Good" 209
  - 2
  - Todd
  - December 19, 2022 at 4:34 PM
  - Todd
  - July 15, 2025 at 12:11 PM
3. Replies
  
  209
  
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  84k
  
  209
4. Matteng
  July 15, 2025 at 12:11 PM
2. What amount of effort should be put into pursuing pleasure or removing pain? 23
  - 1
  - Kalosyni
  - June 24, 2025 at 7:31 AM
  - Kalosyni
  - July 6, 2025 at 10:14 AM
3. Replies
  
  23
  
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  8.1k
  
  23
4. Patrikios
  July 6, 2025 at 10:14 AM
2. Is All Desire Painful? How Would Epicurus Answer? 25
  - 1
  - Cassius
  - May 7, 2025 at 10:02 PM
  - Cassius
  - June 15, 2025 at 9:23 PM
3. Replies
  
  25
  
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  9.7k
  
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4. TauPhi
  June 15, 2025 at 9:23 PM
2. Driving Away Bad Habits "Like Evil Men Who Have Long Done Us Great Harm" (Including Addictions)
  - 4
  - Cassius
  - April 23, 2025 at 4:17 PM
  - Cassius
  - April 23, 2025 at 4:17 PM
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  0
  
  Views
  
  1.2k
2. "Absence Of Pain Is Pleasure" - How Would You Articulate That To Someone? 37
  - Eoghan Gardiner
  - November 15, 2023 at 9:32 AM
  - Eoghan Gardiner
  - April 16, 2025 at 5:22 PM
3. Replies
  
  37
  
  Views
  
  27k
  
  37
4. Rolf
  April 16, 2025 at 5:22 PM
2. The Argument That the Good Of Animals is Not the Same As The Good of Human Beings
  - 1
  - Cassius
  - March 3, 2025 at 3:10 PM
  - Cassius
  - March 3, 2025 at 3:10 PM
3. Replies
  
  0
  
  Views
  
  1.3k
2. "Peace and Safety" vs. "Conflict and Danger" 7
  - 1
  - Cassius
  - February 2, 2025 at 9:00 AM
  - Cassius
  - February 2, 2025 at 3:47 PM
3. Replies
  
  7
  
  Views
  
  4.6k
  
  7
4. Cassius
  February 2, 2025 at 3:47 PM
2. When Epicureans Choose Pain / When Epicureans Treat Pain As Good 4
  - Cassius
  - December 22, 2024 at 8:51 AM
  - Cassius
  - December 22, 2024 at 11:50 AM
3. Replies
  
  4
  
  Views
  
  3.3k
  
  4
4. Don
  December 22, 2024 at 11:50 AM
2. Why Minimizing All Desire Is Incorrect (And What To Do Instead) 34
  - 5
  - Kalosyni
  - December 4, 2024 at 11:15 AM
  - Kalosyni
  - December 8, 2024 at 2:08 PM
3. Replies
  
  34
  
  Views
  
  14k
  
  34
4. Cassius
  December 8, 2024 at 2:08 PM
2. A Fable on Unattainable Expectations 6
  - 3
  - Pacatus
  - October 16, 2024 at 5:12 PM
  - Pacatus
  - November 22, 2024 at 11:32 AM
3. Replies
  
  6
  
  Views
  
  4.1k
  
  6
4. Don
  November 22, 2024 at 11:32 AM

Suggestions For - "What I Wish I Had Known At 21 That I Now Know From Studying Epicurus" 11

Discussion of Article - "Epicurus And The Pleasure Of Rebelling Against Plato" 13

Complexity, Contradictions, and "Testing Out" Epicurean Philosophy 6

What Would Epicurus Say To Someone Who Said To Him That The Value of Being Dead and Being Alive Are Equal? 23

'Their God Is The Belly" / "The Root of All Good Is The Pleasure Of The Stomach" And Similar Attributions 14

Iliustrations and Analogies For Explaining the "Two And Only Two Feelings" Argument 39

Clement on Epicurus' And Other Philosophers Opinions As To The Chief Good 3

Discussion of Blog Article - "Why It Is Incorrect to Say Epicurean Philosophy Is Primarily About 'Absence of Pain'" 6

Should Epicurus be viewed as a pure consequentialist, virtue ethicist, or both? 14

Neither "ataraxia" nor "not ataraxia", but "Joy as the goal" 24

Would It Be Fair To Say That Epicurus Taught "Lower Your Expectations And You'll Never Be Disappointed"? 10

Epicurus And Pleasure As The Awareness Of Smooth Motion 14

Defining and Summarizing Epicurean Ethics 4

Hypotheticals: Would An Epicurean Hook Himself Up To An "Experience Machine" or a "Pleasure Machine"? 32

New Book by Erler (Würzburg Center): "Epicurus: An Introduction to His Practical Ethics and Politics" 3

Spitting Upon the Beautiful... 3

Why was Epicurus condemned to the sixth circle of hell in Dante's Divine Comedy? 4

Perspectives On "Proving" That Pleasure is "The Good" 209

What amount of effort should be put into pursuing pleasure or removing pain? 23

Is All Desire Painful? How Would Epicurus Answer? 25

"Absence Of Pain Is Pleasure" - How Would You Articulate That To Someone? 37

"Peace and Safety" vs. "Conflict and Danger" 7

When Epicureans Choose Pain / When Epicureans Treat Pain As Good 4

Why Minimizing All Desire Is Incorrect (And What To Do Instead) 34

A Fable on Unattainable Expectations 6

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