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 356 — "The Skeptics Argue All Sides But Conceal Their Conclusions"

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1. - Reactions
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    - Date
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2. My Best Summary As Of November 2018
  - 1
  - Cassius
  - November 2, 2018 at 7:01 AM
  - Cassius
  - November 2, 2018 at 7:01 AM
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  1.8k
2. Criticisms of An Article Entitled "Epicurean Pleasure" (October 1, 2018) 4
  - 1
  - Cassius
  - October 2, 2018 at 9:28 AM
  - Cassius
  - October 9, 2018 at 8:40 AM
3. Replies
  
  4
  
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  4.2k
  
  4
4. Cassius
  October 9, 2018 at 8:40 AM
2. The Meaning of Eudaemonia - "Good Demon" 1
  - 1
  - Cassius
  - January 22, 2018 at 9:56 AM
  - Cassius
  - January 22, 2018 at 10:50 AM
3. Replies
  
  1
  
  Views
  
  5.7k
  
  1
4. Hiram
  January 22, 2018 at 10:50 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
  
  763
  
  6
4. Cassius
  August 20, 2026 at 5:08 AM
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
  
  2.4k
  
  23
4. Kalosyni
  July 8, 2026 at 9:31 AM
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
  
  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
  
  1.4k
  
  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
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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
  
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  1.7k
  
  14
4. Don
  May 8, 2026 at 7:32 PM
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
  
  2.6k
  
  10
4. kochiekoch
  February 1, 2026 at 8:33 PM
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
  
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  1.6k
  
  4
4. Kalosyni
  December 18, 2025 at 3:10 PM
2. Cicero's Comparison of the Life of Lucius Balbus (Pleasure) Against That Of Marcus Regulus (VIrtue)
  - Cassius
  - August 6, 2025 at 8:55 AM
  - Cassius
  - August 6, 2025 at 8:55 AM
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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
  
  3.3k
  
  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 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. Is All "Ataraxia" Equal? 30
  - Cassius
  - November 18, 2023 at 7:47 PM
  - Cassius
  - February 19, 2024 at 12:29 PM
3. Replies
  
  30
  
  Views
  
  17k
  
  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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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. Would You Rather Live For A Week As (1) Epicurus During the Last Week of His Life or (2) An Anonymous Shepherd Laying In The Grass In The Summertime With No Pain At All? 104
  - Cassius
  - September 6, 2023 at 2:36 PM
  - Cassius
  - October 22, 2023 at 3:28 PM
3. Replies
  
  104
  
  Views
  
  45k
  
  104
4. Pacatus
  October 22, 2023 at 3:28 PM
2. Social feelings/actions to not-friends(or strangers, animals) (Philantropy /compassion /sympathy / kindness / charity /) 4
  - Matteng
  - May 17, 2023 at 4:50 AM
  - Matteng
  - May 17, 2023 at 11:00 AM
3. Replies
  
  4
  
  Views
  
  3.8k
  
  4
4. Joshua
  May 17, 2023 at 11:00 AM
2. "Living Life Full Measure" as an Epicurean Metaphor 3
  - Cassius
  - May 14, 2023 at 1:40 PM
  - Cassius
  - May 15, 2023 at 2:28 PM
3. Replies
  
  3
  
  Views
  
  2.4k
  
  3
4. Pacatus
  May 15, 2023 at 2:28 PM
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
  
  8.1k
  
  14
4. Cassius
  December 31, 2025 at 7:04 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
  
  33
  
  Views
  
  16k
  
  33
4. Don
  March 31, 2023 at 10:10 AM
2. Epicureans On Kingship 15
  - Cassius
  - August 2, 2022 at 10:16 AM
  - Cassius
  - October 10, 2022 at 5:11 AM
3. Replies
  
  15
  
  Views
  
  9k
  
  15
4. Sid
  October 10, 2022 at 5:11 AM
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. To What Extent Is This Consistent With Epicurean Ethics: "Life is Short - Life Passionately"
  - Cassius
  - October 6, 2021 at 4:08 PM
  - Cassius
  - October 6, 2021 at 4:08 PM
3. Replies
  
  0
  
  Views
  
  1.3k
2. Would There Be Benefit In Adapting the "Benjamin Franklin Journaling Model" To Our Discussion of Practical Exercises? 16
  - Cassius
  - July 8, 2021 at 11:07 AM
  - Cassius
  - July 12, 2021 at 12:26 PM
3. Replies
  
  16
  
  Views
  
  11k
  
  16
4. A_Gardner
  July 12, 2021 at 12:26 PM
2. Epicurus On Money, And A Connection With Limits Referenced By A Modern Philosopher 2
  - Cassius
  - June 11, 2021 at 8:29 AM
  - Cassius
  - June 11, 2021 at 9:42 AM
3. Replies
  
  2
  
  Views
  
  3.2k
  
  2
4. Cassius
  June 11, 2021 at 9:42 AM
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
  
  17k
  
  30
4. Cassius
  September 12, 2020 at 7:44 PM
2. Empathy vs pleasure 1
  - azbcethananderson
  - May 24, 2020 at 12:17 PM
  - azbcethananderson
  - May 24, 2020 at 2:27 PM
3. Replies
  
  1
  
  Views
  
  2.4k
  
  1
4. Don
  May 24, 2020 at 2:27 PM

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Criticisms of An Article Entitled "Epicurean Pleasure" (October 1, 2018) 4

The Meaning of Eudaemonia - "Good Demon" 1

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

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

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

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

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

Defining and Summarizing Epicurean Ethics 4

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

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

Is All "Ataraxia" Equal? 30

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

Would You Rather Live For A Week As (1) Epicurus During the Last Week of His Life or (2) An Anonymous Shepherd Laying In The Grass In The Summertime With No Pain At All? 104

Social feelings/actions to not-friends(or strangers, animals) (Philantropy /compassion /sympathy / kindness / charity /) 4

"Living Life Full Measure" as an Epicurean Metaphor 3

Epicurus And Pleasure As The Awareness Of Smooth Motion 14

Imagery On The Interplay Between "Pursue Pleasure" and 'Avoid Pain" 33

Epicureans On Kingship 15

Things that happen after we die 7

Would There Be Benefit In Adapting the "Benjamin Franklin Journaling Model" To Our Discussion of Practical Exercises? 16

Epicurus On Money, And A Connection With Limits Referenced By A Modern Philosopher 2

Inferential Foundations of Epicurean Ethics by David Sedley 1

On "Desires" And Their Relationship To Pleasure 30

Empathy vs pleasure 1

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