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 356 — "The Skeptics Argue All Sides But Conceal Their Conclusions"

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1. - Reactions
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    - Author
    - Date
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2. Neither "ataraxia" nor "not ataraxia", but "Joy as the goal" 24
  - 1
  - Kalosyni
  - February 25, 2026 at 10:08 AM
  - Kalosyni
  - May 3, 2026 at 3:59 PM
3. Replies
  
  24
  
  Views
  
  5.1k
  
  24
4. Don
  May 3, 2026 at 3:59 PM
2. Clement on Epicurus' And Other Philosophers Opinions As To The Chief Good 3
  - 1
  - Cassius
  - May 20, 2026 at 7:22 PM
  - Cassius
  - May 20, 2026 at 11:03 PM
3. Replies
  
  3
  
  Views
  
  844
  
  3
4. Joshua
  May 20, 2026 at 11:03 PM
2. Discussion Of The Article: "The Completeness Argument, Cicero's Knowledge Of It, And The Epicurean Response"
  - 1
  - Cassius
  - August 7, 2026 at 10:43 AM
  - Cassius
  - August 7, 2026 at 10:43 AM
3. Replies
  
  0
  
  Views
  
  557
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
  
  1.1k
  
  13
4. Robert
  September 5, 2026 at 11:05 AM
2. A General Thought About The Future Of Epicurean Philosophy - On The Meaning of "Pleasure" 2
  - 2
  - Cassius
  - April 5, 2018 at 7:50 PM
  - Cassius
  - April 13, 2018 at 12:54 PM
3. Replies
  
  2
  
  Views
  
  4.2k
  
  2
4. Hiram
  April 13, 2018 at 12:54 PM
2. You Only Live Once
  - 2
  - Cassius
  - October 6, 2018 at 10:48 AM
  - Cassius
  - October 6, 2018 at 10:48 AM
3. Replies
  
  0
  
  Views
  
  1.7k
2. Are You Epicurean Or Hieronymian? 26
  - 1
  - Cassius
  - October 1, 2019 at 2:08 PM
  - Cassius
  - June 30, 2022 at 5:44 AM
3. Replies
  
  26
  
  Views
  
  23k
  
  26
4. Cassius
  June 30, 2022 at 5:44 AM
2. New Book by Erler (Würzburg Center): "Epicurus: An Introduction to His Practical Ethics and Politics" 3
  - 1
  - Titus
  - June 24, 2021 at 3:39 PM
  - Titus
  - November 16, 2025 at 10:41 AM
3. Replies
  
  3
  
  Views
  
  7.1k
  
  3
4. Patrikios
  November 16, 2025 at 10:41 AM
2. Is pleasure as the natural goal of life falsifiable? 30
  - 1
  - waterholic
  - December 8, 2022 at 6:08 AM
  - waterholic
  - February 10, 2023 at 11:02 PM
3. Replies
  
  30
  
  Views
  
  17k
  
  30
4. Don
  February 10, 2023 at 11:02 PM
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
  
  7.1k
  
  10
4. Don
  May 21, 2023 at 9:08 PM
2. Fundamental Issues In Hedonism 15
  - 1
  - BrainToBeing
  - December 10, 2023 at 8:18 AM
  - BrainToBeing
  - December 14, 2023 at 9:52 AM
3. Replies
  
  15
  
  Views
  
  8.3k
  
  15
4. Kalosyni
  December 14, 2023 at 9:52 AM
2. 'Their God Is The Belly" / "The Root of All Good Is The Pleasure Of The Stomach" And Similar Attributions 14
  - 1
  - Cassius
  - November 24, 2025 at 9:55 AM
  - Cassius
  - June 12, 2026 at 12:58 PM
3. Replies
  
  14
  
  Views
  
  4.7k
  
  14
4. Pacatus
  June 12, 2026 at 12:58 PM
2. Valueless Virtue in Modern Stoicism 16
  - 3
  - Matt
  - January 10, 2019 at 8:48 AM
  - Matt
  - January 22, 2019 at 6:28 PM
3. Replies
  
  16
  
  Views
  
  13k
  
  16
4. Condorcet
  January 22, 2019 at 6:28 PM
2. Hypotheticals: Would An Epicurean Hook Himself Up To An "Experience Machine" or a "Pleasure Machine"? 32
  - 2
  - Cassius
  - March 23, 2020 at 2:05 AM
  - Cassius
  - December 6, 2025 at 2:41 PM
3. Replies
  
  32
  
  Views
  
  25k
  
  32
4. kochiekoch
  December 6, 2025 at 2:41 PM
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
  
  9.4k
  
  12
4. Cassius
  January 10, 2021 at 12:33 PM
2. Wanting vs Liking
  - 1
  - Elayne
  - January 24, 2021 at 9:05 AM
  - Elayne
  - January 24, 2021 at 9:05 AM
3. Replies
  
  0
  
  Views
  
  1.3k
2. Sedley paper on Plato with interesting Epicurean implications 2
  - 2
  - Don
  - April 30, 2022 at 7:32 AM
  - Don
  - April 30, 2022 at 9:35 AM
3. Replies
  
  2
  
  Views
  
  3k
  
  2
4. Don
  April 30, 2022 at 9:35 AM
2. Pleasure, Desire and Limits 36
  - 3
  - Godfrey
  - July 17, 2022 at 9:25 PM
  - Godfrey
  - July 20, 2022 at 8:34 PM
3. Replies
  
  36
  
  Views
  
  26k
  
  36
4. Godfrey
  July 20, 2022 at 8:34 PM
2. Perspectives On "Proving" That Pleasure is "The Good" 209
  - 2
  - Todd
  - December 19, 2022 at 4:34 PM
  - Todd
  - July 15, 2025 at 12:11 PM
3. Replies
  
  209
  
  Views
  
  84k
  
  209
4. Matteng
  July 15, 2025 at 12:11 PM
2. How has the word epicurean come to mean excess? 22
  - 3
  - ThinkingCat
  - May 13, 2023 at 9:24 AM
  - ThinkingCat
  - May 19, 2023 at 6:50 PM
3. Replies
  
  22
  
  Views
  
  19k
  
  22
4. Cassius
  May 19, 2023 at 6:50 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
  - 3
  - Cassius
  - January 1, 2024 at 7:03 AM
  - Cassius
  - January 27, 2024 at 5:25 PM
3. Replies
  
  15
  
  Views
  
  8.7k
  
  15
4. Eikadistes
  January 27, 2024 at 5:25 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
  
  5.3k
  
  4
4. Cassius
  September 9, 2024 at 6:56 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. Suggestions For - "What I Wish I Had Known At 21 That I Now Know From Studying Epicurus" 11
  - 2
  - Cassius
  - September 21, 2026 at 8:02 AM
  - Cassius
  - September 30, 2026 at 2:12 PM
3. Replies
  
  11
  
  Views
  
  668
  
  11
4. Kalosyni
  September 30, 2026 at 2:12 PM
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
  
  4.7k
  
  4
4. Cassius
  June 9, 2023 at 7:07 AM
2. Desiderata 2
  - 3
  - Pacatus
  - August 2, 2023 at 7:02 PM
  - Pacatus
  - August 2, 2023 at 7:45 PM
3. Replies
  
  2
  
  Views
  
  2.3k
  
  2
4. Pacatus
  August 2, 2023 at 7:45 PM
2. List of Epicurean philosophical remedies
  - 2
  - Kalosyni
  - November 8, 2023 at 10:52 AM
  - Kalosyni
  - November 8, 2023 at 10:52 AM
3. Replies
  
  0
  
  Views
  
  1.6k
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
  
  6.1k
  
  8
4. Don
  February 29, 2024 at 12:22 AM
2. Epicurean Golden Rule? 14
  - 5
  - Pacatus
  - July 5, 2023 at 5:55 PM
  - Pacatus
  - September 30, 2024 at 9:17 AM
3. Replies
  
  14
  
  Views
  
  9.2k
  
  14
4. Don
  September 30, 2024 at 9:17 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

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Neither "ataraxia" nor "not ataraxia", but "Joy as the goal" 24

Clement on Epicurus' And Other Philosophers Opinions As To The Chief Good 3

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

A General Thought About The Future Of Epicurean Philosophy - On The Meaning of "Pleasure" 2

Are You Epicurean Or Hieronymian? 26

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

Is pleasure as the natural goal of life falsifiable? 30

Pleasure vs pain - example and thoughts! 10

Fundamental Issues In Hedonism 15

'Their God Is The Belly" / "The Root of All Good Is The Pleasure Of The Stomach" And Similar Attributions 14

Valueless Virtue in Modern Stoicism 16

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

Natural versus Unnatural 12

Sedley paper on Plato with interesting Epicurean implications 2

Pleasure, Desire and Limits 36

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

How has the word epicurean come to mean excess? 22

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

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

The Normal Curve of Pleasure 5

Suggestions For - "What I Wish I Had Known At 21 That I Now Know From Studying Epicurus" 11

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

Desiderata 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

Epicurean Golden Rule? 14

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

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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