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.

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

      • wbernys
      • May 8, 2026 at 7:32 PM
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      14
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    4. Don

      May 8, 2026 at 7:32 PM

    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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    4. Don

      February 10, 2023 at 11:02 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
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      82k
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    4. Matteng

      July 15, 2025 at 12:11 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
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      7k
      3

    4. Patrikios

      November 16, 2025 at 10:41 AM

    2. Pleasure vs pain - example and thoughts! 10

      • ThinkingCat
      • May 21, 2023 at 9:08 PM
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      7k
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    4. Don

      May 21, 2023 at 9:08 PM

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

      • ThinkingCat
      • May 19, 2023 at 6:50 PM
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      19k
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    4. Cassius

      May 19, 2023 at 6:50 PM

    2. Some Epicurean conclusions 7

      • Stan85
      • May 19, 2018 at 7:23 PM
      • Stan85
      • May 25, 2018 at 4:38 AM
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    4. Cassius

      May 25, 2018 at 4:38 AM

    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
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      5.8k
      7

    4. Don

      February 4, 2022 at 9:54 AM

    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
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      13k
      10

    4. DavidN

      January 26, 2024 at 7:24 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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      5.7k
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    4. Cassius

      August 7, 2021 at 10:04 AM

    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
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      4k
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    4. Don

      November 22, 2024 at 11:32 AM

    2. Desiderata 2

      • Pacatus
      • August 2, 2023 at 7:02 PM
      • Pacatus
      • August 2, 2023 at 7:45 PM
    3. Replies
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      2.3k
      2

    4. Pacatus

      August 2, 2023 at 7:45 PM

    2. Epicurean Golden Rule? 14

      • Pacatus
      • September 30, 2024 at 9:17 AM
    3. Replies
      14
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    4. Don

      September 30, 2024 at 9:17 AM

    2. “How Epicurean Science Saves Humanity” 3

      • Pacatus
      • September 8, 2022 at 6:13 PM
      • Pacatus
      • September 8, 2022 at 6:54 PM
    3. Replies
      3
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      3k
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    4. Cassius

      September 8, 2022 at 6:54 PM

    2. Questions re Pleasure 2

      • Matteng
      • November 9, 2024 at 5:35 AM
      • Matteng
      • November 9, 2024 at 3:50 PM
    3. Replies
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      3.3k
      2

    4. Matteng

      November 9, 2024 at 3:50 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
      Views
      3.7k
      4

    4. Joshua

      May 17, 2023 at 11:00 AM

    2. Natural versus Unnatural 12

      • Matt
      • December 30, 2020 at 8:54 AM
      • Matt
      • January 10, 2021 at 12:33 PM
    3. Replies
      12
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      9.3k
      12

    4. Cassius

      January 10, 2021 at 12:33 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
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      13k
      16

    4. Condorcet

      January 22, 2019 at 6:28 PM

    2. The Normal Curve of Pleasure 5

      • kochiekoch
      • July 23, 2024 at 5:59 PM
    3. Replies
      5
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      4.2k
      5

    4. kochiekoch

      July 23, 2024 at 5:59 PM

    2. Scientific Support for Psychological Hedonism 19

      • kochiekoch
      • April 23, 2024 at 8:04 PM
    3. Replies
      19
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      12k
      19

    4. Little Rocker

      April 23, 2024 at 8:04 PM

    2. Complexity, Contradictions, and "Testing Out" Epicurean Philosophy 6

      • Kalosyni
      • August 20, 2026 at 5:08 AM
    3. Replies
      6
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      592
      6

    4. Cassius

      August 20, 2026 at 5:08 AM

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

      • Kalosyni
      • February 25, 2026 at 10:08 AM
      • Kalosyni
      • May 3, 2026 at 3:59 PM
    3. Replies
      24
      Views
      4.7k
      24

    4. Don

      May 3, 2026 at 3:59 PM

    2. Defining and Summarizing Epicurean Ethics 4

      • Kalosyni
      • December 18, 2025 at 3:10 PM
    3. Replies
      4
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      1.5k
      4

    4. Kalosyni

      December 18, 2025 at 3:10 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
      7.8k
      23

    4. Patrikios

      July 6, 2025 at 10:14 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
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    4. Cassius

      December 8, 2024 at 2:08 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
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      5.2k
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    4. Cassius

      September 9, 2024 at 6:56 AM

    2. List of Epicurean philosophical remedies

      • Kalosyni
      • November 8, 2023 at 10:52 AM
    3. Replies
      0
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    2. Wikipedia on "Pleasure"

      • Kalosyni
      • October 18, 2023 at 6:24 PM
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      0
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    2. Multiple Components Comprise the Epicurean Life 30

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

      October 23, 2021 at 1:53 PM

    2. Epicureanism Vs Asceticism 8

      • Hiram
      • March 12, 2019 at 9:44 AM
      • Hiram
      • March 14, 2019 at 1:37 PM
    3. Replies
      8
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      8.5k
      8

    4. Cassius

      March 14, 2019 at 1:37 PM

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