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.

ALL CURRENT AND PROSPECTIVE PARTICIPANTS SHOULD READ THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT OF FORUM EDITORIAL POLICY:  "Against Katastematic Supremacy - Pleasure Is A Unified Good, Not A House Divided Against Itself."

LATEST LUCRETIUS TODAY PODCAST: Episode 343 - "In The Search For Knowledge, is 'Probable' Good Enough?"   | Website Overview | Forum Navigation Map   | Latest Blog Post:  "The Continuing Vitality of Epicurean Physics"

New Graphics: Are You On Team Epicurus? | Comparison Chart: Epicurus vs. Other Philosophies | Chart Of Key Epicurean Quotations | Accelerating Study Of Canonics Through Philodemus' "On Methods Of Inference" | Note to all users: If you have a problem posting in any forum, please message Cassius  

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    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
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    4. Don

      March 31, 2023 at 10:10 AM

    2. Iliustrations and Analogies For Explaining the "Two And Only Two Feelings" Argument 39

      • Cassius
      • May 22, 2026 at 1:06 PM
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    4. Todd

      May 22, 2026 at 1:06 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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      5.7k
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    4. Don

      February 29, 2024 at 12:22 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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      14k
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    4. Cassius

      October 7, 2023 at 8:22 PM

    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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      1.3k

    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
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      24k
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    4. kochiekoch

      December 6, 2025 at 2:41 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

      • Eoghan Gardiner
      • June 15, 2023 at 12:36 AM
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      7.3k
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    4. Root304

      June 15, 2023 at 12:36 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
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    4. Matt

      December 21, 2018 at 3:22 PM

    2. How has the word epicurean come to mean excess? 22

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

      May 19, 2023 at 6:50 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
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    4. Hiram

      December 17, 2018 at 12:22 PM

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

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

      September 9, 2024 at 6:56 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
    3. Replies
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      4.2k
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    4. Cassius

      February 11, 2018 at 9:50 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

      • Cassius
      • February 26, 2024 at 4:51 PM
      • Cassius
      • February 26, 2024 at 10:48 PM
    3. Replies
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      4.3k
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    4. Don

      February 26, 2024 at 10:48 PM

    2. Fundamental Issues In Hedonism 15

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

      December 14, 2023 at 9:52 AM

    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
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      1.4k

    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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      1.4k

    2. Explaining In Summary Form How A Man In Extreme Pain Can Be Said To Be "Happy" 22

      • Cassius
      • April 20, 2024 at 5:38 AM
      • Cassius
      • July 1, 2024 at 1:24 PM
    3. Replies
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      Views
      11k
      22

    4. Kalosyni

      July 1, 2024 at 1:24 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
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      2.2k
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    4. Cassius

      February 5, 2019 at 7:04 AM

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

      • Cassius
      • June 11, 2021 at 9:42 AM
    3. Replies
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      3.1k
      2

    4. Cassius

      June 11, 2021 at 9:42 AM

    2. Epicurus And Pleasure As The Awareness Of Smooth Motion 14

      • Cassius
      • December 31, 2025 at 7:04 AM
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    4. Cassius

      December 31, 2025 at 7:04 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
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      8.6k
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    4. Sid

      October 10, 2022 at 5:11 AM

    2. Epicureanism Vs Asceticism 8

      • Hiram
      • March 12, 2019 at 9:44 AM
      • Hiram
      • March 14, 2019 at 1:37 PM
    3. Replies
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      8.2k
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    4. Cassius

      March 14, 2019 at 1:37 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
      7.1k
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    4. Cassius

      February 1, 2019 at 7:47 AM

    2. Epicurean Golden Rule? 14

      • Pacatus
      • September 30, 2024 at 9:17 AM
    3. Replies
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      8.7k
      14

    4. Don

      September 30, 2024 at 9:17 AM

    2. Epicurean Freedom. Enslavement by culture. The mob. 15

      • Harrington Andros
      • May 14, 2018 at 12:11 PM
    3. Replies
      15
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      13k
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    4. Hiram

      May 14, 2018 at 12:11 PM

    2. Empathy vs pleasure 1

      • azbcethananderson
      • May 24, 2020 at 2:27 PM
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    4. Don

      May 24, 2020 at 2:27 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
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      Views
      13k
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    4. Eoghan Gardiner

      May 7, 2018 at 10:50 AM

    2. Eikadistes Article Discussion - 'No Politics'

      • Cassius
      • May 18, 2026 at 7:27 PM
    3. Replies
      0
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      397

    2. Driving Away Bad Habits "Like Evil Men Who Have Long Done Us Great Harm" (Including Addictions)

      • Cassius
      • April 23, 2025 at 4:17 PM
      • Cassius
      • April 23, 2025 at 4:17 PM
    3. Replies
      0
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      982

    2. Doubt is Unpleasant, But It's Not Your Worst Enemy

      • Cassius
      • December 20, 2015 at 11:56 AM
      • Cassius
      • December 20, 2015 at 11:56 AM
    3. Replies
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      2.7k

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