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 351 — "Heap Big Trouble For The Stoic-Platonic Approach To Knowledge"

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1. - Replies
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2. Epicurean Freedom. Enslavement by culture. The mob. 15
  - Harrington Andros
  - April 19, 2018 at 12:42 PM
  - Harrington Andros
  - May 14, 2018 at 12:11 PM
3. Replies
  
  15
  
  Views
  
  13k
  
  15
4. Hiram
  May 14, 2018 at 12:11 PM
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
  
  1.5k
  
  14
4. Don
  May 8, 2026 at 7:32 PM
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
  
  Views
  
  4.5k
  
  14
4. Pacatus
  June 12, 2026 at 12:58 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
  
  9.1k
  
  14
4. Don
  September 30, 2024 at 9:17 AM
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
  
  7.9k
  
  14
4. Cassius
  December 31, 2025 at 7:04 AM
2. An Epicurean "Sanity Check" 14
  - Cassius
  - February 2, 2019 at 11:55 PM
  - Cassius
  - February 5, 2019 at 8:20 AM
3. Replies
  
  14
  
  Views
  
  10k
  
  14
4. Cassius
  February 5, 2019 at 8:20 AM
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
  
  Views
  
  853
  
  13
4. Robert
  September 5, 2026 at 11:05 AM
2. Practical Pleasure-Pain Perspectives: How Different is 99% Pleasure From 100% Pleasure? 13
  - 2
  - Cassius
  - October 5, 2023 at 12:06 PM
  - Cassius
  - October 6, 2023 at 10:24 AM
3. Replies
  
  13
  
  Views
  
  10k
  
  13
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
  - 1
  - Eoghan Gardiner
  - June 13, 2023 at 9:13 AM
  - Eoghan Gardiner
  - June 15, 2023 at 12:36 AM
3. Replies
  
  13
  
  Views
  
  7.6k
  
  13
4. Root304
  June 15, 2023 at 12:36 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
  
  9.3k
  
  12
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
  
  11
  
  Views
  
  14k
  
  11
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
  
  10
  
  Views
  
  2.4k
  
  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 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. 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
  
  7k
  
  10
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
  - 3
  - Cassius
  - February 26, 2024 at 4:43 PM
  - Cassius
  - February 29, 2024 at 12:22 AM
3. Replies
  
  8
  
  Views
  
  5.9k
  
  8
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
  
  8
  
  Views
  
  8.5k
  
  8
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
  
  8
  
  Views
  
  7.4k
  
  8
4. Cassius
  February 1, 2019 at 7:47 AM
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
  
  4.4k
  
  7
4. Cassius
  February 2, 2025 at 3:47 PM
2. A Pleasant Life instead of Pleasure 7
  - 1
  - EricR
  - August 4, 2023 at 8:14 AM
  - EricR
  - August 5, 2023 at 8:27 PM
3. Replies
  
  7
  
  Views
  
  4.4k
  
  7
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
  
  7
  
  Views
  
  5.8k
  
  7
4. Don
  February 4, 2022 at 9:54 AM
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
  
  5.7k
  
  7
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
  
  7
  
  Views
  
  7.5k
  
  7
4. Cassius
  May 25, 2018 at 4:38 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
  
  592
  
  6
4. Cassius
  August 20, 2026 at 5:08 AM
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
  
  1.2k
  
  6
4. Cassius
  May 20, 2026 at 5:12 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
  
  4k
  
  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
  - 1
  - Hiram
  - December 14, 2018 at 2:23 PM
  - Hiram
  - December 17, 2018 at 12:22 PM
3. Replies
  
  6
  
  Views
  
  5.8k
  
  6
4. Hiram
  December 17, 2018 at 12:22 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
  
  4.2k
  
  5
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
  
  5
  
  Views
  
  8k
  
  5
4. Cassius
  December 28, 2018 at 10:42 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
  
  1.5k
  
  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
  
  3.2k
  
  4
4. Don
  December 22, 2024 at 11:50 AM

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Epicurean Freedom. Enslavement by culture. The mob. 15

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

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

Epicurean Golden Rule? 14

Epicurus And Pleasure As The Awareness Of Smooth Motion 14

An Epicurean "Sanity Check" 14

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

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

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

Natural versus Unnatural 12

Elena Nicoli - An Excellent Presentation On Epicurean Pleasure 11

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

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

Pleasure vs pain - example and thoughts! 10

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

Epicureanism Vs Asceticism 8

Epicurean virtues listed by importance 8

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

A Pleasant Life instead of Pleasure 7

Things that happen after we die 7

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

Some Epicurean conclusions 7

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

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

A Fable on Unattainable Expectations 6

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

The Normal Curve of Pleasure 5

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

Defining and Summarizing Epicurean Ethics 4

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

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Finding Things At EpicureanFriends.com

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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