Welcome Daniel Van Orman ! When you get a chance please introduce yourself and let is know about your background in Epicurus. Thank you for joining us!
Also, I see from your first post that you are working on an Epicurean database. I am linking to that here so others will see it from this post.

Welcome Daniel Van Orman!
Regularly Checking In On A Small Screen Device? Bookmark THIS page!
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I am a 20 year old nerdy, asocial computer science major (I am learning to make software; I aspire to be a highly educated programmer/scientist). I am attending Brigham Young University Idaho because of its high quality degree, fantastic honor code, and low cost. I was raised an hour away from Portland, Oregon and recently moved to San Diego, California because of my father's work (I miss omnipresent clouds and Seattle-like rain).
I am a utilitarian, mainly following John Stuart Mill. While studying, I repeatedly encountered quotes from Epicurus, being cited as a wise authority on ethics. I believe most Epicurean teachings explain what I think is the core of utilitarianism: a selfless love for others based on hedonism with humility and wisdom. As I study Epicurean teachings, I find numerous aspects essential to and expanded upon in utilitarianism. To study philosophy, I searched for complete sources on any website I could find (thus how I found Epicurean Friends) and took notes while doing so. A small part of those notes become the topical guide linked above. Look there for a better understanding of my understanding of Epicurean philosophy.
I have a highly analytical mindset, enhanced by my electrical engineer-filled family and technical education starting from an early age (ex: I have been programming since the age of seven. I finished five programming and five engineering classes before graduating high school. The list goes on.). From this, I know criticism (mainly constructive criticism) is vital for learning and improving. Please remain respectful and I will be very difficult to offend. Thank you.
Unread Threads
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Philodemus' "On Anger" - General - Texts and Resources 20
- Cassius
April 1, 2022 at 5:36 PM - Philodemus On Anger
- Cassius
July 8, 2025 at 7:33 AM
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- Replies
- 20
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Mocking Epithets 3
- Bryan
July 4, 2025 at 3:01 PM - Comparing Epicurus With Other Philosophers - General Discussion
- Bryan
July 6, 2025 at 9:47 PM
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- Replies
- 3
- Views
- 305
3
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Best Lucretius translation? 12
- Rolf
June 19, 2025 at 8:40 AM - General Discussion of "On The Nature of Things"
- Rolf
July 1, 2025 at 1:59 PM
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- Replies
- 12
- Views
- 888
12
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The Religion of Nature - as supported by Lucretius' De Rerum Natura 4
- Kalosyni
June 12, 2025 at 12:03 PM - General Discussion of "On The Nature of Things"
- Kalosyni
June 23, 2025 at 12:36 AM
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- Replies
- 4
- Views
- 853
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New Blog Post From Elli - " Fanaticism and the Danger of Dogmatism in Political and Religious Thought: An Epicurean Reading"
- Cassius
June 20, 2025 at 4:31 PM - Epicurus vs Abraham (Judaism, Christianity, Islam)
- Cassius
June 20, 2025 at 4:31 PM
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- 0
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- 1.9k
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