1. Home
    1. Start Here: Study Guide
    2. Community Standards And Posting Policies
    3. Terms of Use
    4. Moderator Team
    5. Site Map
    6. Quizzes
    7. Articles
      1. Featured Articles
    8. All Blog Posts
      1. Elli's Blog / Articles
  2. Wiki
    1. Wiki Home
    2. FAQ
    3. Classical Epicureanism
    4. Physics Wiki
    5. Canonics Wiki
    6. Ethics Wiki
    7. Search Assistance
    8. Not NeoEpicurean
    9. Foundations
    10. Navigation Outlines
    11. Key Pages
  3. Forum
    1. Full Forum List
    2. Welcome Threads
    3. Physics
    4. Canonics
    5. Ethics
    6. Uncategorized Forum
    7. Study Resources Forum
    8. Ancient Texts Forum
    9. Shortcuts
    10. Featured
    11. Most Discussed
  4. Latest
    1. New Activity
    2. Latest Threads
    3. Dashboard
    4. Search By Tag
    5. Complete Tag List
  5. Podcast
    1. Lucretius Today Podcast
    2. Episode Guide
    3. Lucretius Today At Youtube
    4. EpicureanFriends Youtube Page
  6. Texts
    1. Overview
    2. Diogenes Laertius
    3. Principal Doctrines
    4. Vatican Sayings
    5. Lucretius
    6. Herodotus
    7. Pythocles
    8. Menoeceus
    9. Fragments - Usener Collection
    10. Torquatus On Ethics
    11. Velleius On Gods
    12. Greek/Latin Help
  7. Gallery
    1. Featured images
    2. Albums
    3. Latest Images
    4. Latest Comments
  8. Calendar
    1. Upcoming Events List
    2. Zoom Meetings
    3. This Month
    4. Sunday Zoom Meetings
    5. First Monday Zoom Meetings
    6. Wednesday Zoom Meeting
    7. Twentieth Zoom Meetings
    8. Zoom Meetings
  9. Other
    1. Featured Content
    2. Blog Posts
    3. Files
    4. Logbook
    5. EF ToDo List
    6. Link-Database
  • Login
  • Register
  • Search
This Thread

Welcome To EpicureanFriends.com!

"Remember that you are mortal, and you have a limited time to live, and in devoting yourself to discussion of the nature of time and eternity you have seen things that have been, are now, and are to come."

Sign In Now
or
Register a new account
  1. Home
  2. Wiki
  3. Forum
  4. Latest
  5. Podcast
  6. Texts
  7. Gallery
  8. Calendar
  9. Other
  1. Forum
    1. Full Forum List
    2. Welcome Threads
    3. Physics
    4. Canonics
    5. Ethics
    6. Uncategorized Forum
    7. Study Resources Forum
    8. Ancient Texts Forum
    9. Shortcuts
    10. Featured
    11. Most Discussed
  1. EpicureanFriends - Home of Classical Epicurean Philosophy
  2. Forum
  3. Study Guides, Resources, and Activism
  4. Outlines, Guides, And Maps
  • Sidebar
  • Sidebar

Brett's (belial1975) Epicurean Outline

  • brett
  • January 17, 2018 at 10:34 AM
  • Go to last post
Regularly Checking In On A Small Screen Device? Bookmark THIS page!
  • brett
    03 - Full Member
    Points
    552
    Posts
    77
    Quizzes
    1
    Quiz rate
    44.4 %
    • January 17, 2018 at 10:34 AM
    • #1

    Okie dokie. Here goes.

    1. Nature / Physics
      1. There is no supernatural realm/entity that governs the universe
      2. Matter and void are the basic building blocks of reality
      3. Natural laws guide physical processes
      4. Basic state of the physical world is change and transformation - nothing is static materially
    2. Knowledge /Truth
      1. The senses are reliable witnesses
      2. Reason helps us determine what philosophical principles are valid (i.e. especially in deducing next principles from axioms)
      3. Especially with respect to knowledge of the physical world, we are constantly revising 'knowledge' in response to new facts and data through the scientific method
    3. Ethics / How to live
      1. Pleasure is the goal of life
      2. What is pleasurable for one is not for another - pleasure is relative to a large extent
      3. Some actions, on average, tend to create pain (unfaithfulness to friends/loved ones, theft) for most folks while some tend to create pleasure (deep friendship)
      4. "Live and let live" - the good society is the one that allows people to express and pursue their own pleasures and only limits the former when it interfers with that selfsame pursuit of others
  • Online
    Cassius
    05 - Administrator
    Points
    104,086
    Posts
    14,253
    Quizzes
    9
    Quiz rate
    100.0 %
    • January 17, 2018 at 11:43 AM
    • #2

    Excellent example for what we are trying to do here - thanks Brett!

    Here are initial comments:

    Especially with respect to knowledge of the physical world, we are constantly revising 'knowledge' in response to new facts and data through the scientific method <<< This is a subject where Philodemus "On Methods of Inference" has important things to say. The edition I have linked in the library here has a LOT of good commentary in the appendix by DeLacy (this is the direct link) where he unwinds what Philodemus was saying the Epicureans thought on the issue of: how do we take past experience and infer conclusions about things where we have no experience / how far can we go?

    "Live and let live" - the good society is the one that allows people to express and pursue their own pleasures and only limits the former when it interfers with that selfsame pursuit of others - DeWitt says this and I largely agree, but I wonder if there are not limits to this conclusion. If the central focus is alwaysDeWitt says this and I agree on pleasure, may there not be times when the structure of the society has to adjust so as to achieve pleasure under circumstances that limit freedom (such as the Romans appointing a temporary dictator to preserve the society.) All the questions about organization of society are very interesting.

    Lots more to say in later posts!

  • brett
    03 - Full Member
    Points
    552
    Posts
    77
    Quizzes
    1
    Quiz rate
    44.4 %
    • January 17, 2018 at 1:54 PM
    • #3

    thanks Cassius. I'll do some reading of the link above and see if I should tweak my axioms.

    A very fun exercise.

    Brett

  • Online
    Cassius
    05 - Administrator
    Points
    104,086
    Posts
    14,253
    Quizzes
    9
    Quiz rate
    100.0 %
    • January 17, 2018 at 2:34 PM
    • #4

    I think we'll find that most peoples' outlines are not nearly as on-point as yours, so will require lots more comment. Working out a procedure for making suggestions is fun too. I would hope others as they come by this in the future will add lots more comments, and as you think of better ways to outline you'll post updates. Should be helpful to everyone.

  • brett
    03 - Full Member
    Points
    552
    Posts
    77
    Quizzes
    1
    Quiz rate
    44.4 %
    • January 17, 2018 at 3:50 PM
    • #5
    1. Nature / Physics
      1. There is no supernatural realm/entity that governs/interacts with the universe
      2. Atoms and void are the basic building blocks of reality
      3. Natural laws guide physical processes
      4. Basic state of the physical world is change and transformation - nothing is static materially
    2. Knowledge /Truth
      1. The senses are reliable witnesses
      2. Reason helps us determine what philosophical principles are valid (i.e. especially in deducing next principles from axioms)
      3. Especially with respect to knowledge of the physical world, we are constantly revising 'knowledge' in response to new facts and data through the scientific method
    3. Ethics / How to live
      1. Pleasure is the only/ultimate goal of life
      2. What is pleasurable for one is not for another - pleasure is relative to a large extent
      3. Some actions, on average, tend to create pain (unfaithfulness to friends/loved ones, theft) for most folks while some tend to create pleasure (deep friendship)
      4. "Live and let live" - the good society is the one that allows people to express and pursue their own pleasures and only limits the former when it interfers with that selfsame pursuit of others or by doing so will increase the likelihood of greater pleasure than the pain of restriction freedom
      5. Death is not to be feared - for when we die we are no longer subject to sensation, anticipations or feelings
  • brett
    03 - Full Member
    Points
    552
    Posts
    77
    Quizzes
    1
    Quiz rate
    44.4 %
    • January 17, 2018 at 3:56 PM
    • #6
    1. Nature / Physics
      1. There is no supernatural realm/entity that governs/interacts with the universe
      2. Atoms and void are the basic building blocks of reality
      3. Natural laws guide physical processes
      4. Basic state of the physical world is change and transformation - nothing is static materially
    2. Knowledge /Truth
      1. The senses are reliable witnesses
      2. Reason helps us determine what philosophical principles are valid (i.e. especially in deducing next principles from axioms)
      3. Especially with respect to knowledge of the physical world, we are constantly revising 'knowledge' in response to new facts and data through the scientific method
    3. Ethics / How to live
      1. Pleasure is the only/ultimate goal of life
      2. What is pleasurable for one is not for another - pleasure is relative to a large extent
      3. Some actions, on average, tend to create pain (unfaithfulness to friends/loved ones, theft) for most folks while some tend to create pleasure (deep friendship)
      4. "Live and let live" - the good society is the one that allows people to express and pursue their own pleasures and only limits the former when it interfers with that selfsame pursuit of others or by doing so will increase the likelihood of greater pleasure than the pain of restriction freedom
      5. Death is not to be feared - for when we die we are no longer subject to sensation, anticipations or feelings
      6. Actions should always be decided by the result of the decision with respect to pain/pleasure. However, some actions which result in pain are worthy of choice when the long-term result is pleasure (i.e. exercising SUCKS but the short term pain can result in longer term bodily pleasure via better health)
      7. Friendship is a beautiful way to secure advantage for both sides of the equation and there is no shame in gaining benefit from friendship so long as the benefit is mutual

Unread Threads

    1. Title
    2. Replies
    3. Last Reply
    1. Philodemus' "On Anger" - General - Texts and Resources 20

      • Like 1
      • Cassius
      • April 1, 2022 at 5:36 PM
      • Philodemus On Anger
      • Cassius
      • July 8, 2025 at 7:33 AM
    2. Replies
      20
      Views
      6.9k
      20
    3. Kalosyni

      July 8, 2025 at 7:33 AM
    1. Mocking Epithets 3

      • Like 3
      • Bryan
      • July 4, 2025 at 3:01 PM
      • Comparing Epicurus With Other Philosophers - General Discussion
      • Bryan
      • July 6, 2025 at 9:47 PM
    2. Replies
      3
      Views
      423
      3
    3. Bryan

      July 6, 2025 at 9:47 PM
    1. Best Lucretius translation? 12

      • Like 1
      • Rolf
      • June 19, 2025 at 8:40 AM
      • General Discussion of "On The Nature of Things"
      • Rolf
      • July 1, 2025 at 1:59 PM
    2. Replies
      12
      Views
      1.1k
      12
    3. Eikadistes

      July 1, 2025 at 1:59 PM
    1. The Religion of Nature - as supported by Lucretius' De Rerum Natura 4

      • Thanks 1
      • Kalosyni
      • June 12, 2025 at 12:03 PM
      • General Discussion of "On The Nature of Things"
      • Kalosyni
      • June 23, 2025 at 12:36 AM
    2. Replies
      4
      Views
      954
      4
    3. Godfrey

      June 23, 2025 at 12:36 AM
    1. New Blog Post From Elli - " Fanaticism and the Danger of Dogmatism in Political and Religious Thought: An Epicurean Reading"

      • Like 3
      • Cassius
      • June 20, 2025 at 4:31 PM
      • Epicurus vs Abraham (Judaism, Christianity, Islam)
      • Cassius
      • June 20, 2025 at 4:31 PM
    2. Replies
      0
      Views
      2.5k

Finding Things At EpicureanFriends.com

What's the best strategy for finding things on EpicureanFriends.com? Here's a suggested search strategy:

  • First, familiarize yourself with the list of forums. The best way to find threads related to a particular topic is to look in the relevant forum. Over the years most people have tried to start threads according to forum topic, and we regularly move threads from our "general discussion" area over to forums with more descriptive titles.
  • Use the "Search" facility at 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." Also check the "Search Assistance" page.
  • Use the "Tag" facility, starting with the "Key Tags By Topic" in the right hand navigation pane, or using the "Search By Tag" page, or the "Tag Overview" page which contains a list of all tags alphabetically. We curate the available tags to keep them to a manageable number that is descriptive of frequently-searched topics.

Latest Posts

  • Perspectives On "Proving" That Pleasure is "The Good"

    DistantLaughter July 15, 2025 at 5:37 AM
  • Preuss - "Epicurean Ethics - Katastematic Hedonism"

    Cassius July 15, 2025 at 5:35 AM
  • Epicurus' Prolepsis vs Heraclitus' Flux

    Cassius July 15, 2025 at 5:21 AM
  • The "meaning crisis" trend. How do you answer it as an Epicurean philosopher?

    DaveT July 14, 2025 at 11:15 AM
  • Major Renovation In Use of Tags At EpicureanFriends.com

    Cassius July 13, 2025 at 3:58 PM
  • Welcome Poul

    Cassius July 13, 2025 at 6:41 AM
  • Episode 290 - TD20 - To Be Recorded

    Don July 13, 2025 at 12:15 AM
  • Welcome DistantLaughter!

    DistantLaughter July 12, 2025 at 9:28 PM
  • Lucretius Today Episode 289 Posted - "Epicureans Are Not Spocks!"

    Cassius July 10, 2025 at 12:09 PM
  • Episode 289 - TD19 - "Epicureans Are Not Spocks!"

    Cassius July 10, 2025 at 12:03 PM

Key Tags By Topic

  • #Canonics
  • #Death
  • #Emotions
  • #Engagement
  • #EpicureanLiving
  • #Ethics
  • #FreeWill
  • #Friendship
  • #Gods
  • #Happiness
  • #HighestGood
  • #Images
  • #Infinity
  • #Justice
  • #Knowledge
  • #Physics
  • #Pleasure
  • #Soul
  • #Twentieth
  • #Virtue


Click Here To Search All Tags

To Suggest Additions To This List Click Here

EpicureanFriends - Classical Epicurean Philosophy

  1. Home
    1. About Us
    2. Classical Epicurean Philosophy
  2. Wiki
    1. Getting Started
  3. Frequently Asked Questions
    1. Site Map
  4. Forum
    1. Latest Threads
    2. Featured Threads
    3. Unread Posts
  5. Texts
    1. Core Texts
    2. Biography of Epicurus
    3. Lucretius
  6. Articles
    1. Latest Articles
  7. Gallery
    1. Featured Images
  8. Calendar
    1. This Month At EpicureanFriends
Powered by WoltLab Suite™ 6.0.22
Style: Inspire by cls-design
Stylename
Inspire
Manufacturer
cls-design
Licence
Commercial styles
Help
Supportforum
Visit cls-design
  • Everywhere
  • This Thread
  • This Forum
  • Forum
  • Articles
  • Blog Articles
  • Files
  • Gallery
  • Events
  • Pages
  • Wiki
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • More Options
foo
Save Quote