Frequently Asked Questions
Our FAQ is in a stage of on-going renovation and improvement. Each FAQ answer has a link to a discussion thread where the topic can be discussed. Please use those links for specific topics but also feel free to make general suggestions in the general FAQ thread here.
Miscellaneous
Most people today still consult the Usener collection, which was compiled with Latin commentary by Hermann Usener in 1887.
- For the best current source of the Usener material, check out the curated PDF being prepared by forum member Bryan.
- The Erik Anderson version of Usener at Epicurism.info is here.
- A version of Erik Anderson's collection of Usener is now at Attalus.org here.
- Cyril Bailey's "Epicurus, the Extant Remains" is here.
While Usener's edition is available in several forms, there is no modern online "database" version of Usener searchable by tags.
Other sources of fragments are discussed in several threads here, including:
First and foremost, check out our "Getting Started" FAQ where we outline the steps in detail.
As you get more involved over time, remember that the best way to get to know the community better is to participate in our Zoom meetings. We do our best to maintain a quality experience for all participants, and so we require that you respond to your Welcome post and interact with us on the forums long enough for us to ensure that your attendance at a Zoom will be productive for everyone.
You kind find out what to expect in our Zooms by reviewing our Zoom Meeting Protocols. For those who have not previously participated in an EpicureanFriends Zoom, we invite you to first attend one of our First Monday Zooms. In our First Monday Zooms we welcome new members to tell us more about themselves, get to know our regulars better, and let us know how we can be of more assistance to you in the study of Epicurus.
As a second step in Zoom participation, participants are invited to attend our Wednesday Zooms. Each week we discuss recent events on the forum, and spend time with a special topic. Our topic is currently a review of Usener's Epicurea, using a special customized version prepared by Bryan, one of our regular Forum participants.
Note: After a probationary period we invite those who spend more time with us and receive an invitation to the Wednesday Zooms to move to Level 3 member status, which allows access to additional sections of the forum and provides an invitation to our Twentieth Zooms.
The Society of Friends of Epicurus is an organization led by Hiram Crespo for the promotion of Epicurean Philosophy. While there are various important differences in approach, a primary distinction between the two is that EpicureanFriends has a rule against the discussion within the group of contemporary political issues, and the Society of Friends of Epicurus does not. Those interested in Epicurus are encouraged to consider both options and participate in them accordingly. Additional background can be found here.