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.

LATEST LUCRETIUS TODAY PODCAST: Episode 315 - "Preventing Pain From Destroying Happiness"  | Website Overview | Forum Navigation Map       

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

      • frank1syl
      • December 13, 2023 at 10:19 PM
    3. Replies
      33
      Views
      13k
      33

    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
      15
      Views
      5.8k
      15

    4. Kalosyni

      December 14, 2023 at 9:52 AM

    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
      6.5k
      15

    4. Eikadistes

      January 27, 2024 at 5:25 PM

    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
    3. Replies
      10
      Views
      8.8k
      10

    4. DavidN

      January 26, 2024 at 7:24 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
    3. Replies
      8
      Views
      4.5k
      8

    4. Don

      February 29, 2024 at 12:22 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
      4
      Views
      3.3k
      4

    4. Don

      February 26, 2024 at 10:48 PM

    2. Scientific Support for Psychological Hedonism 19

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

    4. Little Rocker

      April 23, 2024 at 8:04 PM

    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
      22
      Views
      8.9k
      22

    4. Kalosyni

      July 1, 2024 at 1:24 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
      3.7k
      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
      3.2k
      5

    4. kochiekoch

      July 23, 2024 at 5:59 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
      2.8k
      6

    4. Don

      November 22, 2024 at 11:32 AM

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

      • Kalosyni
      • December 8, 2024 at 2:08 PM
    3. Replies
      34
      Views
      9.6k
      34

    4. Cassius

      December 8, 2024 at 2:08 PM

    2. When Epicureans Choose Pain / When Epicureans Treat Pain As Good 4

      • Cassius
      • December 22, 2024 at 8:51 AM
      • Cassius
      • December 22, 2024 at 11:50 AM
    3. Replies
      4
      Views
      2.1k
      4

    4. Don

      December 22, 2024 at 11:50 AM

    2. "Peace and Safety" vs. "Conflict and Danger" 7

      • Cassius
      • February 2, 2025 at 9:00 AM
      • Cassius
      • February 2, 2025 at 3:47 PM
    3. Replies
      7
      Views
      3k
      7

    4. Cassius

      February 2, 2025 at 3:47 PM

    2. The Argument That the Good Of Animals is Not the Same As The Good of Human Beings

      • Cassius
      • March 3, 2025 at 3:10 PM
    3. Replies
      0
      Views
      806

    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
      631

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

      • Cassius
      • June 15, 2025 at 9:23 PM
    3. Replies
      25
      Views
      6k
      25

    4. TauPhi

      June 15, 2025 at 9:23 PM

    2. What amount of effort should be put into pursuing pleasure or removing pain? 23

      • Kalosyni
      • July 6, 2025 at 10:14 AM
    3. Replies
      23
      Views
      4.5k
      23

    4. Patrikios

      July 6, 2025 at 10:14 AM

    2. Cicero's Comparison of the Life of Lucius Balbus (Pleasure) Against That Of Marcus Regulus (VIrtue)

      • Cassius
      • August 6, 2025 at 8:55 AM
      • Cassius
      • August 6, 2025 at 8:55 AM
    3. Replies
      0
      Views
      1.5k

    2. Do you believe in psychological hedonism/egoism? Any philosophers on this? 6

      • wbernys
      • October 17, 2025 at 6:18 PM
      • wbernys
      • October 23, 2025 at 12:14 AM
    3. Replies
      6
      Views
      1k
      6

    4. Adrastus

      October 23, 2025 at 12:14 AM

    2. Spitting Upon the Beautiful... 3

      • Adrastus
      • October 24, 2025 at 4:06 PM
    3. Replies
      3
      Views
      623
      3

    4. Cassius

      October 24, 2025 at 4:06 PM

    2. 'Their God Is The Belly" / "The Root of All Good Is The Pleasure Of The Stomach" And Similar Attributions 13

      • Cassius
      • November 24, 2025 at 9:55 AM
      • Cassius
      • December 11, 2025 at 12:07 AM
    3. Replies
      13
      Views
      1.6k
      13

    4. Joshua

      December 11, 2025 at 12:07 AM

    2. Defining and Summarizing Epicurean Ethics 4

      • Kalosyni
      • December 18, 2025 at 3:10 PM
    3. Replies
      4
      Views
      373
      4

    4. Kalosyni

      December 18, 2025 at 3:10 PM

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.