Posts by Titus

I am open for questions and comments. I definitely will refine my outline in the future, but rather in upcoming spring (inspired by Venus ) than this winter.

Just what appeared in my mind spontaneously.

(1) The nature of the universe

There is nothing foreign to me in the universe.

Everything takes part in the process of becoming and perishing.

(2) The nature of knowledge

There are limits and boundaries set, within we are able to discover all knowledge we need for living a life full of pleasure.

There is no need of special knowledge. Just trust your senses and realize that there's a deep connection between your natural faculties and the universe. Everything you know is sufficient.

(3) The nature of how to live.

The good is easy to get, the bad is easy to endure.

Everything one needs is within reach.

There is nothing to fear.

Friendship dances around the world, bidding us all to awaken to the recognition of happiness.

Quote from Cassius

I shudder to check some of my old writing sometime. Hopefully it's still useful, but I continue to learn a lot every day.

In my opinion this volume is still a great introduction to the Canon. It's especially important because many works don't put enough emphasis on the foundations of the philosophy and limit themselves to repeating Epicurus' sayings and focusing on ethics.

Quote from Cassius

The Epicureans usually group the Canonicon with the Physics and state that it deals with the criterion of truth and the fundamental principles and contains the elements of the system.

I've just finished a reading, written by a guy called Cassius who deals with this subject at length

The Tripod of Truth: An Introduction to the Book That Fell From The Heavens

Quote from Cassius

8:30 or 9:00 East Coast USA time so that our friends on the West Coast have a reasonable late-afternoon / early-evening hour. Tentatively I would suggest Tuesdays at 8:30 for no reason in particular. Please let us know your suggestions for alternate dates and times.

That's around 3am in Central Europe! For our participants staying in Europe and Africa it would be worth thinking of a second panel (and theoretically a third for the Far East and Australia).

I see, Erler refers to the same phrase we are already talking about.

Quote from Cassius

If someone were looking for "fat and sleek...." then the wreathed figure does fit that description, but would that not refer to "a hog in Epicurus' herd" rather than to Epicurus himself?

I was also irritated by professor Erler's words but he writes as follows: " 'Epicurus with unwrinkled skin': This reminds us of one of Horace's famous dictums about Epicurus, the fat and sleek man with good keeping." (He refers to "Hor. Epist. 1.4.15." . Perhaps this quotation might be clarifying.)

Let's consider professor Erler's arguments as he points out in his book"Epicurus: An introduction to his practical ethics and politics".

He identifies the man wearing the wreath of ivy as Epicurus. He refers to the letter to Menoeceus. The ivy man is surrounded by four people of every age. This shall represent Epicurus' call for philosophing being a young guy as well as being an old men.

He also argues that Epicurus is characterized by words by Sidonius Apollinaris:

"You do not burn with envy at the thought of those paintings all over the gymnasia of the Areopagus and in the prytanea showing Speusippus with his head bowed forward, Aratus with his head bent back, Epicurus with unwrinkled skin, Diogenes with long beard, Socrates with trailing hair, Aristotle with out-thrust arm."

Finally, Erler refers to Horace. Erler writes "the fat and sleek man with good keeping."

Personally, I'd also add the fact that one of the guys is lying on the shoulder of the suggested Epicurus, searching for philosophy as help and guidance.

Quote from Martin

I found no information on whether Sabine is a relative of Malte or whether she knows about him.

A map overview of Germany based on phone book entries lists the name Hossenfelder 34 times.

Hossenfelder

It seems the name originates from the state of Hessen (where Sabine is from). Nearly all other entries are from urban areas, so I think some Hossenfelder's moved there in the past. So there is very possibly a connection, the other question is how close they were.

I didn't read the thread, but I have to mention that there was a German author on Epicurus and Hellenistic philosophy named Hossenfelder. Sabine could be his daughter or some kind of relative.

By luck I've found another new book - and it's available in my local library! I've checked the table of contents and it seems to be quite valueable, especially for the sake of expanding one's knowledge on how the ancient Epicureans practised their philosophy.

I hope the links work:

General Information

Table of Contents

Please let me know if you are interested in the content of several chapters, I can look them up for you.

By luck I have found a reference to a book on Epicureanism and early Christianity (it's quite interesting to myself because I am currently reading DeWitt's "St. Paul and Epicurus". It's titeled "You will not taste death: Jesus and Epicureanism" by Jack W. Hannah. Does anyone know more about the book or the author or already know something on the connection between the Gospel of Thomas and Epicureanism?

It seems we need a thread on interior decoration. Can you tell me something about the papyrus reproductions on the wall?

It's quite amazing how accurate and detailed the engravings are. High technology of the 18th century.

In the Spanish version of the article on the wikipedia page is a link to a digital version in highest definition: https://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/ercolano1757bd1/0005

Don't forget to check first: Volume 5 1767 Bronzes from Herculaneum and region, engraved and described - Part I: Busts . (I already did the mistake to start search in book I)

https://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/ercolano1767bd5/0115

It could also be interpreted as an eye (as one of the senses) and therefore be related to the formulation Sic Fac Omnia Tamquam Spectet Epicurus.

Let me say, I translated the document last night and it was quite funny to do so, but it seems not to be very fruitful. The method was exchanging every given specific reference e.g. "drinker", "alcohol" etc. through an equivalent, e.g. "stoic", "supernaturalist", "ideas" etc. and it ended up quite amusing. In contrast, the orginal topic was written to an real obstacle for some people, so it had some aftertaste for myself. Additionally, I think their approach (and they also relate to people with other problems, there are also Anonymous groups corresponding to mental, drugs etc. issues) belongs to people with really hard problems. Nevertheless, at least a varierty of page one from chapter two sounds inspiring (the other pages sound quite repetetive):

It would be quite interesting hearing a lecture from Elli on the contents discussed within the Gardens in Hellas and the behaving beween the participants there.

With this final comment I end spamming in this thread.

(b) Isn't here a member from Hellas (Elli)? I've always thought she is participating to some extend in one of the local groups there. My research this evening reveals, that there is a virtual meeting every week which is launched by the Garden of Athens. The Garden of Thessaloniki seems to be currently inactive but on their website is a wide range of materials (ironically, the website looks technically much more modern than the Athens equivalent). Unfortunately it's hard to come to any conclusion on their concrete understanding of Epicurean philosophy.

(c) I will try to make some change in the text I have linked and look forward to present first results during the next days.

(a) I agree, we probably have to do refine the tetrapharmcos and cannot only copy concepts from the past. On the other hand, I believe the tetrapharmacos still to be a good fundament, but it needs additional explanations. For modern readers it might sound too inconcrete and it has a strong "healing" attitude (which I personally like while others may not). This might be also the advantage and disadvantage in comparison to the four principal statements formulated by you. They emphasize on presenting facts but include no further solutions.

(b) Have you ever contacted the Hellenic Gardens or the Sydney Group for further materials or interviewed on their experiences?

(c) I'm generally interested in philosophies/religions/movements, for this reason I read the "Big Book" of the Alcoholics Anonymous some years ago. The introductory words sound quite inspirative. By exchanging some words it could use as an inspiration for our own writing - though with an immense emphasis on healing.

Due to my Lucretius Today podcast listening marathon (next episode is the opening session of book two) I' ve come to recognize, that for some reasons there is not necessarily a need for physical interaction. The conversations I've listened to sounded very natural and I suggest they had been very satisfiying for the participants. The only thing probably missing might be the atmosphere of sitting together in a restaurant, also enjoying some good drinks and food together. So there's the question, for what reasons there is a need of meeting locally. In my experience, this is exactly the point many people are questioning themselves. Do I just want to expand my knowledge about philosophy? Or do I want to find new friends/contacts? Do I want do deepen my connection between philosophical ideas and the real life? I agree that we need a concrete outline of how to approach to this issue and how to define a possible common destiny a group could agree to work for.