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. 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. 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
  
  3.7k
  
  4
4. Joshua
  May 17, 2023 at 11:00 AM
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. 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
  - 1
  - Cassius
  - February 26, 2024 at 4:51 PM
  - Cassius
  - February 26, 2024 at 10:48 PM
3. Replies
  
  4
  
  Views
  
  4.5k
  
  4
4. Don
  February 26, 2024 at 10:48 PM
2. Health of the Body and Happiness of the Soul -vs- "The Goal is Pleasure" 4
  - 2
  - Kalosyni
  - June 4, 2024 at 1:34 PM
  - Kalosyni
  - September 9, 2024 at 6:56 AM
3. Replies
  
  4
  
  Views
  
  5.2k
  
  4
4. Cassius
  September 9, 2024 at 6:56 AM
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
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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. "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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Defining and Summarizing Epicurean Ethics 4

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

The Normal Curve of Pleasure 5

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

A Fable on Unattainable Expectations 6

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

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

Some Epicurean conclusions 7

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

Things that happen after we die 7

A Pleasant Life instead of Pleasure 7

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

Epicurean virtues listed by importance 8

Epicureanism Vs Asceticism 8

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

Pleasure vs pain - example and thoughts! 10

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

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

Elena Nicoli - An Excellent Presentation On Epicurean Pleasure 11

Natural versus Unnatural 12

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

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

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

An Epicurean "Sanity Check" 14

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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