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"

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  1. Ancient Epicurean Texts (300 BC to 300 AD)
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  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. Scientific Support for Psychological Hedonism 19

      • kochiekoch
      • April 23, 2024 at 8:04 PM
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    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
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      2.8k
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    4. Don

      April 30, 2022 at 9:35 AM

    2. Should Epicurus be viewed as a pure consequentialist, virtue ethicist, or both? 14

      • wbernys
      • May 8, 2026 at 7:32 PM
    3. Replies
      14
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      1k
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    4. Don

      May 8, 2026 at 7:32 PM

    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
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      3.5k
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    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
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      7.2k
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    4. Cassius

      May 25, 2018 at 4:38 AM

    2. Spitting Upon the Beautiful... 3

      • Adrastus
      • October 24, 2025 at 4:06 PM
    3. Replies
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      1.3k
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    4. Cassius

      October 24, 2025 at 4:06 PM

    2. Star Conclusions of Epicurean Theory 1

      • Cassius
      • October 24, 2018 at 9:09 AM
      • Cassius
      • October 26, 2018 at 7:10 PM
    3. Replies
      1
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      2.2k
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    4. Cassius

      October 26, 2018 at 7:10 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
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      1.1k

    2. The Full Cup / Fullness of Pleasure Model

      • Cassius
      • February 17, 2017 at 8:02 PM
      • Cassius
      • February 17, 2017 at 8:02 PM
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    2. The Meaning of Eudaemonia - "Good Demon" 1

      • Cassius
      • January 22, 2018 at 9:56 AM
      • Cassius
      • January 22, 2018 at 10:50 AM
    3. Replies
      1
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      5.5k
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    4. Hiram

      January 22, 2018 at 10:50 AM

    2. The Normal Curve of Pleasure 5

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

      July 23, 2024 at 5:59 PM

    2. Things that happen after we die 7

      • SimonC
      • February 4, 2022 at 6:29 AM
      • SimonC
      • February 4, 2022 at 9:54 AM
    3. Replies
      7
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      5.5k
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    4. Don

      February 4, 2022 at 9:54 AM

    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
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      12k
      24

    4. Cassius

      November 29, 2023 at 9:56 AM

    2. To What Extent Is This Consistent With Epicurean Ethics: "Life is Short - Life Passionately"

      • Cassius
      • October 6, 2021 at 4:08 PM
      • Cassius
      • October 6, 2021 at 4:08 PM
    3. Replies
      0
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      1.2k

    2. Understanding of good vs. bad desires? 1

      • Hiram
      • February 13, 2019 at 6:54 AM
      • Hiram
      • February 13, 2019 at 9:09 AM
    3. Replies
      1
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      2.5k
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    4. Cassius

      February 13, 2019 at 9:09 AM

    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. Wanting vs Liking

      • Elayne
      • January 24, 2021 at 9:05 AM
      • Elayne
      • January 24, 2021 at 9:05 AM
    3. Replies
      0
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      1.2k

    2. We are All Born Hedonists 1

      • Hiram
      • January 27, 2019 at 11:39 AM
      • Hiram
      • January 27, 2019 at 12:01 PM
    3. Replies
      1
      Views
      1.9k
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    4. Cassius

      January 27, 2019 at 12:01 PM

    2. We Need A Game Show With A Lightning Round Question: "Happiness or Pleasure? - Why?" 28

      • Cassius
      • February 2, 2023 at 8:16 PM
      • Cassius
      • February 5, 2023 at 3:43 PM
    3. Replies
      28
      Views
      13k
      28

    4. Little Rocker

      February 5, 2023 at 3:43 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
      7.3k
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    4. Patrikios

      July 6, 2025 at 10:14 AM

    2. What Would Epicurus Say To Someone Who Said To Him That The Value of Being Dead and Being Alive Are Equal? 23

      • Cassius
      • June 24, 2026 at 12:57 PM
      • Cassius
      • July 8, 2026 at 9:31 AM
    3. Replies
      23
      Views
      1.3k
      23

    4. Kalosyni

      July 8, 2026 at 9:31 AM

    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
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      3k
      4

    4. Don

      December 22, 2024 at 11:50 AM

    2. Why Do We Focus On "Pleasure" as the Goal and the Good, Rather than "Happiness?" 3

      • Cassius
      • December 18, 2018 at 8:50 AM
      • Cassius
      • December 18, 2018 at 12:47 PM
    3. Replies
      3
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      4.7k
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    4. Cassius

      December 18, 2018 at 12:47 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
      13k
      34

    4. Cassius

      December 8, 2024 at 2:08 PM

    2. Why was Epicurus condemned to the sixth circle of hell in Dante's Divine Comedy? 4

      • Hiram
      • January 7, 2019 at 10:55 AM
      • Hiram
      • August 16, 2025 at 10:10 PM
    3. Replies
      4
      Views
      6.9k
      4

    4. Eikadistes

      August 16, 2025 at 10:10 PM

    2. Wikipedia on "Pleasure"

      • Kalosyni
      • October 18, 2023 at 6:24 PM
    3. Replies
      0
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      1.2k

    2. Would It Be Fair To Say That Epicurus Taught "Lower Your Expectations And You'll Never Be Disappointed"? 10

      • Cassius
      • January 26, 2026 at 1:38 PM
      • Cassius
      • February 1, 2026 at 8:33 PM
    3. Replies
      10
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      2k
      10

    4. kochiekoch

      February 1, 2026 at 8:33 PM

    2. Would There Be Benefit In Adapting the "Benjamin Franklin Journaling Model" To Our Discussion of Practical Exercises? 16

      • Cassius
      • July 12, 2021 at 12:26 PM
    3. Replies
      16
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      10k
      16

    4. A_Gardner

      July 12, 2021 at 12:26 PM

    2. Would You Rather Live For A Week As (1) Epicurus During the Last Week of His Life or (2) An Anonymous Shepherd Laying In The Grass In The Summertime With No Pain At All? 104

      • Cassius
      • September 6, 2023 at 2:36 PM
      • Cassius
      • October 22, 2023 at 3:28 PM
    3. Replies
      104
      Views
      43k
      104

    4. Pacatus

      October 22, 2023 at 3:28 PM

    2. You Have Been Deceived!

      • Cassius
      • February 18, 2017 at 3:46 PM
      • Cassius
      • February 18, 2017 at 3:46 PM
    3. Replies
      0
      Views
      1.6k

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