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 315 - "Preventing Pain From Destroying Happiness"  | Website Overview | Forum Navigation Map       

Welcome to the EpicureanFriends Forums! -- Please be sure that all posts conform to our policies for posting as linked at our Terms of Use page. -----Scroll down to navigate through the forum. ----- You can also: Search by Forum Tags / Search by Forum Shortcuts / Read Featured Threads / Return to Main Forum Board. Not sure where to post? Read our guidance on where to post. To see reference material (and more) visit our Website Navigation Page.

List Of Frequently Used Forums
  1. Ancient Epicurean Texts (300 BC to 300 AD)
  2. The Lucretius Today Podcast and other Projects
  3. Study Resources and Activism
  4. Physics - The Nature of the Universe
  5. Canonics - The Tests of Truth: The Five Senses, Anticipations, and Feelings of Pleasure and Pain
  6. Ethics - How to Live As An Epicurean
  7. Uncategorized Section
  8. Epicurean Books, Articles, and Videos (1500's - Present)
  9. Epicurean Historical Figures - Biographies of Epicureans from Epicurus To The Present
  10. Comparisons With Non-Epicurean Philosophies
  11. History, Locations, and Customs Relevant to Ancient Epicureans
  12. Epicurean Symbolism in Art, Music, Literature, and Poetry
  13. Level 03 And Above Discussions
  14. EpicureanFriends Zoom Meetings

    2. Inferential Foundations of Epicurean Ethics by David Sedley 1

      • Godfrey
      • June 3, 2021 at 4:47 PM
    3. Replies
      1
      Views
      1.7k
      1

    4. Cassius

      June 3, 2021 at 4:47 PM

    2. Wanting vs Liking

      • Elayne
      • January 24, 2021 at 9:05 AM
      • Elayne
      • January 24, 2021 at 9:05 AM
    3. Replies
      0
      Views
      981

    2. From Elli: ""And the pleasure which we daily feel in all these things helps us to banish any sorrow." - Pericles the Athenian.

      • Cassius
      • January 6, 2021 at 10:27 AM
      • Cassius
      • January 6, 2021 at 10:27 AM
    3. Replies
      0
      Views
      1.1k

    2. Natural versus Unnatural 12

      • Matt
      • December 30, 2020 at 8:54 AM
      • Matt
      • January 10, 2021 at 12:33 PM
    3. Replies
      12
      Views
      7.3k
      12

    4. Cassius

      January 10, 2021 at 12:33 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
      13k
      30

    4. Cassius

      September 12, 2020 at 7:44 PM

    2. Empathy vs pleasure 1

      • azbcethananderson
      • May 24, 2020 at 2:27 PM
    3. Replies
      1
      Views
      2k
      1

    4. Don

      May 24, 2020 at 2:27 PM

    2. Hypotheticals: Would An Epicurean Hook Himself Up To An "Experience Machine" or a "Pleasure Machine"? 32

      • Cassius
      • March 23, 2020 at 2:05 AM
      • Cassius
      • December 6, 2025 at 2:41 PM
    3. Replies
      32
      Views
      19k
      32

    4. kochiekoch

      December 6, 2025 at 2:41 PM

    2. Are You Epicurean Or Hieronymian? 26

      • Cassius
      • October 1, 2019 at 2:08 PM
      • Cassius
      • June 30, 2022 at 5:44 AM
    3. Replies
      26
      Views
      19k
      26

    4. Cassius

      June 30, 2022 at 5:44 AM

    2. On The Relationship of Eudaemonia And Pleasure

      • Cassius
      • July 10, 2019 at 7:02 AM
    3. Replies
      0
      Views
      1.3k

    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
      6.9k
      8

    4. Cassius

      March 14, 2019 at 1:37 PM

    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
      1.8k
      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
      2.1k
      1

    4. Cassius

      February 13, 2019 at 9:09 AM

    2. Priorities: How To Rank "Pursuing Pleasure" vs. "Avoiding Pain" 2

      • Cassius
      • February 4, 2019 at 5:10 PM
      • Cassius
      • February 5, 2019 at 5:18 PM
    3. Replies
      2
      Views
      2.3k
      2

    4. Cassius

      February 5, 2019 at 5:18 PM

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

      • Hiram
      • February 4, 2019 at 3:12 PM
      • Hiram
      • February 5, 2019 at 7:04 AM
    3. Replies
      1
      Views
      2k
      1

    4. Cassius

      February 5, 2019 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
      8.7k
      14

    4. Cassius

      February 5, 2019 at 8:20 AM

    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
      5.8k
      8

    4. Cassius

      February 1, 2019 at 7:47 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
      1.7k
      1

    4. Cassius

      January 27, 2019 at 12:01 PM

    2. A Place to Start

      • Cassius
      • January 21, 2019 at 4:41 PM
      • Cassius
      • January 21, 2019 at 4:41 PM
    3. Replies
      0
      Views
      1k

    2. Valueless Virtue in Modern Stoicism 16

      • Matt
      • January 10, 2019 at 8:48 AM
      • Matt
      • January 22, 2019 at 6:28 PM
    3. Replies
      16
      Views
      10k
      16

    4. Condorcet

      January 22, 2019 at 6:28 PM

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

      • Hiram
      • January 7, 2019 at 10:55 AM
      • Hiram
      • August 16, 2025 at 10:10 PM
    3. Replies
      4
      Views
      5.2k
      4

    4. Eikadistes

      August 16, 2025 at 10:10 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
      6.5k
      5

    4. Cassius

      December 28, 2018 at 10:42 AM

    2. "Objective Morality" 3

      • Hiram
      • December 26, 2018 at 11:51 AM
      • Hiram
      • December 26, 2018 at 5:52 PM
    3. Replies
      3
      Views
      4.8k
      3

    4. Cassius

      December 26, 2018 at 5:52 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
    3. Replies
      3
      Views
      4.5k
      3

    4. Cassius

      February 1, 2019 at 10:27 AM

    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
    3. Replies
      3
      Views
      3k
      3

    4. Matt

      December 21, 2018 at 3:22 PM

    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
    3. Replies
      3
      Views
      3.9k
      3

    4. Cassius

      December 18, 2018 at 12:47 PM

    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
    3. Replies
      6
      Views
      4.8k
      6

    4. Hiram

      December 17, 2018 at 12:22 PM

    2. Major Controversies In Understanding Epicurean Philosophy

      • Cassius
      • December 11, 2018 at 2:25 AM
      • Cassius
      • December 11, 2018 at 2:25 AM
    3. Replies
      0
      Views
      2.5k

    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
      3.1k

    2. My Best Summary As Of November 2018

      • Cassius
      • November 2, 2018 at 7:01 AM
      • Cassius
      • November 2, 2018 at 7:01 AM
    3. Replies
      0
      Views
      1.5k

    2. A Five Star Presentation of Epicurus

      • Cassius
      • October 28, 2018 at 5:55 PM
      • Cassius
      • October 28, 2018 at 5:55 PM
    3. Replies
      0
      Views
      1.9k

Display Options

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.