Posts by vlasalv

Asked ChatGPT to work futher the 'after' image and it generated this:

I love generative AI!

Quote from Kalosyni

Is anyone else feeling like this is an issue in their life right now?

Living alone wouldn’t be an issue for me—I’d happily stick to a minimalist diet of seasonal fruits, nuts, water, and lots of orange juice (despite the common advice against it). Unfortunately, I must honour my wife’s cooking, so I indulge for her sake.

Quote from Cassius

Eikadistes while I will bow to the common view that Nietzsche is a mixed bag, I personally very much agree that a knowledge of Nietzsche is very helpful for understanding Epicurus, and I am not just talking about his pro-Lucretius and anti-Stoic comments.

The helpfulness of Nietzsche is a view shared by Elli in Greece, who I think has internalized the intensity of Epicurran philosophy so well at least in part because of her affinity for Nietzsche and also for the Greek version of Nietzsche, Dimitri Liantini.

Can we say then that "one cannot understand Nietzsche without understanding Epicurus"?
I would see a hidden loop in there, though a failed one.

Quote from Cassius

The danger in giving up the word "pleasure" and substituting "peace" or anything else in its place is that the result is to narrow the definition and to imply that what people ordinarily think of as pleasure is not part of the goal, and that danger is present whether the word one chooses is "peace" or "tranquility" or "absence of pain" or anything else. The ancient writers were very clear in stating that Epicurus was held to be an advocate of "pleasure," and that words like tranquility or peace fall within pleasure, not the other way around.

Then one might say: 'When my glass is unwaveringly full, I dwell in peaceful pleasure.' Understanding 'glass' as the body/mind in the most purely materialistic way?

That could be called bliss!

I suppose, at least in my early understanding, that Epicurus indeed used the words 'pleasure' and 'pain' as conceptual markers rather than literal interpretations. His 'pleasure' seems to point more toward an inner tranquility - a state of peace rather than momentary delight. In that light, certain pains might be endured for the sake of greater inner peace, if they lead to that deep serenity. I wonder if Mildred Lisette Norman, the Peace Pilgrim, reached that state. Could she be seen as a modern figure who attained the god-like state that Epicurus spoke of?

I like flags. Here is a suggestion from ChatGPT of an Epicurean flag:

• Background: Sage green, embodying nature, tranquility, and balance.
• Central Emblem: A white oil lamp silhouette, its gentle shape evoking steady, moderate pleasure (ataraxia & aponia).
• Olive Wreath: A thin white circle of olive leaves, symbolising the Garden (Kēpos), community, and natural living.
• Four Pebbles: Four small white dots at the north, east, south, and west, representing the Tetrapharmakos (“four‑part cure”).

That, by the way, remembers me of a ground-level Zoroastrian Love of Wisdom (the sacred fire.)

Book: Usted Se Encuentra Aquí by Fabián C. Barrio
Mi nuevo libro ya está aquí – Fabián C. Barrio – Página personal
No English translation yet, I think.

Barrio also has a YouTube channel (Spanish only):

Fabián C. Barrio

Una digna mezcla de Paulo Coelho, el cuñado de la barra del bar, y Torbe. El viejo lesbiano que chilla encaramado en su roca en mitad del mar. El fachirulo…

www.youtube.com

Good video on Epicurus:

🟢 De cómo Epicuro puede aliviar tu miedo a la muerte

La carta a Meneceo es un breve documento en el que Epicuro resume su filosofía en cuatro prescripciones destinadas a guiar el alma a superar los cuatro temor...

www.youtube.com

Hello, and thank you for the warm welcome!

I'm originally from Spain but currently living in Ireland. Recently, I rediscovered Epicurus through the work of Spanish author Fabián C. Barrio, whose clarifications of Epicurean philosophy resonated deeply with me. Inspired by these insights, I sought to connect with fellow Epicureans—thanks to DeepSeek for guiding me to this community!

While I still have much to read and learn before making significant contributions, I'm delighted to be part of this philosophical journey alongside all of you.

Cheers,
Vlas