Welcome to Episode 171 of Lucretius Today. This is a podcast dedicated to the poet Lucretius, who wrote "On The Nature of Things," the only complete presentation of Epicurean philosophy left to us from the ancient world. Each week we walk you through the Epicurean texts, and we discuss how Epicurean philosophy can apply to you today. If you find the Epicurean worldview attractive, we invite you to join us in the study of Epicurus at EpicureanFriends.com, where you will find a discussion thread for each of our podcast episodes and many other topics.
We are now in the process of a series of podcasts intended to provide a general overview of Epicurean philosophy based on the organizational structure employed by Norman DeWitt in his book "Epicurus and His Philosophy."
This week we begin our discussion of Chapter 11, entitled "Soul, Sensation, and Mind."
- The Body A Vessel
- Cosensitivity Of Soul And Body
- Rational And Irrational Soul
- The Workings Of Sensation
- Vision
- Hearing
- Mind As A Supersense
- Emotional Impulses
- Motor Impulses
- Mind
I just found this, and a brings up newest science of understanding how the brain is the source of the mind and soul:
QuoteResearchers have discovered a connection between the brain areas controlling movement and those involved in thinking, planning, and involuntary bodily functions like blood pressure and heartbeat. The findings suggest a literal linkage between body and mind in the brain’s structure. Researchers named this newly identified network the Somato-Cognitive Action Network (SCAN). This study may help explain phenomena such as anxiety-induced pacing, the effects of vagus nerve stimulation on depression, and the positive outlook reported by regular exercisers.
Source: https://scitechdaily.com/hidden-linkage…ilt-into-brain/
And also another article:
Quote"Modern neuroscience does not include any kind of mind-body dualism. It's not compatible with being a serious neuroscientist nowadays. I'm not a philosopher, but one succinct statement I like is saying, 'The mind is what the brain does.' The sum of the bio-computational functions of the brain makes up 'the mind,'" said study senior author Nico Dosenbach, a neurology professor at Washington University School of Medicine.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/scie…ain-2023-04-19/
(mentioned in this episode)
“Although many of us think of ourselves as thinking creatures that feel, biologically we are feeling creatures that think”
— Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, Neuroscientist and author of My Stroke of Insight.
Episode 171 of the podcast is now available!
On Joshua's mention of feral children:
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Immutability of Epicurean school in ancient times 11
- TauPhi
July 28, 2025 at 8:44 PM - Uncategorized Discussion (General)
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Recorded Statements of Metrodorus 11
- Cassius
July 28, 2025 at 7:44 AM - Hermarchus
- Cassius
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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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