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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  1. General Information And Discussion - Start Here
  2. Private Section - Includes Level 03 And Above Discussions and 20th Zoom Meeting
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  5. Physics - The Nature of the Universe
  6. Canonics - The Tests of Truth: The Five Senses, Anticipations, and Feelings of Pleasure and Pain
  7. Ethics - How to Live As An Epicurean
  8. Epicurean Historical Figures - Biographies of Epicureans from Epicurus To The Present
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  11. Comparisons With Non-Epicurean Philosophies
  12. History, Locations, and Customs Relevant to Ancient Epicureans
  13. Epicurean Symbolism in Art, Music, Literature, and Poetry

    2. Practical Pleasure-Pain Perspectives: How Different is 99% Pleasure From 100% Pleasure? 13

      • Cassius
      • October 5, 2023 at 12:06 PM
      • Cassius
      • October 6, 2023 at 10:24 AM
    3. Replies
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      5.8k
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    4. Cassius

      October 6, 2023 at 10:24 AM

    2. A Pleasant Life instead of Pleasure 7

      • EricR
      • August 4, 2023 at 8:14 AM
      • EricR
      • August 5, 2023 at 8:27 PM
    3. Replies
      7
      Views
      2.7k
      7

    4. Kalosyni

      August 5, 2023 at 8:27 PM

    2. Desiderata 2

      • Pacatus
      • August 2, 2023 at 7:02 PM
      • Pacatus
      • August 2, 2023 at 7:45 PM
    3. Replies
      2
      Views
      1.2k
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    4. Pacatus

      August 2, 2023 at 7:45 PM

    2. How would you respond to an existentialist who says "You Epicureans have chosen pleasure as your meaning but it's not universal" do Epicureans hold that pleasure is the universal Good? 13

      • Eoghan Gardiner
      • June 15, 2023 at 12:36 AM
    3. Replies
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      3.9k
      13

    4. Root304

      June 15, 2023 at 12:36 AM

    2. Ruminations on leading with “Pleasure and Pain as the Guide” v “The Goal is Pleasure” 4

      • Godfrey
      • June 9, 2023 at 7:07 AM
    3. Replies
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      2.2k
      4

    4. Cassius

      June 9, 2023 at 7:07 AM

    2. Pleasure vs pain - example and thoughts! 10

      • ThinkingCat
      • May 21, 2023 at 9:08 PM
    3. Replies
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      3.5k
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    4. Don

      May 21, 2023 at 9:08 PM

    2. How has the word epicurean come to mean excess? 22

      • ThinkingCat
      • May 19, 2023 at 6:50 PM
    3. Replies
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      7.6k
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    4. Cassius

      May 19, 2023 at 6:50 PM

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

      • Matteng
      • May 17, 2023 at 11:00 AM
    3. Replies
      4
      Views
      1.8k
      4

    4. Joshua

      May 17, 2023 at 11:00 AM

    2. "Living Life Full Measure" as an Epicurean Metaphor 3

      • Cassius
      • May 15, 2023 at 2:28 PM
    3. Replies
      3
      Views
      1.1k
      3

    4. Pacatus

      May 15, 2023 at 2:28 PM

    2. Imagery On The Interplay Between "Pursue Pleasure" and 'Avoid Pain" 33

      • Cassius
      • March 28, 2023 at 9:09 AM
      • Cassius
      • March 31, 2023 at 10:10 AM
    3. Replies
      33
      Views
      8.3k
      33

    4. Don

      March 31, 2023 at 10:10 AM

    2. Is pleasure as the natural goal of life falsifiable? 30

      • waterholic
      • December 8, 2022 at 6:08 AM
      • waterholic
      • February 10, 2023 at 11:02 PM
    3. Replies
      30
      Views
      9.7k
      30

    4. Don

      February 10, 2023 at 11:02 PM

    2. We Need A Game Show With A Lightning Round Question: "Happiness or Pleasure? - Why?" 28

      • Cassius
      • February 2, 2023 at 8:16 PM
      • Cassius
      • February 5, 2023 at 3:43 PM
    3. Replies
      28
      Views
      7.4k
      28

    4. Little Rocker

      February 5, 2023 at 3:43 PM

    2. Epicureans On Kingship 15

      • Cassius
      • August 2, 2022 at 10:16 AM
      • Cassius
      • October 10, 2022 at 5:11 AM
    3. Replies
      15
      Views
      4.9k
      15

    4. Sid

      October 10, 2022 at 5:11 AM

    2. “How Epicurean Science Saves Humanity” 3

      • Pacatus
      • September 8, 2022 at 6:13 PM
      • Pacatus
      • September 8, 2022 at 6:54 PM
    3. Replies
      3
      Views
      1.7k
      3

    4. Cassius

      September 8, 2022 at 6:54 PM

    2. Pleasure, Desire and Limits 36

      • Godfrey
      • July 20, 2022 at 8:34 PM
    3. Replies
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      13k
      36

    4. Godfrey

      July 20, 2022 at 8:34 PM

    2. Are You Epicurean Or Hieronymian? 26

      • Cassius
      • October 1, 2019 at 2:08 PM
      • Cassius
      • June 30, 2022 at 5:44 AM
    3. Replies
      26
      Views
      14k
      26

    4. Cassius

      June 30, 2022 at 5:44 AM

    2. Sedley paper on Plato with interesting Epicurean implications 2

      • Don
      • April 30, 2022 at 7:32 AM
      • Don
      • April 30, 2022 at 9:35 AM
    3. Replies
      2
      Views
      1.7k
      2

    4. Don

      April 30, 2022 at 9:35 AM

    2. Identifying And Dealing With Significant Error / Mistakes in Ourselves (and Others)

      • Cassius
      • April 21, 2022 at 9:38 AM
      • Cassius
      • April 21, 2022 at 9:38 AM
    3. Replies
      0
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      797

    2. As to the Term "Hedonic Calculus" or the "Calculus of Advantage" 22

      • Cassius
      • February 27, 2022 at 7:26 AM
      • Cassius
      • March 1, 2022 at 12:03 PM
    3. Replies
      22
      Views
      6.9k
      22

    4. Godfrey

      March 1, 2022 at 12:03 PM

    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
      3.2k
      7

    4. Don

      February 4, 2022 at 9:54 AM

    2. To What Extent Is This Consistent With Epicurean Ethics: "Life is Short - Life Passionately"

      • Cassius
      • October 6, 2021 at 4:08 PM
      • Cassius
      • October 6, 2021 at 4:08 PM
    3. Replies
      0
      Views
      870

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

      • shahabgh66
      • August 7, 2021 at 10:04 AM
    3. Replies
      7
      Views
      3.4k
      7

    4. Cassius

      August 7, 2021 at 10:04 AM

    2. Would There Be Benefit In Adapting the "Benjamin Franklin Journaling Model" To Our Discussion of Practical Exercises? 16

      • Cassius
      • July 12, 2021 at 12:26 PM
    3. Replies
      16
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      6.7k
      16

    4. A_Gardner

      July 12, 2021 at 12:26 PM

    2. New Book by Erler (Würzburg Center): "Epicurus: An Introduction to His Practical Ethics and Politics" 2

      • Titus
      • June 24, 2021 at 3:39 PM
      • Titus
      • June 24, 2021 at 5:33 PM
    3. Replies
      2
      Views
      4.4k
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    4. Don

      June 24, 2021 at 5:33 PM

    2. Epicurus On Money, And A Connection With Limits Referenced By A Modern Philosopher 2

      • Cassius
      • June 11, 2021 at 9:42 AM
    3. Replies
      2
      Views
      1.9k
      2

    4. Cassius

      June 11, 2021 at 9:42 AM

    2. Inferential Foundations of Epicurean Ethics by David Sedley 1

      • Godfrey
      • June 3, 2021 at 4:47 PM
    3. Replies
      1
      Views
      1.3k
      1

    4. Cassius

      June 3, 2021 at 4:47 PM

    2. Wanting vs Liking

      • Elayne
      • January 24, 2021 at 9:05 AM
      • Elayne
      • January 24, 2021 at 9:05 AM
    3. Replies
      0
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      764

    2. Natural versus Unnatural 12

      • Matt
      • December 30, 2020 at 8:54 AM
      • Matt
      • January 10, 2021 at 12:33 PM
    3. Replies
      12
      Views
      5.4k
      12

    4. Cassius

      January 10, 2021 at 12:33 PM

    2. From Elli: ""And the pleasure which we daily feel in all these things helps us to banish any sorrow." - Pericles the Athenian.

      • Cassius
      • January 6, 2021 at 10:27 AM
      • Cassius
      • January 6, 2021 at 10:27 AM
    3. Replies
      0
      Views
      928

    2. On "Desires" And Their Relationship To Pleasure 30

      • Godfrey
      • September 10, 2020 at 2:53 PM
      • Godfrey
      • September 12, 2020 at 7:44 PM
    3. Replies
      30
      Views
      11k
      30

    4. Cassius

      September 12, 2020 at 7:44 PM

Unread Threads

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    2. The Religion of Nature - as supported by Lucretius' De Rerum Natura 4

      • Kalosyni
      • June 23, 2025 at 12:36 AM
    3. Replies
      4
      Views
      579
      4

    4. Godfrey

      June 23, 2025 at 12:36 AM

    2. New Blog Post From Elli - " Fanaticism and the Danger of Dogmatism in Political and Religious Thought: An Epicurean Reading"

      • Cassius
      • June 20, 2025 at 4:31 PM
    3. Replies
      0
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      1.3k

    2. Best Lucretius translation? 9

      • Rolf
      • June 19, 2025 at 3:01 PM
    3. Replies
      9
      Views
      460
      9

    4. Cassius

      June 19, 2025 at 3:01 PM

    2. New Translation of Epicurus' Works 1

      • Eikadistes
      • June 16, 2025 at 6:32 PM
    3. Replies
      1
      Views
      418
      1

    4. Cassius

      June 16, 2025 at 6:32 PM

    2. Epicurean Emporium 9

      • Eikadistes
      • June 16, 2025 at 3:37 PM
    3. Replies
      9
      Views
      1.9k
      9

    4. Eikadistes

      June 16, 2025 at 3:37 PM