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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List Of Frequently Used Forums
  1. General Information And Discussion - Start Here
  2. Private Section - Includes Level 03 And Above Discussions and 20th Zoom Meeting
  3. The Lucretius Today Podcast and other Projects
  4. EpicureanFriends Zoom Meetings, Outreach, and Activism
  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)
  10. Epicurean Books, Articles, and Videos (1500's - Present)
  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. Identifying And Dealing With Significant Error / Mistakes in Ourselves (and Others)

      • Cassius
      • April 21, 2022 at 9:38 AM
      • Cassius
      • April 21, 2022 at 9:38 AM
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    2. Sedley paper on Plato with interesting Epicurean implications 2

      • Don
      • April 30, 2022 at 7:32 AM
      • Don
      • April 30, 2022 at 9:35 AM
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    4. Don

      April 30, 2022 at 9:35 AM

    2. Pleasure, Desire and Limits 36

      • Godfrey
      • July 20, 2022 at 8:34 PM
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    4. Godfrey

      July 20, 2022 at 8:34 PM

    2. Epicureans On Kingship 15

      • Cassius
      • August 2, 2022 at 10:16 AM
      • Cassius
      • October 10, 2022 at 5:11 AM
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    4. Sid

      October 10, 2022 at 5:11 AM

    2. “How Epicurean Science Saves Humanity” 3

      • Pacatus
      • September 8, 2022 at 6:13 PM
      • Pacatus
      • September 8, 2022 at 6:54 PM
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    4. Cassius

      September 8, 2022 at 6:54 PM

    2. Is pleasure as the natural goal of life falsifiable? 30

      • waterholic
      • December 8, 2022 at 6:08 AM
      • waterholic
      • February 10, 2023 at 11:02 PM
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    4. Don

      February 10, 2023 at 11:02 PM

    2. Perspectives On "Proving" That Pleasure is "The Good" 205

      • Todd
      • December 19, 2022 at 4:34 PM
      • Todd
      • November 28, 2023 at 1:28 PM
    3. Replies
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    4. Eoghan Gardiner

      November 28, 2023 at 1:28 PM

    2. We Need A Game Show With A Lightning Round Question: "Happiness or Pleasure? - Why?" 28

      • Cassius
      • February 2, 2023 at 8:16 PM
      • Cassius
      • February 5, 2023 at 3:43 PM
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    4. Little Rocker

      February 5, 2023 at 3:43 PM

    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
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    4. Don

      March 31, 2023 at 10:10 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. How has the word epicurean come to mean excess? 22

      • ThinkingCat
      • May 19, 2023 at 6:50 PM
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    4. Cassius

      May 19, 2023 at 6:50 PM

    2. "Living Life Full Measure" as an Epicurean Metaphor 3

      • Cassius
      • May 15, 2023 at 2:28 PM
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    4. Pacatus

      May 15, 2023 at 2:28 PM

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

      • Matteng
      • May 17, 2023 at 11:00 AM
    3. Replies
      4
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      1.6k
      4

    4. Joshua

      May 17, 2023 at 11:00 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. 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. 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
    3. Replies
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    4. Root304

      June 15, 2023 at 12:36 AM

    2. Epicurean Golden Rule? 14

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

      September 30, 2024 at 9:17 AM

    2. Desiderata 2

      • Pacatus
      • August 2, 2023 at 7:02 PM
      • Pacatus
      • August 2, 2023 at 7:45 PM
    3. Replies
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      1k
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    4. Pacatus

      August 2, 2023 at 7:45 PM

    2. A Pleasant Life instead of Pleasure 7

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

      August 5, 2023 at 8:27 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
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    4. Pacatus

      October 22, 2023 at 3:28 PM

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

      • Cassius
      • October 5, 2023 at 12:06 PM
      • Cassius
      • October 6, 2023 at 10:24 AM
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    4. Cassius

      October 6, 2023 at 10:24 AM

    2. If Death Is Nothing To Us, Then Life Is Everything to Us 29

      • Cassius
      • October 7, 2023 at 12:06 AM
      • Cassius
      • October 7, 2023 at 8:22 PM
    3. Replies
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      5.7k
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    4. Cassius

      October 7, 2023 at 8:22 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
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    2. Wikipedia on "Pleasure"

      • Kalosyni
      • October 18, 2023 at 6:24 PM
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      686

    2. List of Epicurean philosophical remedies

      • Kalosyni
      • November 8, 2023 at 10:52 AM
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    2. "Absence Of Pain Is Pleasure" - How Would You Articulate That To Someone? 37

      • Eoghan Gardiner
      • April 16, 2025 at 5:22 PM
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    4. Rolf

      April 16, 2025 at 5:22 PM

    2. Is All "Ataraxia" Equal? 30

      • Cassius
      • November 18, 2023 at 7:47 PM
      • Cassius
      • February 19, 2024 at 12:29 PM
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    4. Cassius

      February 19, 2024 at 12:29 PM

    2. Tips On Offsetting Pleasures Against Pains 24

      • Cassius
      • November 28, 2023 at 8:27 AM
      • Cassius
      • November 29, 2023 at 9:56 AM
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    4. Cassius

      November 29, 2023 at 9:56 AM

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

      • frank1syl
      • December 13, 2023 at 10:19 PM
    3. Replies
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    4. BrainToBeing

      December 13, 2023 at 10:19 PM

    2. Fundamental Issues In Hedonism 15

      • BrainToBeing
      • December 14, 2023 at 9:52 AM
    3. Replies
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      2.9k
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    4. Kalosyni

      December 14, 2023 at 9:52 AM

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    2. Did Epicurus Intend To Commit Suicide By Drinking Unmixed Wine On His Last Day? 6

      • Bryan
      • April 30, 2025 at 5:19 PM
    3. Replies
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    4. TauPhi

      April 30, 2025 at 5:19 PM

    2. Epicurean Philosophy In Relation To Gulags and the Rack 6

      • Cassius
      • April 30, 2025 at 1:46 PM
    3. Replies
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      408
      6

    4. Pacatus

      April 30, 2025 at 1:46 PM

    2. The “Absence of Pain” Problem 11

      • Rolf
      • April 29, 2025 at 9:41 PM
    3. Replies
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      11

    4. Al-Hakiim von Grof

      April 29, 2025 at 9:41 PM

    2. Epicurean philosophy skewing toward elements of Stoicism in the time of Lucretius?? 9

      • Kalosyni
      • April 29, 2025 at 12:36 AM
    3. Replies
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      467
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    4. Godfrey

      April 29, 2025 at 12:36 AM

    2. Preconceptions and PD24 42

      • Eikadistes
      • April 27, 2025 at 9:27 AM
    3. Replies
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      13k
      42

    4. Eikadistes

      April 27, 2025 at 9:27 AM