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. Ancient Epicurean Texts (300 BC to 300 AD)
  2. The Lucretius Today Podcast and other Projects
  3. Study Resources and Activism
  4. Physics - The Nature of the Universe
  5. Canonics - The Tests of Truth: The Five Senses, Anticipations, and Feelings of Pleasure and Pain
  6. Ethics - How to Live As An Epicurean
  7. Uncategorized Section
  8. Epicurean Books, Articles, and Videos (1500's - Present)
  9. Epicurean Historical Figures - Biographies of Epicureans from Epicurus To The Present
  10. Comparisons With Non-Epicurean Philosophies
  11. History, Locations, and Customs Relevant to Ancient Epicureans
  12. Epicurean Symbolism in Art, Music, Literature, and Poetry
  13. Level 03 And Above Discussions
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    2. An Epicurean "Sanity Check" 14

      • Cassius
      • February 2, 2019 at 11:55 PM
      • Cassius
      • February 5, 2019 at 8:20 AM
    3. Replies
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      8.9k
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    4. Cassius

      February 5, 2019 at 8:20 AM

    2. 'Their God Is The Belly" / "The Root of All Good Is The Pleasure Of The Stomach" And Similar Attributions 13

      • Cassius
      • November 24, 2025 at 9:55 AM
      • Cassius
      • December 11, 2025 at 12:07 AM
    3. Replies
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      Views
      1.8k
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    4. Joshua

      December 11, 2025 at 12:07 AM

    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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      8.6k
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    4. Cassius

      October 6, 2023 at 10:24 AM

    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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      5.9k
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    4. Root304

      June 15, 2023 at 12:36 AM

    2. Natural versus Unnatural 12

      • Matt
      • December 30, 2020 at 8:54 AM
      • Matt
      • January 10, 2021 at 12:33 PM
    3. Replies
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      Views
      7.6k
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    4. Cassius

      January 10, 2021 at 12:33 PM

    2. Elena Nicoli - An Excellent Presentation On Epicurean Pleasure 11

      • Cassius
      • April 16, 2018 at 4:18 PM
      • Cassius
      • May 7, 2018 at 10:50 AM
    3. Replies
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      Views
      11k
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    4. Eoghan Gardiner

      May 7, 2018 at 10:50 AM

    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
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      616
      10

    4. kochiekoch

      February 1, 2026 at 8:33 PM

    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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      9.2k
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    4. DavidN

      January 26, 2024 at 7:24 PM

    2. Pleasure vs pain - example and thoughts! 10

      • ThinkingCat
      • May 21, 2023 at 9:08 PM
    3. Replies
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      5.6k
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    4. Don

      May 21, 2023 at 9:08 PM

    2. If We Agree For The Sake of Argument That "The Perfect Should Not Be The Enemy of The Good," then let's ask "What *Should* We Consider To Be The Proper Relationship Between The Perfect And The Good?" 8

      • Cassius
      • February 26, 2024 at 4:43 PM
      • Cassius
      • February 29, 2024 at 12:22 AM
    3. Replies
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      Views
      4.7k
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    4. Don

      February 29, 2024 at 12:22 AM

    2. Epicureanism Vs Asceticism 8

      • Hiram
      • March 12, 2019 at 9:44 AM
      • Hiram
      • March 14, 2019 at 1:37 PM
    3. Replies
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      Views
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    4. Cassius

      March 14, 2019 at 1:37 PM

    2. Epicurean virtues listed by importance 8

      • godek
      • January 28, 2019 at 8:45 PM
      • godek
      • February 1, 2019 at 7:47 AM
    3. Replies
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      6k
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    4. Cassius

      February 1, 2019 at 7:47 AM

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

      • Cassius
      • February 2, 2025 at 9:00 AM
      • Cassius
      • February 2, 2025 at 3:47 PM
    3. Replies
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      Views
      3.2k
      7

    4. Cassius

      February 2, 2025 at 3:47 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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      Views
      3.7k
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    4. Kalosyni

      August 5, 2023 at 8:27 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
      4.6k
      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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      Views
      4.7k
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    4. Cassius

      August 7, 2021 at 10:04 AM

    2. Some Epicurean conclusions 7

      • Stan85
      • May 19, 2018 at 7:23 PM
      • Stan85
      • May 25, 2018 at 4:38 AM
    3. Replies
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      6.4k
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    4. Cassius

      May 25, 2018 at 4:38 AM

    2. Do you believe in psychological hedonism/egoism? Any philosophers on this? 6

      • wbernys
      • October 17, 2025 at 6:18 PM
      • wbernys
      • October 23, 2025 at 12:14 AM
    3. Replies
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      Views
      1.1k
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    4. Adrastus

      October 23, 2025 at 12:14 AM

    2. A Fable on Unattainable Expectations 6

      • Pacatus
      • October 16, 2024 at 5:12 PM
      • Pacatus
      • November 22, 2024 at 11:32 AM
    3. Replies
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      Views
      3k
      6

    4. Don

      November 22, 2024 at 11:32 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
      6
      Views
      4.9k
      6

    4. Hiram

      December 17, 2018 at 12:22 PM

    2. The Normal Curve of Pleasure 5

      • kochiekoch
      • July 23, 2024 at 5:59 PM
    3. Replies
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      3.3k
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    4. kochiekoch

      July 23, 2024 at 5:59 PM

    2. After Religion and Death, The Third Greatest Threat To Happiness As The Highest Goal of Life 5

      • Cassius
      • December 27, 2018 at 4:33 PM
      • Cassius
      • December 28, 2018 at 10:42 AM
    3. Replies
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      6.7k
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    4. Cassius

      December 28, 2018 at 10:42 AM

    2. Defining and Summarizing Epicurean Ethics 4

      • Kalosyni
      • December 18, 2025 at 3:10 PM
    3. Replies
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      4

    4. Kalosyni

      December 18, 2025 at 3:10 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
      2.2k
      4

    4. Don

      December 22, 2024 at 11:50 AM

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

      • Kalosyni
      • September 9, 2024 at 6:56 AM
    3. Replies
      4
      Views
      3.8k
      4

    4. Cassius

      September 9, 2024 at 6:56 AM

    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
    3. Replies
      4
      Views
      3.4k
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    4. Don

      February 26, 2024 at 10:48 PM

    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
      4
      Views
      3.5k
      4

    4. Cassius

      June 9, 2023 at 7:07 AM

    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
      3k
      4

    4. Joshua

      May 17, 2023 at 11:00 AM

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

      • Hiram
      • January 7, 2019 at 10:55 AM
      • Hiram
      • August 16, 2025 at 10:10 PM
    3. Replies
      4
      Views
      5.3k
      4

    4. Eikadistes

      August 16, 2025 at 10:10 PM

    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
      Views
      3.6k
      4

    4. Cassius

      October 9, 2018 at 8:40 AM

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