Posts by Hiram

The only other instance of “mind’s eye” in philosophical or religious literature that I know of is the third eye in Hinduism, which is one of the chakras or energy centers in the body.

Many deities, like Kali and Shiva, and sometimes the Buddha, are depicted with their third eye open. He closest thing to a scientific theory of it is that the inner core of our brain is reptilian, and that because our earliest ancestors were cold blooded they needed to be in tune with the circadian rhythms, so this third eye helped to perceive the circadian rhythms. But the eyes are there for that, they see the light of the sun and report it to the brain...

So this idea is very pre-scientific and spurious...

I twot a tweet to Tom Church on this, will update when he replies

i Thought this link was dead but I see that the “Shakers and Movers” podcast guy still has his webpage.

Http://tomchurch.co.uk/hiram-crespo-on-the-pursuit-of-happiness-epicurean-philosophy-and-changing-your-mindset/

Elayne I don't know what city you're in, but feel free to post info on this meeting at the EP group (you can even create an event there for it), and let people know what city you're in. It's possible there are members of the EP group who are not far from you.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/EpicureanPhilosophy/events/

AND if I can be of any use re: sources or writings, let me know. I facilitated meetups some years back, but only got up to three people.

Quote from Godfrey

- Science needs to be studied only to the degree that it brings relief from fear.

On this point, PD 10-13 seem to say this but it does not mean or imply that any additional acquisition of scientific knowledge is BAD or useless. Science may have other advantages, or may be enjoyed for its own sake. We are not anti-science, which is how some people may interpret this out of ignorance or ill-will--on the contrary, the study of nature is an important source of pleasure to us.

Quote from godek

Which book(s) of Philodemus is this that has these writings?

This is what I found in his scroll on music (http://societyofepicurus.com/reasonings-on-philodemus-on-music/) (the part in gray is a direct quote from the scroll):

Quote

After summarizing Diogenes’ scroll, Philodemus argues that music (by which he means instrumental music, as he treats lyrics in a separate scroll on Poetry) is not capable of making us better or worse in character. This is one of his key points, and it’s because of the lack of words, of lyrics.

This view is consistent with the view that therapeutic philosophy heals with words, with arguments. Therefore, music can not replace philosophy in its healing role: it can not, by itself, fix the human character. It can only have therapeutic value if it incorporates the words of the healing doctrines of philosophy.

And those that say that we are sweetened by music because she softens our souls and would deprive them of their savagery, one may consider them perfect imbeciles. In fact, it is only reason–because she teaches that none of the strange things that unreason invents has been produced by nature and that, furthermore, nothing of what she produces has any importance–that can perfectly reach this result, once it has attained its perfection, and while she is still on the path to perfection, it can alleviate in proportion

The writings of Philodemus make it clear that only (well-reasoned, empirical) arguments can heal the soul. This is made clear, for example, when he discusses the healing properties of music and argues that only the content of the songs, if it contains the healing words (logos, related to logic) of philosophy, can heal.

And so Philodemus prescribes cognitive therapy to deal with emotions, thoughts, and beliefs that are misaligned with nature.

But outside of that, if there are medical or mental health issues, no one in the Epicurean group is licensed for therapy and professional advise should be sought. Philosophy only helps to keep basic existential health, not in cases that require special care.

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed your outline and could think of dozens of links to our content that would reinforce many of the conclusions of your wisdom tradition, from the importance of concentric social circles to martyrdom and anger (Philodemus’ scroll)

Todos disponibles aquí:

https://sociedadepicuro.wordpress.com/2018/11/08/__trashed-6/

https://theautarkist.wordpress.com/2018/11/20/happy-twentieth-2/

According to Philodemus, no.

PD 10-13

Make that which is before you better than that which is behind you.

A brief thematic study guide for the benefit of beginners:

http://societyofepicurus.com/vatican-sayings-brief-study-guide/

Society of Epicurus now has a sub-reddit

https://www.reddit.com/r/SocietyofEpicurus/

I’m writing a blog on lila, a Hindu concept of (religion as) “play” which is used to explain religion and even to weave meaning into life without taking oneself too seriously. Hinduism says “life is a game: play it”, and this playfulness is central in many Hindu traditions like Bhakti, Krishna consciousness, etc. It also allows us permission to give up the need to rationalize everything always, opens up the possibility of innocence. If we approach religious practice as a Lila, we may get a bit closer to E’S ideal of religion as a source of pure, unalloyed pleasure.

Few thought experiments.

Was Epicurus not inciting a religious reform (of all faiths) by saying things like?:

“It’s not we but those who believe like the majority that are blasphemous”

“Believe about the gods WHATEVER you wish so long as it does not contradict their indestructibility or bliss”

I don’t see how this doctrine needs only apply to Olympians gods.

Isn’t it possible that even a monotheism can be reformed in this manner? Or a pantheism where Nature is deity, as ancient Epicureans seemed to imply in their gratitude prayer?

“We give thanks to divine Nature for she made the needful things easy to attain and the difficult things to attain, she made unnecessary“

Isn’t Thomas Jefferson a type of monotheistic, deist Epicurean of this kind? Why have we never taken seriously he possibility of a “god of nature” (meaning nature or reality itself as deity) as a healthy way to channel the religious instinct?

Just random thoughts.

Did you email the publisher?

Puede visitor la página de SAE en español, que tiene muchas otras traducciones de pergaminos de Filodemo y otras obras:

https://sociedadepicuro.wordpress.com/2018/09/20/raz…es-de-filodemo/

https://theautarkist.wordpress.com/2018/09/20/hap…-felt-so-alive/