Articles
Listen to the latest Lucretius Today Podcast! Episode 224 is now available. To mark the 20th of April, here is a special episode - a reading of the 1429 letter of Cosma Raimondi.
Featured Materials At EpicureanFriends
Articles at EpicureanFriends are featured presentations on important aspects of Epicurean Philosophy. They include:
- Cassius' "A Gate To Be Burst - 'Absence of Pain'"
- Elayne's "On Pain, Pleasure, And Happiness"
- Interview with Dr. Marcelo Boeri: Theory and Practive of Epicurean Political Philosophy
- Interview with Dr. David Glidden: Epicurean Prolepsis
- Interview With Dr. Emily Austin: Living For Pleasure
- About EpicureanFriends.com - Includes Points of Emphasis
- Don's translation of the Letter to Menoeceus
- TIMELINES: Joshua's Timeline of Epicureanism From Classical Athens to Late Antiquity and Nate's Timeline of Ancient Epicurean History
- Don's article "Epicurus' Birthday: The 7th, 10th, or 20th of Gamelion - Mystery Solved
- Nate's compilation of the translations of The Principal Doctrines
- Nate's List of "Famous Epicureans Throughout History"
- Nate's Map of "Epicurean Communities of the Ancient World"
- Martin's Presentation on "Exploring the Relationship Between Epicurus and 'Logic'"
- Joshua's Audio Reading of Torquatus on Epicurean Ethics
- Joshua's Quotations From The Lucretius Today Podcast
- Joshua's "Threads of Epicureanism In Art and Literature"
- The "A Few Days In Athens" Chapter By Chapter Book Review
- Table of Texts With Translation Difficulties
- Controversies In Epicurean Scholarship - A Table of Recurring Issues
- Memorial Calendar of Leading Epicureans
Elli Pensa has translated for us the following article by a Greek student of Epicurus, Dimitris Liarmakopoulos.
Elli
A Gate To Be Burst: "Absence of Pain"
It is interesting to think about what Lucretius had in mind in Book One of “On The Nature of Things” when he spoke about Epicurus "yearning to be the first to burst through the close-set bolts upon the gates of nature." What kind of gates was he talking about? Who bolted them? How do those gates keep us from Nature?
I can't be sure which gates Lucretius had in mind, but I can suggest one "gate" that is particularly in need of bursting, as it stands directly in the way of a better understanding…
I can't be sure which gates Lucretius had in mind, but I can suggest one "gate" that is particularly in need of bursting, as it stands directly in the way of a better understanding…
Cassius
Interview With Dr. David Glidden: "Epicurean Prolepsis"
In Episode 166 the Lucretius Today podcasters interviewed Dr. David Glidden, professor emeritus from the University of California - Riverside, about his articles "Epicurean Prolepsis" and "Epicurean Thinking.
Cassius
Interview With Dr. Emily Austin: "Living For Pleasure"
In Episodes 156 and 157, the Lucretius Today podcasters interviewed Dr. Emily Austin, author of 2022's "Living For Pleasure."
Cassius
Interview With Dr. Marcelo Boeri: Theory and Practice In Epicurean Political Philosophy
In Episode 197 of the Lucretius Today Podcast, on October 19, 2023, we were privileged to speak with Dr. Marcelo Boeri, co-author with Javier Aoiz of Theory and Practice In Epicurean Political Philosophy - Security, Justice, and Tranquility.
Cassius
On Pain, Pleasure, And Happiness
Brief: The feelings are only two, pleasure and pain—there is no third state such as neutral, and there are no “fancy pleasures” which are different from regular pleasures. Because there is no neutral, reducing pain in life is only possible if there is a corresponding increase in pleasure. The extent of pleasure can be maximized by making sure to attend to all parts of one’s body, including the brain. Happiness is comprised of a pleasurable life. The capacity for pain is a valuable warning system and should not be disabled except in unusual conditions. The experience of pain is to be avoided except when it is chosen for the sake of greater pleasure/ lesser pain over the lifespan. Humans have many shared responses of pain or pleasure to specific experiences, and they also have individual variations. The standard of pleasure in one’s life must be one’s own subjective feelings, not a generic advice. There are many pitfalls to avoid if one desires a happy, pleasure-filled life, such as a false belief in a neutral state, practices which attempt to disable the normal capacity to feel pleasure and pain, and failure to consider the long-term pains and pleasures resulting from actions. In discussing pain and pleasure, Epicureans stick to real life situations, not hypothetical philosophical puzzles.
Elayne
3
The Full Cup / Fullness of Pleasure Model
The following is a summary of citations relevant to the understanding of the pursuit of pleasure in Epicurean philosophy.
Cassius
1
Recent Articles
A Gate To Be Burst: "Absence of Pain"
It is interesting to think about what Lucretius had in mind in Book One of “On The Nature of Things” when he spoke about Epicurus "yearning to be the first to burst through the close-set bolts upon the gates of nature." What kind of gates was he talking about? Who bolted them? How do those gates keep us from Nature?
I can't be sure which gates Lucretius had in mind, but I can suggest one "gate" that is particularly in need of bursting, as it stands directly in the way of a better understanding…
I can't be sure which gates Lucretius had in mind, but I can suggest one "gate" that is particularly in need of bursting, as it stands directly in the way of a better understanding…
Cassius
Interview With Dr. David Glidden: "Epicurean Prolepsis"
In Episode 166 the Lucretius Today podcasters interviewed Dr. David Glidden, professor emeritus from the University of California - Riverside, about his articles "Epicurean Prolepsis" and "Epicurean Thinking.
Cassius
Interview With Dr. Marcelo Boeri: Theory and Practice In Epicurean Political Philosophy
In Episode 197 of the Lucretius Today Podcast, on October 19, 2023, we were privileged to speak with Dr. Marcelo Boeri, co-author with Javier Aoiz of Theory and Practice In Epicurean Political Philosophy - Security, Justice, and Tranquility.
Cassius
Interview With Dr. Emily Austin: "Living For Pleasure"
In Episodes 156 and 157, the Lucretius Today podcasters interviewed Dr. Emily Austin, author of 2022's "Living For Pleasure."
Cassius
On Pain, Pleasure, And Happiness
Brief: The feelings are only two, pleasure and pain—there is no third state such as neutral, and there are no “fancy pleasures” which are different from regular pleasures. Because there is no neutral, reducing pain in life is only possible if there is a corresponding increase in pleasure. The extent of pleasure can be maximized by making sure to attend to all parts of one’s body, including the brain. Happiness is comprised of a pleasurable life. The capacity for pain is a valuable warning system and should not be disabled except in unusual conditions. The experience of pain is to be avoided except when it is chosen for the sake of greater pleasure/ lesser pain over the lifespan. Humans have many shared responses of pain or pleasure to specific experiences, and they also have individual variations. The standard of pleasure in one’s life must be one’s own subjective feelings, not a generic advice. There are many pitfalls to avoid if one desires a happy, pleasure-filled life, such as a false belief in a neutral state, practices which attempt to disable the normal capacity to feel pleasure and pain, and failure to consider the long-term pains and pleasures resulting from actions. In discussing pain and pleasure, Epicureans stick to real life situations, not hypothetical philosophical puzzles.
Elayne
3
"Free Will In Epicurean Philosophy" - by Dimitris Liarmakopoulos
Elli Pensa has translated for us the following article by a Greek student of Epicurus, Dimitris Liarmakopoulos.
Elli
Foundations of Epicurean Philosophy
For a presentation of many details of Epicurean Philosophy assembled from a close paraphrase of passages of the ancient texts, see the slides, text, or video below. Each passage contains a citation to the text or texts from which the point is taken. For prior versions and for a discussion of this material go here.
The Current Version of The Text Is Here.