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  

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

      • Cassius
      • April 13, 2018 at 12:54 PM
    3. Replies
      2
      Views
      4.1k
      2

    4. Hiram

      April 13, 2018 at 12:54 PM

    2. You Only Live Once

      • Cassius
      • October 6, 2018 at 10:48 AM
      • Cassius
      • October 6, 2018 at 10:48 AM
    3. Replies
      0
      Views
      1.6k

    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
      22k
      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

      • Titus
      • June 24, 2021 at 3:39 PM
      • Titus
      • November 16, 2025 at 10:41 AM
    3. Replies
      3
      Views
      6.8k
      3

    4. Patrikios

      November 16, 2025 at 10:41 AM

    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
      Views
      16k
      30

    4. Don

      February 10, 2023 at 11:02 PM

    2. Pleasure vs pain - example and thoughts! 10

      • ThinkingCat
      • May 21, 2023 at 9:08 PM
    3. Replies
      10
      Views
      6.7k
      10

    4. Don

      May 21, 2023 at 9:08 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
    3. Replies
      24
      Views
      12k
      24

    4. Cassius

      November 29, 2023 at 9:56 AM

    2. Fundamental Issues In Hedonism 15

      • BrainToBeing
      • December 14, 2023 at 9:52 AM
    3. Replies
      15
      Views
      7.8k
      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

      • Cassius
      • November 24, 2025 at 9:55 AM
      • Cassius
      • June 12, 2026 at 12:58 PM
    3. Replies
      14
      Views
      4k
      14

    4. Pacatus

      June 12, 2026 at 12:58 PM

    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
      12k
      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

      • Cassius
      • March 23, 2020 at 2:05 AM
      • Cassius
      • December 6, 2025 at 2:41 PM
    3. Replies
      32
      Views
      24k
      32

    4. kochiekoch

      December 6, 2025 at 2:41 PM

    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
      9k
      12

    4. Cassius

      January 10, 2021 at 12:33 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
      1.2k

    2. Pleasure, Desire and Limits 36

      • Godfrey
      • July 20, 2022 at 8:34 PM
    3. Replies
      36
      Views
      24k
      36

    4. Godfrey

      July 20, 2022 at 8:34 PM

    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
      Views
      78k
      209

    4. Matteng

      July 15, 2025 at 12:11 PM

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

      • ThinkingCat
      • May 19, 2023 at 6:50 PM
    3. Replies
      22
      Views
      17k
      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

      • Cassius
      • January 1, 2024 at 7:03 AM
      • Cassius
      • January 27, 2024 at 5:25 PM
    3. Replies
      15
      Views
      8.2k
      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

      • Kalosyni
      • September 9, 2024 at 6:56 AM
    3. Replies
      4
      Views
      5k
      4

    4. Cassius

      September 9, 2024 at 6:56 AM

    2. The Normal Curve of Pleasure 5

      • kochiekoch
      • July 23, 2024 at 5:59 PM
    3. Replies
      5
      Views
      4k
      5

    4. kochiekoch

      July 23, 2024 at 5:59 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
      2.8k
      2

    4. Don

      April 30, 2022 at 9:35 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
      Views
      4.4k
      4

    4. Cassius

      June 9, 2023 at 7:07 AM

    2. Desiderata 2

      • Pacatus
      • August 2, 2023 at 7:02 PM
      • Pacatus
      • August 2, 2023 at 7:45 PM
    3. Replies
      2
      Views
      2.2k
      2

    4. Pacatus

      August 2, 2023 at 7:45 PM

    2. List of Epicurean philosophical remedies

      • Kalosyni
      • November 8, 2023 at 10:52 AM
    3. Replies
      0
      Views
      1.5k

    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
    3. Replies
      8
      Views
      5.7k
      8

    4. Don

      February 29, 2024 at 12:22 AM

    2. Epicurean Golden Rule? 14

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

    4. Don

      September 30, 2024 at 9:17 AM

    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
      Views
      10k
      13

    4. Cassius

      October 6, 2023 at 10:24 AM

    2. Why Minimizing All Desire Is Incorrect (And What To Do Instead) 34

      • Kalosyni
      • December 8, 2024 at 2:08 PM
    3. Replies
      34
      Views
      13k
      34

    4. Cassius

      December 8, 2024 at 2:08 PM

    2. Scientific Support for Psychological Hedonism 19

      • kochiekoch
      • April 23, 2024 at 8:04 PM
    3. Replies
      19
      Views
      11k
      19

    4. Little Rocker

      April 23, 2024 at 8:04 PM

    2. A Fable on Unattainable Expectations 6

      • Pacatus
      • October 16, 2024 at 5:12 PM
      • Pacatus
      • November 22, 2024 at 11:32 AM
    3. Replies
      6
      Views
      3.7k
      6

    4. Don

      November 22, 2024 at 11:32 AM

    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
      Views
      982

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.