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.

Latest Lucretius Today Podcast

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

Website Overview Forum Navigation Map News & Forum Updates Recent Activity

1. - Author
    - Title
    - Author
    - Date
    - Replies
    - Reactions
    - Views
    - Last Reply
2. ‪Could #Epicurus save us?‬ ‪A #philosophy of #pleasure could cure our modern ills 1
  - Hiram
  - March 5, 2019 at 5:06 PM
  - Hiram
  - March 5, 2019 at 5:59 PM
3. Replies
  
  1
  
  Views
  
  2.1k
  
  1
4. Cassius
  March 5, 2019 at 5:59 PM
2. Understanding of good vs. bad desires? 1
  - Hiram
  - February 13, 2019 at 6:54 AM
  - Hiram
  - February 13, 2019 at 9:09 AM
3. Replies
  
  1
  
  Views
  
  2.6k
  
  1
4. Cassius
  February 13, 2019 at 9:09 AM
2. Episode 208: Epicurus on Seeking Pleasure (Part Two) 1
  - 1
  - Hiram
  - February 4, 2019 at 3:12 PM
  - Hiram
  - February 5, 2019 at 7:04 AM
3. Replies
  
  1
  
  Views
  
  2.3k
  
  1
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
  
  1
  
  Views
  
  2k
  
  1
4. Cassius
  January 27, 2019 at 12:01 PM
2. Why was Epicurus condemned to the sixth circle of hell in Dante's Divine Comedy? 4
  - 1
  - Hiram
  - January 7, 2019 at 10:55 AM
  - Hiram
  - August 16, 2025 at 10:10 PM
3. Replies
  
  4
  
  Views
  
  7.2k
  
  4
4. Eikadistes
  August 16, 2025 at 10:10 PM
2. "Objective Morality" 3
  - Hiram
  - December 26, 2018 at 11:51 AM
  - Hiram
  - December 26, 2018 at 5:52 PM
3. Replies
  
  3
  
  Views
  
  5.7k
  
  3
4. Cassius
  December 26, 2018 at 5:52 PM
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. 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. Ruminations on leading with “Pleasure and Pain as the Guide” v “The Goal is Pleasure” 4
  - 2
  - Godfrey
  - June 7, 2023 at 9:10 PM
  - Godfrey
  - June 9, 2023 at 7:07 AM
3. Replies
  
  4
  
  Views
  
  4.6k
  
  4
4. Cassius
  June 9, 2023 at 7:07 AM
2. Pleasure, Desire and Limits 36
  - 3
  - Godfrey
  - July 17, 2022 at 9:25 PM
  - Godfrey
  - July 20, 2022 at 8:34 PM
3. Replies
  
  36
  
  Views
  
  25k
  
  36
4. Godfrey
  July 20, 2022 at 8:34 PM
2. Inferential Foundations of Epicurean Ethics by David Sedley 1
  - Godfrey
  - June 3, 2021 at 4:18 PM
  - Godfrey
  - June 3, 2021 at 4:47 PM
3. Replies
  
  1
  
  Views
  
  2.1k
  
  1
4. Cassius
  June 3, 2021 at 4:47 PM
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
  
  16k
  
  30
4. Cassius
  September 12, 2020 at 7:44 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. Mental pleasure/pain more intense and longer lasting than physical pleasure/pain 33
  - 1
  - frank1syl
  - December 5, 2023 at 11:15 AM
  - frank1syl
  - December 13, 2023 at 10:19 PM
3. Replies
  
  33
  
  Views
  
  17k
  
  33
4. BrainToBeing
  December 13, 2023 at 10:19 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. "Absence Of Pain Is Pleasure" - How Would You Articulate That To Someone? 37
  - Eoghan Gardiner
  - November 15, 2023 at 9:32 AM
  - Eoghan Gardiner
  - April 16, 2025 at 5:22 PM
3. Replies
  
  37
  
  Views
  
  27k
  
  37
4. Rolf
  April 16, 2025 at 5:22 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
  - 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. On the associations between Virtue and Pleasure and my Epicurean Write up 1
  - Eoghan Gardiner
  - March 27, 2018 at 4:43 AM
  - Eoghan Gardiner
  - March 27, 2018 at 7:56 AM
3. Replies
  
  1
  
  Views
  
  2.4k
  
  1
4. Cassius
  March 27, 2018 at 7:56 AM
2. A Man’s Neighbor And His Dog (PDs' 32 & 39 &40)
  - Elli
  - November 5, 2018 at 10:36 AM
  - Elli
  - November 5, 2018 at 10:36 AM
3. Replies
  
  0
  
  Views
  
  3.3k
2. Wanting vs Liking
  - 1
  - Elayne
  - January 24, 2021 at 9:05 AM
  - Elayne
  - January 24, 2021 at 9:05 AM
3. Replies
  
  0
  
  Views
  
  1.2k
2. Sedley paper on Plato with interesting Epicurean implications 2
  - 2
  - Don
  - April 30, 2022 at 7:32 AM
  - Don
  - April 30, 2022 at 9:35 AM
3. Replies
  
  2
  
  Views
  
  2.9k
  
  2
4. Don
  April 30, 2022 at 9:35 AM
2. Suggestions For - "What I Wish I Had Known At 21 That I Now Know From Studying Epicurus"
  - 1
  - Cassius
  - September 21, 2026 at 8:02 AM
  - Cassius
  - September 21, 2026 at 8:02 AM
3. Replies
  
  0
  
  Views
  
  47
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. Discussion Of The Article: "The Completeness Argument, Cicero's Knowledge Of It, And The Epicurean Response"
  - 1
  - Cassius
  - August 7, 2026 at 10:43 AM
  - Cassius
  - August 7, 2026 at 10:43 AM
3. Replies
  
  0
  
  Views
  
  507
2. What Would Epicurus Say To Someone Who Said To Him That The Value of Being Dead and Being Alive Are Equal? 23
  - Cassius
  - June 24, 2026 at 12:57 PM
  - Cassius
  - July 8, 2026 at 9:31 AM
3. Replies
  
  23
  
  Views
  
  2k
  
  23
4. Kalosyni
  July 8, 2026 at 9:31 AM
2. Clement on Epicurus' And Other Philosophers Opinions As To The Chief Good 3
  - 1
  - Cassius
  - May 20, 2026 at 7:22 PM
  - Cassius
  - May 20, 2026 at 11:03 PM
3. Replies
  
  3
  
  Views
  
  731
  
  3
4. Joshua
  May 20, 2026 at 11:03 PM
2. Iliustrations and Analogies For Explaining the "Two And Only Two Feelings" Argument 39
  - Cassius
  - May 20, 2026 at 5:24 PM
  - Cassius
  - May 22, 2026 at 1:06 PM
3. Replies
  
  39
  
  Views
  
  3.4k
  
  39
4. Todd
  May 22, 2026 at 1:06 PM
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. Eikadistes Article Discussion - 'No Politics'
  - Cassius
  - May 18, 2026 at 7:27 PM
  - Cassius
  - May 18, 2026 at 7:27 PM
3. Replies
  
  0
  
  Views
  
  607
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

Finding Things At EpicureanFriends.com

Here is a list of suggested search strategies:

Website Overview page - clickable links arrranged by cards.
Forum Main Page - list of forums and subforums arranged by topic. Threads are posted according to relevant topics. The "Uncategorized subforum" contains threads which do not fall into any existing topic (also contains older "unfiled" threads which will soon be moved).
Search Tool - icon is located on the top right of every page. Note that the search box asks you what section of the forum you'd like to search. If you don't know, select "Everywhere."
Search By Key Tags - curated to show frequently-searched topics.
Full Tag List - an alphabetical list of all tags.

‪Could #Epicurus save us?‬ ‪A #philosophy of #pleasure could cure our modern ills 1

Understanding of good vs. bad desires? 1

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

We are All Born Hedonists 1

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

"Objective Morality" 3

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

Epicurean Freedom. Enslavement by culture. The mob. 15

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

Pleasure, Desire and Limits 36

Inferential Foundations of Epicurean Ethics by David Sedley 1

On "Desires" And Their Relationship To Pleasure 30

Epicurean virtues listed by importance 8

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

A Pleasant Life instead of Pleasure 7

"Absence Of Pain Is Pleasure" - How Would You Articulate That To Someone? 37

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

On the associations between Virtue and Pleasure and my Epicurean Write up 1

Sedley paper on Plato with interesting Epicurean implications 2

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

What Would Epicurus Say To Someone Who Said To Him That The Value of Being Dead and Being Alive Are Equal? 23

Clement on Epicurus' And Other Philosophers Opinions As To The Chief Good 3

Iliustrations and Analogies For Explaining the "Two And Only Two Feelings" Argument 39

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

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

Display Options

Finding Things At EpicureanFriends.com

Here is a list of suggested search strategies:

Statistics