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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List Of Frequently Used Forums
  1. General Information And Discussion - Start Here
  2. Private Section - Includes Level 03 And Above Discussions and 20th Zoom Meeting
  3. The Lucretius Today Podcast and other Projects
  4. EpicureanFriends Zoom Meetings, Outreach, and Activism
  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
  9. Ancient Epicurean Texts (300 BC to 300 AD)
  10. Epicurean Books, Articles, and Videos (1500's - Present)
  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. Explaining In Summary Form How A Man In Extreme Pain Can Be Said To Be "Happy" 22

      • Cassius
      • April 20, 2024 at 5:38 AM
      • Cassius
      • July 1, 2024 at 1:24 PM
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      4.7k
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    4. Kalosyni

      July 1, 2024 at 1:24 PM

    2. Given The Stress That Many Greek Philosophers' Placed On "Virtue" or a perfect view of "The Good" As The Ultimate Goal, To What Extent Would An Epicurus Have Considered That Approach An "Unnatural and Unnecessary Desire?" 4

      • Cassius
      • February 26, 2024 at 4:51 PM
      • Cassius
      • February 26, 2024 at 10:48 PM
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      1.9k
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    4. Don

      February 26, 2024 at 10:48 PM

    2. Mental pleasure/pain more intense and longer lasting than physical pleasure/pain 33

      • frank1syl
      • December 13, 2023 at 10:19 PM
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    4. BrainToBeing

      December 13, 2023 at 10:19 PM

    2. Wikipedia on "Pleasure"

      • Kalosyni
      • October 18, 2023 at 6:24 PM
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      685

    2. If Death Is Nothing To Us, Then Life Is Everything to Us 29

      • Cassius
      • October 7, 2023 at 12:06 AM
      • Cassius
      • October 7, 2023 at 8:22 PM
    3. Replies
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      5.7k
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    4. Cassius

      October 7, 2023 at 8:22 PM

    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
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      2.3k
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    4. Kalosyni

      August 5, 2023 at 8:27 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
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    4. Root304

      June 15, 2023 at 12:36 AM

    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
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      7.2k
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    4. Don

      March 31, 2023 at 10:10 AM

    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
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      6.5k
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    4. Little Rocker

      February 5, 2023 at 3:43 PM

    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
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      1.5k
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    4. Cassius

      September 8, 2022 at 6:54 PM

    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
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      708

    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
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      6.1k
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    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
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      Views
      2.9k
      7

    4. Don

      February 4, 2022 at 9:54 AM

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

      • shahabgh66
      • August 7, 2021 at 10:04 AM
    3. Replies
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    4. Cassius

      August 7, 2021 at 10:04 AM

    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
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    4. Don

      June 24, 2021 at 5:33 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
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    2. On The Relationship of Eudaemonia And Pleasure

      • Cassius
      • July 10, 2019 at 7:02 AM
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      1k

    2. Episode 208: Epicurus on Seeking Pleasure (Part Two) 1

      • Hiram
      • February 4, 2019 at 3:12 PM
      • Hiram
      • February 5, 2019 at 7:04 AM
    3. Replies
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      1.6k
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    4. Cassius

      February 5, 2019 at 7:04 AM

    2. We are All Born Hedonists 1

      • Hiram
      • January 27, 2019 at 11:39 AM
      • Hiram
      • January 27, 2019 at 12:01 PM
    3. Replies
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      1.4k
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    4. Cassius

      January 27, 2019 at 12:01 PM

    2. A Place to Start

      • Cassius
      • January 21, 2019 at 4:41 PM
      • Cassius
      • January 21, 2019 at 4:41 PM
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      726

    2. Why was Epicurus condemned to the sixth circle of hell in Dante's Divine Comedy? 3

      • Hiram
      • January 7, 2019 at 10:55 AM
      • Hiram
      • January 7, 2019 at 11:51 AM
    3. Replies
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      2.7k
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    4. Matt

      January 7, 2019 at 11:51 AM

    2. Hiram Crespo on The Pursuit of Happiness, Epicurean Philosophy, and Changing Your Mindset 6

      • Hiram
      • December 14, 2018 at 2:23 PM
      • Hiram
      • December 17, 2018 at 12:22 PM
    3. Replies
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    4. Hiram

      December 17, 2018 at 12:22 PM

    2. Major Controversies In Understanding Epicurean Philosophy

      • Cassius
      • December 11, 2018 at 2:25 AM
      • Cassius
      • December 11, 2018 at 2:25 AM
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    2. My Best Summary As Of November 2018

      • Cassius
      • November 2, 2018 at 7:01 AM
      • Cassius
      • November 2, 2018 at 7:01 AM
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    2. Criticisms of An Article Entitled "Epicurean Pleasure" (October 1, 2018) 4

      • Cassius
      • October 2, 2018 at 9:28 AM
      • Cassius
      • October 9, 2018 at 8:40 AM
    3. Replies
      4
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      2.9k
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    4. Cassius

      October 9, 2018 at 8:40 AM

    2. The Meaning of Eudaemonia - "Good Demon" 1

      • Cassius
      • January 22, 2018 at 9:56 AM
      • Cassius
      • January 22, 2018 at 10:50 AM
    3. Replies
      1
      Views
      3.7k
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    4. Hiram

      January 22, 2018 at 10:50 AM

    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
      619
      4

    4. Don

      December 22, 2024 at 11:50 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 26, 2024 at 7:24 PM
    3. Replies
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      4.8k
      10

    4. DavidN

      January 26, 2024 at 7:24 PM

    2. Is All "Ataraxia" Equal? 30

      • Cassius
      • November 18, 2023 at 7:47 PM
      • Cassius
      • February 19, 2024 at 12:29 PM
    3. Replies
      30
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      7.9k
      30

    4. Cassius

      February 19, 2024 at 12:29 PM

    2. Explaining Perspectives - Chart Of Whole Organism vs Discrete Feelings

      • Cassius
      • October 17, 2023 at 8:52 AM
      • Cassius
      • October 17, 2023 at 8:52 AM
    3. Replies
      0
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      584

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    2. Epicurean Philosophy In Relation To Gulags and the Rack 5

      • Cassius
      • April 30, 2025 at 7:42 AM
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    4. Cassius

      April 30, 2025 at 7:42 AM

    2. The “Absence of Pain” Problem 11

      • Rolf
      • April 29, 2025 at 9:41 PM
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      699
      11

    4. Al-Hakiim von Grof

      April 29, 2025 at 9:41 PM

    2. Epicurean philosophy skewing toward elements of Stoicism in the time of Lucretius?? 9

      • Kalosyni
      • April 29, 2025 at 12:36 AM
    3. Replies
      9
      Views
      457
      9

    4. Godfrey

      April 29, 2025 at 12:36 AM

    2. Preconceptions and PD24 42

      • Eikadistes
      • April 27, 2025 at 9:27 AM
    3. Replies
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      13k
      42

    4. Eikadistes

      April 27, 2025 at 9:27 AM

    2. The Use of Negation in Epicurean Philosophy Concepts 47

      • Kalosyni
      • April 26, 2025 at 6:04 PM
    3. Replies
      47
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      47

    4. Elli

      April 26, 2025 at 6:04 PM