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
  9. Ancient Epicurean Texts (300 BC to 300 AD)
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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. 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. Why Minimizing All Desire Is Incorrect (And What To Do Instead) 34

      • Kalosyni
      • December 8, 2024 at 2:08 PM
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    4. Cassius

      December 8, 2024 at 2:08 PM

    2. My 2024 Resolution: Get A More Accurate Picture of Epicurean Pleasure To The World Rather Than "Tranquility" or "Live Unkown"(Comment on Irish Times Article) 15

      • Cassius
      • January 1, 2024 at 7:03 AM
      • Cassius
      • January 27, 2024 at 5:25 PM
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    4. Eikadistes

      January 27, 2024 at 5:25 PM

    2. Epicurean Golden Rule? 14

      • Pacatus
      • September 30, 2024 at 9:17 AM
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    4. Don

      September 30, 2024 at 9:17 AM

    2. "Objective Morality" 3

      • Hiram
      • December 26, 2018 at 11:51 AM
      • Hiram
      • December 26, 2018 at 5:52 PM
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    4. Cassius

      December 26, 2018 at 5:52 PM

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

      • Cassius
      • January 22, 2018 at 9:56 AM
      • Cassius
      • January 22, 2018 at 10:50 AM
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    4. Hiram

      January 22, 2018 at 10:50 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
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    4. Root304

      June 15, 2023 at 12:36 AM

    2. A Debate About Hedonism

      • Cassius
      • January 13, 2018 at 3:35 PM
      • Cassius
      • January 13, 2018 at 3:35 PM
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    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
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    4. Hiram

      December 17, 2018 at 12:22 PM

    2. Nietzsche Channeling Epicurus "Never Losing One's Own Way," and How To Proceed With Philosophical Therapy 3

      • Cassius
      • December 23, 2018 at 10:13 AM
      • Cassius
      • February 1, 2019 at 10:27 AM
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    4. Cassius

      February 1, 2019 at 10:27 AM

    2. Pleasure vs pain - example and thoughts! 10

      • ThinkingCat
      • May 21, 2023 at 9:08 PM
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    4. Don

      May 21, 2023 at 9:08 PM

    2. Fundamental Issues In Hedonism 15

      • BrainToBeing
      • December 14, 2023 at 9:52 AM
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    4. Kalosyni

      December 14, 2023 at 9:52 AM

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

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

      August 7, 2021 at 10:04 AM

    2. Epicurus And Pleasure As The Awareness Of Smooth Motion 13

      • Cassius
      • February 6, 2024 at 12:24 PM
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    4. Cassius

      February 6, 2024 at 12:24 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
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    4. Don

      February 4, 2022 at 9:54 AM

    2. Graphic - Cassius To Cicero - A Question of Word Choice 2

      • Cassius
      • February 11, 2018 at 8:53 AM
      • Cassius
      • February 11, 2018 at 9:50 AM
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    4. Cassius

      February 11, 2018 at 9:50 AM

    2. Why Do We Focus On "Pleasure" as the Goal and the Good, Rather than "Happiness?" 3

      • Cassius
      • December 18, 2018 at 8:50 AM
      • Cassius
      • December 18, 2018 at 12:47 PM
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    4. Cassius

      December 18, 2018 at 12:47 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
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    4. Cassius

      October 9, 2018 at 8:40 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
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    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
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    4. Matt

      January 7, 2019 at 11:51 AM

    2. A General Thought About The Future Of Epicurean Philosophy - On The Meaning of "Pleasure" 2

      • Cassius
      • April 13, 2018 at 12:54 PM
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    4. Hiram

      April 13, 2018 at 12:54 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
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    4. Don

      February 29, 2024 at 12:22 AM

    2. "Philosophize This" - A Statement of the Position That Ataraxia is "True Pleasure" and that Epicureans Should Have No Ambitions Other than to Remove the Desire For Ambition - Your Focus is the Complete Removal of Pain - Agree or Disagree?

      • Cassius
      • February 14, 2018 at 8:49 AM
      • Cassius
      • February 14, 2018 at 8:49 AM
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    2. A Pleasant Life instead of Pleasure 7

      • EricR
      • August 4, 2023 at 8:14 AM
      • EricR
      • August 5, 2023 at 8:27 PM
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    4. Kalosyni

      August 5, 2023 at 8:27 PM

    2. How To Turn Epicurean Philosophy On Its Head As Quickly As Possible - A Quick Comment on Mark 12 3

      • Cassius
      • December 21, 2018 at 8:58 AM
      • Cassius
      • December 21, 2018 at 3:22 PM
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    4. Matt

      December 21, 2018 at 3:22 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. 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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    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
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    4. Cassius

      June 9, 2023 at 7:07 AM

    2. Is it true that "ataraxia is not physical pleasure, or even mental pleasure, but a state of inner calm?"

      • Cassius
      • March 11, 2017 at 3:25 PM
      • Cassius
      • March 11, 2017 at 3:25 PM
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    2. Health of the Body and Happiness of the Soul -vs- "The Goal is Pleasure" 4

      • Kalosyni
      • September 9, 2024 at 6:56 AM
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    4. Cassius

      September 9, 2024 at 6:56 AM

Unread Threads

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    2. Daily life of ancient Epicureans / 21st Century Epicureans 38

      • Robert
      • May 29, 2025 at 1:44 PM
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    4. Pacatus

      May 29, 2025 at 1:44 PM

    2. Emily Austin's "LIving For Pleasure" Wins Award. (H/T to Lowri for finding this!)

      • Cassius
      • May 28, 2025 at 10:57 PM
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    2. Confusion: "The feelings are only two" 49

      • Rolf
      • May 28, 2025 at 1:09 PM
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    4. Rolf

      May 28, 2025 at 1:09 PM

    2. Brain-storming Ideas for Future Study Groups 10

      • Kalosyni
      • May 27, 2025 at 3:27 PM
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    4. Patrikios

      May 27, 2025 at 3:27 PM

    2. Words of wisdom from Scottish comedian Billy Connolly 5

      • Don
      • May 25, 2025 at 12:27 PM
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    4. Don

      May 25, 2025 at 12:27 PM