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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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
  
  1.8k
  
  14
4. Don
  May 8, 2026 at 7:32 PM
2. Is pleasure as the natural goal of life falsifiable? 30
  - 1
  - waterholic
  - December 8, 2022 at 6:08 AM
  - waterholic
  - February 10, 2023 at 11:02 PM
3. Replies
  
  30
  
  Views
  
  17k
  
  30
4. Don
  February 10, 2023 at 11:02 PM
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
  
  Views
  
  84k
  
  209
4. Matteng
  July 15, 2025 at 12:11 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. Pleasure vs pain - example and thoughts! 10
  - 2
  - ThinkingCat
  - May 20, 2023 at 4:02 AM
  - ThinkingCat
  - May 21, 2023 at 9:08 PM
3. Replies
  
  10
  
  Views
  
  7.1k
  
  10
4. Don
  May 21, 2023 at 9:08 PM
2. How has the word epicurean come to mean excess? 22
  - 3
  - ThinkingCat
  - May 13, 2023 at 9:24 AM
  - ThinkingCat
  - May 19, 2023 at 6:50 PM
3. Replies
  
  22
  
  Views
  
  20k
  
  22
4. Cassius
  May 19, 2023 at 6:50 PM
2. Some Epicurean conclusions 7
  - Stan85
  - May 19, 2018 at 7:23 PM
  - Stan85
  - May 25, 2018 at 4:38 AM
3. Replies
  
  7
  
  Views
  
  7.6k
  
  7
4. Cassius
  May 25, 2018 at 4:38 AM
2. Things that happen after we die 7
  - SimonC
  - February 4, 2022 at 6:29 AM
  - SimonC
  - February 4, 2022 at 9:54 AM
3. Replies
  
  7
  
  Views
  
  5.9k
  
  7
4. Don
  February 4, 2022 at 9:54 AM
2. Maximum pleasure as absence of all pain: a philosophical question concerning neuroscientific and Epicurean outlook toward the feeling of pleasure 10
  - shahabgh66
  - January 20, 2024 at 4:26 AM
  - shahabgh66
  - January 26, 2024 at 7:24 PM
3. Replies
  
  10
  
  Views
  
  13k
  
  10
4. DavidN
  January 26, 2024 at 7:24 PM
2. Regarding categories | Will to Power: a natural or un-natural desire? 7
  - 1
  - shahabgh66
  - August 7, 2021 at 6:02 AM
  - shahabgh66
  - August 7, 2021 at 10:04 AM
3. Replies
  
  7
  
  Views
  
  5.8k
  
  7
4. Cassius
  August 7, 2021 at 10:04 AM
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
2. Desiderata 2
  - 3
  - Pacatus
  - August 2, 2023 at 7:02 PM
  - Pacatus
  - August 2, 2023 at 7:45 PM
3. Replies
  
  2
  
  Views
  
  2.4k
  
  2
4. Pacatus
  August 2, 2023 at 7:45 PM
2. Epicurean Golden Rule? 14
  - 5
  - Pacatus
  - July 5, 2023 at 5:55 PM
  - Pacatus
  - September 30, 2024 at 9:17 AM
3. Replies
  
  14
  
  Views
  
  9.3k
  
  14
4. Don
  September 30, 2024 at 9:17 AM
2. “How Epicurean Science Saves Humanity” 3
  - 1
  - Pacatus
  - September 8, 2022 at 6:13 PM
  - Pacatus
  - September 8, 2022 at 6:54 PM
3. Replies
  
  3
  
  Views
  
  3.1k
  
  3
4. Cassius
  September 8, 2022 at 6:54 PM
2. Questions re Pleasure 2
  - 1
  - Matteng
  - November 9, 2024 at 5:35 AM
  - Matteng
  - November 9, 2024 at 3:50 PM
3. Replies
  
  2
  
  Views
  
  3.4k
  
  2
4. Matteng
  November 9, 2024 at 3:50 PM
2. Social feelings/actions to not-friends(or strangers, animals) (Philantropy /compassion /sympathy / kindness / charity /) 4
  - Matteng
  - May 17, 2023 at 4:50 AM
  - Matteng
  - May 17, 2023 at 11:00 AM
3. Replies
  
  4
  
  Views
  
  3.8k
  
  4
4. Joshua
  May 17, 2023 at 11:00 AM
2. Natural versus Unnatural 12
  - 2
  - Matt
  - December 30, 2020 at 8:54 AM
  - Matt
  - January 10, 2021 at 12:33 PM
3. Replies
  
  12
  
  Views
  
  9.4k
  
  12
4. Cassius
  January 10, 2021 at 12:33 PM
2. Valueless Virtue in Modern Stoicism 16
  - 3
  - Matt
  - January 10, 2019 at 8:48 AM
  - Matt
  - January 22, 2019 at 6:28 PM
3. Replies
  
  16
  
  Views
  
  13k
  
  16
4. Condorcet
  January 22, 2019 at 6:28 PM
2. The Normal Curve of Pleasure 5
  - 2
  - kochiekoch
  - July 22, 2024 at 1:28 PM
  - kochiekoch
  - July 23, 2024 at 5:59 PM
3. Replies
  
  5
  
  Views
  
  4.3k
  
  5
4. kochiekoch
  July 23, 2024 at 5:59 PM
2. Scientific Support for Psychological Hedonism 19
  - 4
  - kochiekoch
  - April 19, 2024 at 1:43 PM
  - kochiekoch
  - April 23, 2024 at 8:04 PM
3. Replies
  
  19
  
  Views
  
  12k
  
  19
4. Little Rocker
  April 23, 2024 at 8:04 PM
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
  
  834
  
  6
4. Cassius
  August 20, 2026 at 5:08 AM
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
  
  Views
  
  5.3k
  
  24
4. Don
  May 3, 2026 at 3:59 PM
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. 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
  
  Views
  
  8.1k
  
  23
4. Patrikios
  July 6, 2025 at 10:14 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. Health of the Body and Happiness of the Soul -vs- "The Goal is Pleasure" 4
  - 2
  - Kalosyni
  - June 4, 2024 at 1:34 PM
  - Kalosyni
  - September 9, 2024 at 6:56 AM
3. Replies
  
  4
  
  Views
  
  5.3k
  
  4
4. Cassius
  September 9, 2024 at 6:56 AM
2. List of Epicurean philosophical remedies
  - 2
  - Kalosyni
  - November 8, 2023 at 10:52 AM
  - Kalosyni
  - November 8, 2023 at 10:52 AM
3. Replies
  
  0
  
  Views
  
  1.6k
2. Wikipedia on "Pleasure"
  - 1
  - Kalosyni
  - October 18, 2023 at 6:24 PM
  - Kalosyni
  - October 18, 2023 at 6:24 PM
3. Replies
  
  0
  
  Views
  
  1.3k
2. Multiple Components Comprise the Epicurean Life 30
  - 1
  - Kalosyni
  - October 21, 2021 at 7:59 PM
  - Kalosyni
  - October 23, 2021 at 1:53 PM
3. Replies
  
  30
  
  Views
  
  18k
  
  30
4. Godfrey
  October 23, 2021 at 1:53 PM
2. Epicureanism Vs Asceticism 8
  - Hiram
  - March 12, 2019 at 9:44 AM
  - Hiram
  - March 14, 2019 at 1:37 PM
3. Replies
  
  8
  
  Views
  
  8.6k
  
  8
4. Cassius
  March 14, 2019 at 1:37 PM

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

Is pleasure as the natural goal of life falsifiable? 30

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

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

Pleasure vs pain - example and thoughts! 10

How has the word epicurean come to mean excess? 22

Some Epicurean conclusions 7

Things that happen after we die 7

Maximum pleasure as absence of all pain: a philosophical question concerning neuroscientific and Epicurean outlook toward the feeling of pleasure 10

Regarding categories | Will to Power: a natural or un-natural desire? 7

A Fable on Unattainable Expectations 6

Desiderata 2

Epicurean Golden Rule? 14

“How Epicurean Science Saves Humanity” 3

Questions re Pleasure 2

Social feelings/actions to not-friends(or strangers, animals) (Philantropy /compassion /sympathy / kindness / charity /) 4

Natural versus Unnatural 12

Valueless Virtue in Modern Stoicism 16

The Normal Curve of Pleasure 5

Scientific Support for Psychological Hedonism 19

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

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

Defining and Summarizing Epicurean Ethics 4

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

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

Health of the Body and Happiness of the Soul -vs- "The Goal is Pleasure" 4

Multiple Components Comprise the Epicurean Life 30

Epicureanism Vs Asceticism 8

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