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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  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
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    2. Is All Desire Painful? How Would Epicurus Answer? 25

      • Cassius
      • June 15, 2025 at 9:23 PM
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    4. TauPhi

      June 15, 2025 at 9:23 PM

    2. Is it true that "ataraxia is not physical pleasure, or even mental pleasure, but a state of inner calm?"

      • Cassius
      • March 11, 2017 at 3:25 PM
      • Cassius
      • March 11, 2017 at 3:25 PM
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      3k

    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
    3. Replies
      30
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      13k
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    4. Don

      February 10, 2023 at 11:02 PM

    2. List of Epicurean philosophical remedies

      • Kalosyni
      • November 8, 2023 at 10:52 AM
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      1.2k

    2. Major Controversies In Understanding Epicurean Philosophy

      • Cassius
      • December 11, 2018 at 2:25 AM
      • Cassius
      • December 11, 2018 at 2:25 AM
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    2. Major Observations and Conclusions of Epicurean Philosophy - An Outline

      • Cassius
      • September 14, 2015 at 9:13 PM
      • Cassius
      • September 14, 2015 at 9:13 PM
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    2. Maximum pleasure as absence of all pain: a philosophical question concerning neuroscientific and Epicurean outlook toward the feeling of pleasure 10

      • shahabgh66
      • January 26, 2024 at 7:24 PM
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      8.8k
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    4. DavidN

      January 26, 2024 at 7:24 PM

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

      • frank1syl
      • December 13, 2023 at 10:19 PM
    3. Replies
      33
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    4. BrainToBeing

      December 13, 2023 at 10:19 PM

    2. Multiple Components Comprise the Epicurean Life 30

      • Kalosyni
      • October 23, 2021 at 1:53 PM
    3. Replies
      30
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    4. Godfrey

      October 23, 2021 at 1:53 PM

    2. My 2024 Resolution: Get A More Accurate Picture of Epicurean Pleasure To The World Rather Than "Tranquility" or "Live Unkown"(Comment on Irish Times Article) 15

      • Cassius
      • January 1, 2024 at 7:03 AM
      • Cassius
      • January 27, 2024 at 5:25 PM
    3. Replies
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    4. Eikadistes

      January 27, 2024 at 5:25 PM

    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
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    2. Natural versus Unnatural 12

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

      January 10, 2021 at 12:33 PM

    2. New Book by Erler (Würzburg Center): "Epicurus: An Introduction to His Practical Ethics and Politics" 3

      • Titus
      • June 24, 2021 at 3:39 PM
      • Titus
      • November 16, 2025 at 10:41 AM
    3. Replies
      3
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      5.6k
      3

    4. Patrikios

      November 16, 2025 at 10:41 AM

    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
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      4.5k
      3

    4. Cassius

      February 1, 2019 at 10:27 AM

    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
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    4. Cassius

      September 12, 2020 at 7:44 PM

    2. On the associations between Virtue and Pleasure and my Epicurean Write up 1

      • Eoghan Gardiner
      • March 27, 2018 at 7:56 AM
    3. Replies
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    4. Cassius

      March 27, 2018 at 7:56 AM

    2. On The Relationship of Eudaemonia And Pleasure

      • Cassius
      • July 10, 2019 at 7:02 AM
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      1.3k

    2. Pathe - Notes On Usage

      • Cassius
      • June 8, 2015 at 11:35 AM
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      1.8k

    2. Perspectives On "Proving" That Pleasure is "The Good" 209

      • Todd
      • December 19, 2022 at 4:34 PM
      • Todd
      • July 15, 2025 at 12:11 PM
    3. Replies
      209
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      62k
      209

    4. Matteng

      July 15, 2025 at 12:11 PM

    2. Pleasure vs pain - example and thoughts! 10

      • ThinkingCat
      • May 21, 2023 at 9:08 PM
    3. Replies
      10
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      5.4k
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    4. Don

      May 21, 2023 at 9:08 PM

    2. Pleasure, Desire and Limits 36

      • Godfrey
      • July 20, 2022 at 8:34 PM
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      36
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    4. Godfrey

      July 20, 2022 at 8:34 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
    3. Replies
      13
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      8.3k
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    4. Cassius

      October 6, 2023 at 10:24 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
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      2.3k
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    4. Cassius

      February 5, 2019 at 5:18 PM

    2. Questions re Pleasure 2

      • Matteng
      • November 9, 2024 at 5:35 AM
      • Matteng
      • November 9, 2024 at 3:50 PM
    3. Replies
      2
      Views
      2.6k
      2

    4. Matteng

      November 9, 2024 at 3:50 PM

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

      • shahabgh66
      • August 7, 2021 at 10:04 AM
    3. Replies
      7
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      4.6k
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    4. Cassius

      August 7, 2021 at 10:04 AM

    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
    3. Replies
      4
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      3.4k
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    4. Cassius

      June 9, 2023 at 7:07 AM

    2. Scientific Support for Psychological Hedonism 19

      • kochiekoch
      • April 23, 2024 at 8:04 PM
    3. Replies
      19
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      8.2k
      19

    4. Little Rocker

      April 23, 2024 at 8:04 PM

    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
    3. Replies
      2
      Views
      2.3k
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    4. Don

      April 30, 2022 at 9:35 AM

    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
      Views
      2.9k
      4

    4. Joshua

      May 17, 2023 at 11:00 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
      6.2k
      7

    4. Cassius

      May 25, 2018 at 4:38 AM

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