Posts by Martin

Yes, please mention/recommend this site.

Using memes, graphics and the Lucretius Today podcasts from this site within your study group should be fine.

Since Emily A. Austin has published "Living for pleasure", her book is my new recommendation to start with. It is not for free but way cheaper than DeWitt's book "Epicurus and his Philosophy", which would then be great as the next book for completeness.

Audio/video material on Epicurus from BBC (within a BBC series on philosophy) seems to be fine but I do not know it firsthand and do not have a link.

It seems you already have enough future participants, which is great because the biggest hurdle to start a group is usually to find enough participants.

To avoid unproductive and divisive debate, it is best to establish rules which outline the scope of interest and exclude partisan politics (unless everybody in the group is politically on the same page, but then, there is no point in discussing politics either.)

Welcome Agrios!

Welcome Silverwater!

Welcome mwilliams!

Welcome Randall!

Quote

With Einstein and the models of modern physics the universe does not expand into anything.

This statement is misleading. As of current models and observations, both the universe and the space in which it exists are in accelerated expansion. The expansion of space seems to add so much that the distances between our galaxy and the most distant still observable galaxies seem to increase with more than the speed of light. The continued dilution of matter on the largest scale, the increase in entropy and the further development of stars will make the universe much different from now.

Welcome Adrian!

Welcome ScottW!

Welcome MaxImpala!

Comments at "Philosophy Matters" indicate that the article lacks depth, is a waste of time reading it.

"Carbohydrate Restriction (Adkins or Keto)" may produce stunning weight loss but both Adkins and Keto are controversial because they are unhealthy for most people.

"Carbohydrate Restriction by cutting down sugar and starch and increasing complex carbohydrates with fibers but not animal fats" is a healthy version of carbohydrate restriction. It would incur reduction of total calory intake, too.

Welcome Premster!

Welcome Plantpierogi!

Happy New Year!

Welcome Matthew!

Welcome back, Todd!

Welcome Martyo26!

If the body does no more release water by urine, about the only other way to get rid of significant amounts of water is to stop dehydrating the content of the large intestine. Therefore, dysentery makes sense as a consequential symptom. That method does not have the fine regulation of the kidneys and likely leads to dehydration. Dehydration can easily be fatal. Alcohol is likely to accelerate death then. The evidence with respect to Epicurus committing suicide may not be conclusive enough but it cannot be dismissed either.

The alcohol would worsen the dehydration and may have multiple other effects under that condition.

Just one detail to add to the list of ancient texts indicating suicide as an option for Epicureans under extreme circumstances:

On his last day, Epicurus drank undiluted wine. With the dysentery he was in, this might have been suicide at least in the sense of accelerating the upcoming death.

There was a presentation with more details on this speculation that Epicurus himself might have committed suicide at one of the Epicurean symposia in Greece a few years ago, but I could not find it in my collection of references now.