Lucretius Today Podcast Episode Guide

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Nothing Comes From Nothing Or Goes To Nothing Supernaturally By Cassius Epicurus deduced the existence of atoms from the observation that nothing arises from nothing and nothing is destroyed to nothing -- the starting point for rejecting all supernatural creation. 🎧 Listen: Episode 259 & Discussion →
The Universe Is Infinite In Size and Eternal In Time And Has No Gods Over It By Cassius Epicurus reasoned that the universe must be infinite in both atoms and space, eliminating any place "outside" or "over" it where supernatural forces could exist. 🎧 Listen: Episode 260 & Discussion →
True Divinity Is Incorruptible And Blessed By Cassius Reasoning from Nature's own patterns, Epicurus concluded the universe contains blessed, deathless beings worthy of the name "gods" -- beings we have nothing to fear from. 🎧 Listen: Episode 256 & Discussion →
Death Is Nothing To Us By Cassius Since consciousness cannot survive the body, death holds no punishment or reward to fear -- a realization that frees us to focus entirely on making the best use of the life we have. 🎧 Listen: Episode 261 & Discussion →
There Is No Necessity To Live Under the Control Of Necessity By Cassius Epicurus identified Determinism as a demoralizing and self-contradictory falsehood, pointing out that our power over the ultimate choice in life proves we are not slaves to necessity. 🎧 Listen: Episode 257 · Episode 258
He Who Says "Nothing Can Be Known" Knows Nothing By Cassius Radical Skepticism collapses under its own weight: anyone who claims 'nothing can be known' is claiming to know that very thing. 🎧 Listen: Episode 262 & Discussion →
All Sensations Are True By Cassius Our senses report honestly and without opinion; truth and error arise only in the mind's interpretation, never in the faculties Nature gave us to perceive the world. 🎧 Listen: Episode 263 & Discussion →
The Criteria Of Truth Are The Sensations, Anticipations, And Feelings By Cassius Epicurus identified three co-equal natural faculties -- sensation, anticipation, and feeling -- that together form the Canon, the measuring-rule against which every claim to truth must be tested.
Dialectical Logic And Radical Skepticism Do Not Determine Truth By Cassius Neither the Stoic and Peripatetic reliance on formal logic, nor the Academic Skeptic's distrust of the senses, keeps faith with the only genuine standard of truth: sensation, anticipation, and feeling.
Platonic Ideal Forms, Aristotelian Essences, And Divine Revelation Do Not Exist By Cassius Plato's realm of perfect Forms, Aristotle's fixed essences, and claims of divine revelation each relocate truth away from the senses -- and each, for that reason, cannot be known to exist at all.
Happiness Is The Goal Of Life By Cassius Happiness is the overall target across an entire life -- a life in which pleasure predominates over pain -- distinct from pleasure itself, which is the moment-to-moment guide used to reach it.
Pleasure Is The Guide Of Life By Cassius With no supernatural gods or absolute virtue to appeal to, Nature gives us only Pleasure and Pain by which to determine what to choose and what to avoid. 🎧 Listen: Episode 268 & Discussion →
By Pleasure We Mean All Experience That Is Not Painful (The Absence of Pain) By Cassius Since Nature gives us only two feelings, whatever is not painful is in fact pleasurable -- making "Absence of Pain" and "Pleasure" exactly the same thing, and a pleasant life available to nearly everyone. 🎧 Listen: Episode 269 & Discussion →
Virtue Is Not Absolute Or An End In Itself. All Good And Evil Consists In Sensation. By Cassius Virtue is not a divine or absolute ideal but a set of tools for living well -- and good and evil are not abstractions, but consist in sensation itself. 🎧 Listen: Episode 267 & Discussion →
Life Is Desirable, But Unlimited Time Contains No Greater Pleasure Than Limited Time By Cassius Since pleasure involves intensity and completeness as well as duration, an unlimited lifespan could add nothing to a life that is already, in the relevant sense, complete. 🎧 Listen: Episode 270 & Discussion →

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This page replaces our previous episode guide, which listed a subset of episodes without direct links to transcripts. The original page is still available here: Lucretius Today Episode Guide (legacy).

Episode 347 — If You Think True And False Are Impossible To Find, Then Don't Talk To Me About True And False 08/14/26 Continuing Book Two of Cicero's Academic Questions, Cassius and Joshua finish Section 13 and move into Section 14, where Lucullus turns to attack the skeptics' method of division (diaeresis) — the Platonic technique. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 346 — Epicurean Defense of The Senses Against Plato's Cave Analogy 08/07/26 Continuing Section 13 of Book Two of Cicero's Academic Questions, Joshua traces the syllogism under discussion back to Arcesilaus by returning to Book One, Section 12. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 345 — We Can't Find True and Complete Happiness Unless We Have Knowledge Of What True and Complete Happiness Is 08/01/26 Continuing Book Two of Cicero's Academic Questions, Cassius and Joshua open with Kelly Arenson's Health and Hedonism in Plato and Epicurus. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 344 — What Is Our Mind's Role In Determining Truth? 07/21/26 Wrapping up Section 11 and reading Section 12 of Book Two of Cicero's Academic Questions, Cassius and Joshua trace Lucullus's concept of the "mark" or "sign" (signum) that supposedly makes a perception impossible to doubt. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 343 — In The Search For Knowledge, is "Probable" Good Enough? 07/18/26 Continuing Book Two of Cicero's Academic Questions, Cassius and Joshua wrap up Section 10 and move into Section 11. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 342 — Does The Fact That Our Minds Are Good At Pursuing Knowledge Mean They Were Designed To Be That Way? 07/11/26 Cassius and Joshua continue their review of Cicero's Academic Questions Book Two, working through Section 10. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 341 — Is "Nobody Dies For A Lie" A Good Rule of Evidence? 07/02/26 Cassius and Joshua continue in Section 9 of Book Two of Cicero's Academic Questions, where the Stoic Lucullus has been arguing that knowledge is essential to virtue, confidence, and successful living. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 340 — The Fatal Flaw In Socratic Skepticism 06/27/26 Cassius and Joshua open Section 9 of Book Two of Cicero's Academic Questions. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 339 — Stoic Views Of Knowledge And The Emperor's New Clothes 06/20/26 Cassius and Joshua continue their review of Cicero's Academic Questions, Book Two, completing Section 8 and previewing Sections 9 and 10. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 338 — Are Knowledge And Wisdom Available Only To Gods? 06/12/26 Cassius and Joshua continue their review of Cicero's Academic Questions, Book Two, Section 8, still within Lucullus's Stoic argument. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 337 — Confidence In Knowledge And The Epicurean Attitude Toward Pascal's Wager 06/06/26 Cassius and Joshua continue their review of Cicero's Academic Questions, Book Two, Section Eight, examining the relationship between Stoic epistemology and ethics. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 336 — A Coherent Whole Or An Arbitrary Mess - The Necessity of The Study of Nature and Knowledge In Addition To Ethics 05/29/26 Episode 336 steps back from Section 8 to examine why mastering physics and epistemology — not just ethics — is essential to Epicurean philosophy. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 335 — Epicurean Analysis Of Stoic Claims About Notions And Memory 05/23/26 Episode 335 completes Section 7 of Academic Questions Book 2 and introduces Section 8, tracking Lucullus's Stoic argument from sense perception through to reason. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 334 — Further Epicurean Analysis of the Problems With Stoic "Kataleptic Impressions 05/16/26 Episode 334 steps back from Section 7 of Cicero's Academic Questions to examine the Stoic concept of katalepsis from two external sources: the Wikipedia entry on katalepsis and Diogenes Laertius's account of Stoic epistemology in. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 333 — Epicurus Disputes the Stoic View Of The Senses And Anticipations 05/09/26 Episode 333 continues in Academic Questions Book 2, Section 7. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 332 — The Stoic Failure To Grasp That Judgment Never Happens In The Senses 05/03/26 Episode 332 transitions from Book One to Book Two of Academic Questions, picking up at Section 7. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 331 — The Self-Defeating Paradox of Radical Skepticism 04/25/26 Episode 331 covers the final section of Academic Questions Book One (Section 12) and introduces the transition to Book Two. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 330 — In Contrast With Epicurus, The Stoics Opt For Virtue At Any Cost And Make Controversial claims About The Senses 04/18/26 Episode 330 covers Academic Questions Sections 10 and 11. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 329 — Cracks In The Academy On Ideal Forms and Virtue Lead To The Emergence of Aristotle, The Stoics,And Epicurus 04/11/26 Episode 329 covers Academic Questions Section 9, which traces how Plato's Academy began to fragment after Plato's death through a series of successive scholarchs who each departed in their own way from his foundational positions. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 328 — Sensation - While Neither Right Or Wrong - As The Touchstone Of Reality 04/04/26 Episode 328 moves into Academic Questions Book One, Section 8 — the third division of philosophy: reason, discussion, and the question of how (or whether) truth can be known. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 327 — Intelligent Design vs Emergence 03/28/26 Episode 327 completes Academic Questions Book One, Section 7, focusing on Varro's climactic conclusion about the nature of the universe — that the world is itself a God, governed by sentient nature, perfect reason. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 326 — Who Cares About Infinite Divisibility? And Why? 03/21/26 Episode 326 continues Academic Questions Book One, Section 7. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 325 — The False Platonic Division of The Universe Into A Force Which Causes And That Which The Force Acts Upon 03/15/26 Episode 325 continues the Academic Questions series through the second half of Section 6 and into Section 7, focusing on the Platonist view of nature and physics — and the direct Epicurean contrast to it. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 324 — Is Pleasure The Good Or The Enemy Of the Good? 03/07/26 Episode 324 continues the series on Cicero's Academic Questions Book One from an Epicurean perspective, focusing on Section 6. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 323 — The Pre-Epicurean View: Three Divisions of Philosophy And Three Divisions of Goods 02/28/26 Episode 323 continues Academic Questions Book 1 by moving into Section 5, where Varro explains the threefold division of philosophy inherited from Plato — ethics (life and morals), physics (nature and abstruse matters). Discussion · Transcript
Episode 322 — Epicurean Moral Outrage Against Socrates 02/20/26 Episode 322 continues the Epicurean criticism of Socrates on two fronts. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 321 — The Epicurean Criticism of Socrates For Denouncing Natural Science 02/08/26 This episode begins a two-part discussion of the Epicurean criticism of Socrates for abandoning the study of natural science. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 320 — Are The Good of A Sheep And A Man The Same? 02/06/26 This episode continues the Academic Questions series, focusing on Varro's charge in Book 1. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 319 — Is the Key To Happiness Found In Supernatural Causes and Geometry? 01/25/26 Episode 319 opens a new series on Cicero's Academica (Academic Questions), which will serve as preparation for the eventual deep dive into Philodemus's On Methods of Inference (On Signs). Discussion · Transcript
Episode 318 — In The End It Is Pleasure - Not Virtue - That Gives Meaning To The Happy Life 01/24/26 Episode 318 brings the Tusculan Disputations series to a close, covering TD Sections 34–42 (the final sections of Book Five). Discussion · Transcript
Episode 317 — The Epicurean System of Counterbalancing In the Pursuit Of Pleasure 01/16/26 Episode 317 (TD44) continues the Tusculan Disputations series, with Cassius and Joshua focusing on Cicero's TD Section 33, which presents Epicurus's classification of desires and his system of counterbalancing pleasures and pains. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 316 — Happiness Is The Goal Of Life - A Life of Happiness Is A Life Of Pleasure 01/10/26 Episode 316 (TD43) continues the Tusculan Disputations series, with Cassius and Joshua first establishing the core Epicurean equation of happiness with pleasure before working through TD Sections 30 and 31. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 315 — Preventing Pain From Destroying Happiness 01/02/26 Episode 315 continues the Tusculan Disputations series with Sections 27-30, taking in Cicero's summary of all ancient views on the chief good. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 314 — Can Pleasures Really Overcome Pains? 12/27/25 Episode 314 continues the Tusculan Disputations series at Part 5, Sections 26-27, examining the classic hypothetical: can the wise man be happy even when under torture, even in the agony of Phalaris's brazen bull? Discussion · Transcript
Episode 313 — TD40 - Diagnosing When Words Are Empty Of Meaning 12/20/25 Episode 313 continues from Episode 312 on word games versus reality, now using the heap/sorites paradox as the primary analytical lens. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 312 — Word Games Are No Substitute For Reality 12/14/25 Episode 312 continues the Tusculan Disputations series at Part 5, Section 15, where Cicero builds toward his conclusion that virtue alone is sufficient for a happy life. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 311 — Is Pain The Only Reason We Should Be Concerned About Any Aspect Of Death And Dying? 12/06/25 Episode 311 is a solo Cassius episode while Joshua and Kalosyni are absent. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 310 — TD38 - Neither Happiness Nor Virtue Are Binary States 11/29/25 Episode 310, featuring Cassius and Joshua, covers Section 14 of Tusculan Disputations Book 5 (with a preview of Section 15). Discussion · Transcript
Episode 309 — TD37 - The Error of Basing Happiness On The Alleged Divinity Of The Human Mind 11/21/25 Episode 309 features Cassius (host), Joshua (co-host), and Kalosyni reading the student's role in the Tusculan Disputations dialogue. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 308 — TD36 - Tracing Epicurus' Key Ideas From the Principal Doctrines To The Tetrapharmakon To Cicero's Epicurean Speakers 11/12/25 Episode 308, recorded November 16, 2025, features Cassius and Joshua with Kalosyni making a brief appearance. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 307 — TD35 - How The Wise Epicurean Is Always Happy 11/08/25 Episode 307 revisits the end of Section 9 and continues into Section 10 of Part Five of Cicero's Tusculan Disputations. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 306 — TD34 - Is A Life That Is 99 Percent Happy Really Happy? 11/01/25 Episode 306 covers Section 9 of Part Five of Cicero's Tusculan Disputations, on whether virtue alone is sufficient for a happy life. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 305 — TD33 - Shall We Stoically Be A Spectator To Life And Content Ourselves With \"Virtue?\ 10/25/25 Episode 305 opens Part Five (Book Five) of Cicero's Tusculan Disputations — the climactic book asking "Whether virtue alone be sufficient for a happy life." Cicero dedicates this book to Marcus Junius Brutus. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 304 — TD32 - Epicurus vs. The Stoics On Strong Emotions 10/17/25 Episode 304 transitions from Part Three of Cicero's Tusculan Disputations (grief) to Part Four (perturbations of the mind). Discussion · Transcript
Episode 303 — TD31 - Is It Truly Impossible To Advocate For Epicurus In The Public Sphere? 10/09/25 Episode 303 (Tusculan Disputations 31) takes up Cicero's most pointed practical challenge to Epicurean philosophy in Section 21: that the Epicureans hold views so embarrassing they would never dare advocate them in the Senate. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 302 — TD30 - Epicurus and Roads Paved With Good Intentions 10/04/25 Episode 302 (Tusculan Disputations 30) continues in Section 20 of Cicero's Tusculan Disputations, Part Three, picking up loose ends from the prior week's discussion of the Gracchi and the Roman treasury. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 301 — TD29 - Epicurus And The Question Of Ends Justifying Means 09/27/25 The episode finishes Tusculan Disputations Part Three, section 20 by taking up Cicero's third accusation against Epicurus: that he has separated the chief good from virtue. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 300 — TD28 - An Epicurean Twist On The Legend of King Canute 09/18/25 The 300th episode opens with reflections on six years of the podcast and expressions of gratitude to current and past podcasters, especially Joshua and Kalosyni. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 299 — TD27 - Was Epicurus Right That There Are Only Two Feelings - Pleasure And Pain? 09/13/25 Episode 299 (Tusculan Disputations 27) continues in Section 20 of Cicero's Tusculan Disputations, Part Three, which contains three specific Epicurean-targeted arguments. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 298 — TD26 - Facts And Feelings In Epicurean Philosophy - Part 1 09/05/25 The episode continues the Epicurean reading of Cicero's Tusculan Disputations Part Three, focusing on section 20. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 297 — TD25 - Is Philosophy At War With Perfume? 08/30/25 Joshua returns from a wilderness canoe trip to northern Minnesota as the group resumes the Tusculan Disputations after two weeks on Plutarch. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 296 — Ancient Criticisms Of Epicurean \"Absence of Pain\" Echo In The Modern World 08/22/25 In this solo episode — with Joshua and Dawn both away — Cassius returns to Plutarch's essay "That Epicurus Actually Makes a Pleasant Life Impossible" for a slower. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 295 — Plutarch's Absurd Interpretation of Epicurean Absence of Pain 08/14/25 A special episode in which Dawn guests in Joshua's absence. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 294 — TD24 - Distinguishing Dogs From Wolves And Pleasure From Absence of Pain 08/07/25 Episode 294 continues the deep dive into Cicero's charge, raised in Tusculan Disputations section 18. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 293 — TD23 - Cicero Accuses Epicurus Of Evasion In Calling \"Absence of Pain\" A \"Pleasure\ 07/30/25 Episode 293 is a pivotal installment in the Tusculan Disputations series. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 292 — TD22 - Is Virtue Or Pleasure The Key To Overcoming Grief? 07/26/25 Episode 292 continues the Tusculan Disputations series with sections 16 and 17 of Part Three, covering Cicero's escalating attack on Epicurus over grief and the relative roles of virtue and pleasure. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 291 — TD21 - Epicurus Pushes Back Against \"Expect The Worst And You'll Never Be Disappointed\ 07/16/25 This episode covers Tusculan Disputations Part Three sections 14–15, in which Cicero presents and then contrasts the Cyrenaic and Epicurean approaches to grief. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 290 — TD20 - TipToeing Around All Disturbance Is Not Living 07/11/25 This episode continues Tusculan Disputations Part Three through sections 10–13, covering the causes and treatment of grief and all perturbations of the mind. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 289 — TD19 - \"Epicureans Are Not Spocks!\ 07/04/25 This episode continues Tusculan Disputations Part Three (sections 9–10) on grief, anger, pity, envy, and all perturbations of the mind. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 288 — TD18 - Tusculan Disputations Part 3 - \"Will The Wise Man Feel Grief Or Other Strong Emotions?\ 06/25/25 This episode begins the reading and discussion of Cicero's Tusculan Disputations Book Three, which addresses grief and the perturbations of the mind (sections 1–8). Discussion · Transcript
Episode 287 — TD17 - The Fear of Pain Is Overrated, But Cicero and Epicurus Disagree As To Why. 06/21/25 This episode completes the reading and discussion of Cicero's Tusculan Disputations Book Two, covering sections 25–27 and then offering an extended summary of Cicero's overall argument about bodily pain. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 286 — TD16 - Confronting Pain With Reason Rather Than With \"Virtue\ 06/13/25 Episode 286 continues the Tusculan Disputations, Book Two, sections 20–24. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 285 — TD15 - The Significance Of The Limits Of Pain 06/07/25 Episode 285 continues Cicero's Tusculan Disputations, Book Two, sections 18–19. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 284 — TD14 - In Dealing With Pain, Does Practice Make Perfect? Or Does Practice Make For A Happy Life? 05/31/25 Episode 284 continues Cicero's Tusculan Disputations, Book Two, sections 13–17. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 283 — Philosophy For The Millions 05/31/25 Episode 283 is unusual in that it consists entirely of Cassius reading aloud Norman DeWitt's 1947 article "Epicurus: Philosophy for the Millions," published in the Classical Journal (January 1947). Discussion · Transcript
Episode 282 — TD13 - Is A Trifling Pain A Greater Evil Than The Worst Infamy? 05/22/25 Episode 282 continues the reading of Cicero's Tusculan Disputations, Book Two, covering sections 10–13. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 281 — TD12 - Is Pain The Greatest Evil - Or Even An Evil At All? 05/15/25 This episode begins Part Two of Cicero's Tusculan Disputations, "Is Pain an Evil?" Starting at section 5, Cicero poses the question of whether pain is the greatest evil. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 280 — TD11 - On Death And Daring To Live 05/08/25 This episode wraps up Part One of Cicero's Tusculan Disputations on death. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 279 — TD10 - On \"Dying Before One's Time\ 05/01/25 This episode continues Cicero's Tusculan Disputations Book One, covering Sections 38–42. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 278 — TD08 - Two Opposite Views On When We Might Be Better Off Dead 04/24/25 This episode continues the study of Cicero's Tusculan Disputations Book One, covering Sections 32–37. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 277 — TD07 - Platonism Says This World Is Darkness But The Next World Is Light - Epicurus Disagrees! 04/15/25 Episode 277 continues the Tusculan Disputations series (TD07), covering Sections 26–31 of Book One. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 276 — TD06 - Is Memory Evidence For The Divinity Of The Soul? 04/11/25 Episode 276 continues the Tusculan Disputations series (TD06), covering Sections 24–25 of Book One. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 275 — TD05 - Does Motion Provide Evidence For The Existence of God And Divinity Of The Soul? 04/04/25 Episode 275 continues the Tusculan Disputations series (TD05), covering Sections 23–24 of Book One. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 274 — TD04 - Is The Soul Held Down By The Body, And Does Death Allow The Soul To Ascend To A Better Place? 03/30/25 Episode 274 continues the Tusculan Disputations series (TD04), working through Cicero's Book One, Sections 17–22. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 273 — TD03 - Is The Soul Immortal And Death Actually A Good? 03/18/25 Continuing the Tusculan Disputations series. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 272 — TD02 - Is Death An Evil? 03/12/25 Cassius and Joshua — with Kalosyni reading the student's role — work through Book One of Cicero's Tusculan Disputations, Sections 5–11. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 271 — TD01 - Understanding Epicurus Through Tusculan Disputations 03/03/25 An introductory episode launching a new series working through Cicero's Tusculan Disputations. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 270 — Life Is Desirable, But Unlimited Time Contains No Greater Pleasure Than Limited Time 02/20/25 Cassius and Joshua examine Principal Doctrines 18–21 — the challenging claim that infinite time contains no greater pleasure than limited time. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 269 — By Pleasure We Mean The Absence of Pain (All Experience That Is Not Painful) 02/10/25 Cassius and Joshua explore the full Epicurean meaning of the phrase "absence of pain" — a continuation of the prior week's discussion on pleasure as the guide of life. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 268 — Pleasure Is The Guide Of Life (The Role of Pleasure In Life) 02/10/25 Cassius and Joshua discuss the role of pleasure as the guide of life in Epicurean philosophy — the first in a planned two-episode series on the nature of pleasure (the second episode to focus on. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 267 — Virtue Is Not Absolute Or An End In Itself - All Good And Evil Consists In Sensation. 01/17/25 Cassius, Joshua, Don, and Kalosyni discuss one of Epicurus's most controversial positions: that virtue is not an end in itself but a tool for achieving a pleasant life. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 266 — The Epicurean Paradigm Shift 02/02/25 Cassius presents a solo talk titled "The Epicurean Paradigm Shift," delivered as an updated version of his presentation from the first EpicureanFriends.com live stream (January 19, 2025). Discussion · Transcript
Episode 265 — The Deep-Set Boundary Stone - Epicurus and The Perils of Applying the Principles of Geometry to Ethical Philosophy 01/26/25 Another special episode in which co-host Joshua presents a full prepared talk titled The Deep-Set Boundary Stone: Epicurus and the Perils of Applying the Principles of Geometry to Ethical Philosophy. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 264 — \"Bread and Water!!?? Debunking The Myth of Epicurean Asceticism\ 01/17/25 A special episode featuring co-host Don presenting a talk — "Bread and Water: Debunking the Myth of Epicurean Asceticism" — originally delivered at the first EpicureanFriends.com live stream on January 19, 2025. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 263 — \"All Sensations Are True\ 01/07/25 Cassius and Joshua examine the Epicurean doctrine that "all sensations are true" — not as a naive claim that illusions never occur, but as a precise epistemological position: the senses report data faithfully. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 262 — He Who Says \"Nothing Can Be Known\" Knows Nothing 12/29/24 Cassius and Joshua explore Epicurus's rejection of radical (capital-S) Skepticism and his insistence that some things can be known with confidence — that the "wise man will dogmatize." The episode traces the origins of ancient. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 261 — Death Is Nothing To Us 12/23/24 Cassius and Joshua explore Principal Doctrine 2 — "Death is nothing to us" — as the second of Epicurus's foundational teachings, second in importance only to the rejection of supernatural gods. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 260 — The Universe Is Infinite And Eternal And Has No Gods Over It 12/18/24 Cassius and Joshua discuss Epicurean physics centered on the principle that the universe is infinite in extent and eternal in time, with no supernatural forces over it. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 259 — Nothing Comes From Nothing 11/18/24 Episode 259 opens a new series on key Epicurean physics principles, beginning with the foundational doctrine that nothing comes from nothing. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 258 — There Is No Necessity To Live Under the Control of Necessity - Part 2 (Conclusion) 11/18/24 Episode 258 concludes the two-part discussion of Epicurean determinism, now expanded by the discovery of Tim O'Keefe's book Epicurus on Freedom, which substantially disagrees with Dr. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 257 — There Is No Necessity To Live Under Necessity - Part 1 11/18/24 Episode 257 opens a two-part discussion on Epicurean determinism. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 256 — Epicurean Gods: Real, Or Ideal Thought Constructs? 11/18/24 Episode 256 features a three-way discussion between Cassius, Joshua, and guest Don on one of the most contested questions in Epicurean scholarship: whether Epicurus conceived of his gods as physically real beings with independent existence. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 255 — Episode 255 – Cicero's OTNOTG 30 – Cotta Argues That Epicurean Gods\ 11/13/24 Episode 255 brings the main discussion of Book 1 of Cicero's On the Nature of the Gods to a close, covering Sections 43-44 and Cotta's climactic argument. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 254 — The Skeptic Asks: Does Not Epicurus Undermine Religion? 11/09/24 Episode 254 continues through Cicero's On the Nature of the Gods, focusing on Sections 42-43 and Cotta's threefold argument that the Epicurean view of the gods destroys religion as thoroughly as outright atheism. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 253 — The Skeptic Asks: Was Epicurus A Materialist? 10/27/24 Episode 253 examines the famous "Riddle of Epicurus" — the problem of evil as a logical puzzle — and its uneasy relationship with authentic Epicurean philosophy. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 252 — Cicero's On The Nature Of The Gods - Part 27 - Where Do We Go From Here? 10/26/24 Picking up after Section 40. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 251 — Cicero's On The Nature Of The Gods - Part 26 - How Niagara Falls Helps Us Understand The Flux, The Heap, and The Epicurean Gods. 10/18/24 Sections 39-40 of Cicero's On the Nature of the Gods. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 250 — Cicero's On The Nature Of The Gods - Part 25 - The Relationship Of \"Images\" To All Human Thought - Not Just To The Gods. 10/12/24 Section 38 of Cicero's On the Nature of the Gods and its connection to the broader Epicurean theory of images. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 249 — Cicero's On The Nature Of The Gods - Part 24 - Are the Epicurean Gods Totally Inactive, And Are We To Emulate Them Through Laziness? 10/02/24 Section 37 of Cicero's On the Nature of the Gods: Cotta charges that Epicurean gods are completely inactive and slothful. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 248 — Cicero's On The Nature Of The Gods - Part 23 - Cotta Pushes The \"Argument By Design\" Against The Epicurean View That All - Including Gods - Is Natural. 09/28/24 Episode 248 works through Sections 34–36 of Cicero's On the Nature of the Gods, with a note at the opening about reduced audio quality due to Hurricane Helene. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 247 — Cicero's On The Nature Of The Gods - Part 22 - Cotta Continues To Attack The Epicurean View That Gods Are Natural Living Beings. 10/31/24 Episode 247 works through Sections 32–34 of Cicero's On the Nature of the Gods. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 246 — Examining Epicurean Evidence-Based Reasoning 10/24/24 Episode 246 works through Sections 31–32 of Cicero's On the Nature of the Gods and defends Epicurean evidence-based reasoning against Cotta's attacks. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 245 — Right, Wrong, Or Incomplete? 10/17/24 Episode 245 works through Sections 27–30 of Cicero's On the Nature of the Gods and then steps back to assess the bigger picture using Isaac Asimov's essay "The Relativity of Wrong." Cotta opens Section 27. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 244 — Zeno's Paradoxes - Profundity Or Gaslighting? 10/10/24 Episode 244 uses Zeno of Elea's paradoxes as a lens for understanding what Epicurus was fighting against. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 243 — From All Sensations Are True to Reasoning By Similarity And Analogy 10/03/24 Episode 243 opens by revisiting the previous week's discussion of "all sensations are true. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 242 — Is Truth A Matter Of Logic? 09/26/24 This episode takes up the question "Is Truth a Matter of Logic?" prompted by Cotta's attack on Epicurus in Sections 24–25 of Cicero's On the Nature of the Gods. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 241 — A Common Thread Between The Epicurean View Of The Gods and The Good 09/19/24 This episode revisits Section 23 of Cicero's On the Nature of the Gods and a key philosophical insight that emerged from the prior week's discussion: there is a structural parallel between how Torquatus defines "the. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 240 — Cicero's On The Nature of The Gods - Part 15 - The False Allegation That General Assent Was The Epicurean Basis For Divinity 08/05/24 In this fifteenth installment on Cicero's On the Nature of the Gods, Cassius and Joshua examine Section 23. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 239 — Cicero's On The Nature of The Gods - Part 14 - The Dishonesty of Academic Skepticism vs. Epicurus' Commitment To Truth 07/29/24 In this fourteenth installment on Cicero's On the Nature of the Gods, Cassius and Joshua examine the opening of Cotta's response to Velleius in Sections 21–22. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 238 — Cicero's On The Nature of The Gods - Part 13 - Velleius Erupts Against Stoic Fate and Supernatural God-Making 07/24/24 Cassius and Joshua continue through Sections 19 and 20 of Cicero's On the Nature of the Gods, covering the end of Velleius's Epicurean presentation. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 237 — Cicero's On The Nature of The Gods - Part 12 - Isonomia And The Implications Of Infinity 07/17/24 Cassius and Joshua cover Section 19 of Cicero's On the Nature of the Gods, which introduces isonomia — Epicurus's principle of uniform distribution — and its implication that if mortals exist in finite numbers. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 236 — Cicero's On The Nature of The Gods - Part 11 - Lucretian Support For Velleius' Views of Epicurean Divinity 07/11/24 Cassius and Joshua continue from the middle of Section 18 of Cicero's On the Nature of the Gods, with Velleius presenting the Epicurean position on divinity. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 235 — Cicero's On The Nature of The Gods - Part 10 - Velleius Explains the Epicurean Proleptic View of Divinity 07/02/24 Cassius and Joshua continue through Cicero's On the Nature of the Gods, covering Sections 16, 17, and 18. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 234 — Cicero's On The Nature of The Gods - Part 09 - Dealing With Marcus Aurelius And The Epicurean Canonical Basis for Divinity 06/24/24 Cassius and Joshua continue the series on Cicero's On the Nature of the Gods. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 233 — Cicero's On The Nature of The Gods - Part 08 - An Epicurean Attack On The False God Of Stoicism 06/18/24 - Rejection of Supernatural Elements: The episode emphasizes Epicurus' teaching that the universe is entirely natural, rejecting any supernatural elements. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 232 — Cicero's On The Nature of The Gods - Part 07 - Velleius Attacks The Platonist And Aristotelian Views Of Gods 06/15/24 Democritus significantly influenced Epicurean philosophy, particularly in atomism, but Epicurus diverged on determinism and the attainability of truth. - Epicurus emphasized the importance of determining knowable truths to achieve happiness. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 231 — Cicero's On The Nature of The Gods - Part 06 - How would you live if you were certain that there are no supernatural gods and no life after death? 06/07/24 (Add summary here) --- Discussion · Transcript
Episode 230 — Cicero's On The Nature of The Gods - Part 05 - Velleius Attacks Misplaced Ideas of Divinity 05/27/24 (Add summary here) --- Discussion · Transcript
Episode 229 — Cicero's On The Nature of The Gods - Part 04 - Velleius Continues His Assault On Intelligent Design 05/22/24 (Add summary here) --- Discussion · Transcript
Episode 228 — Cicero's On The Nature of The Gods - Part 03 - Velleius Asks \"What Woke The Gods To Create The World?\ 05/13/24 (Add summary here) --- Discussion · Transcript
Episode 227 — Cicero's On The Nature of The Gods - Part 02 - Velleius Begins His Attack On Traditional Views Of The Gods 05/10/24 (Add summary here) --- Discussion · Transcript
Episode 226 — Cicero's On The Nature of The Gods - Part 01 - Introduction 04/30/24 (Add summary here) --- Discussion · Transcript
Episode 225 — Cicero's On Ends - Book Two - Part 30 - Cicero Argues That Commitment To Virtue Is A Bar To Pleasure 04/24/24 (Add summary here) --- Discussion · Transcript
Episode 224 — The 1429 Letter of Cosma Raimondi - In Defense of Epicurus 04/20/24 (Add summary here) --- Discussion · Transcript
Episode 223 — Cicero's On Ends - Book Two - Part 29 - Are Epicureans Undergoing The Exertions Of Life For Nothing More Than A Drop Of Honey? 04/16/24 Section 34 of De Finibus. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 222 — Revisiting the Relationship Between Happiness and Pleasure 04/08/24 Special episode — pause from the De Finibus reading. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 221 — Cicero's On Ends - Book Two - Part 28 - Cicero Alleges Pleasures Of The Mind Cannot Offset Pain In Epicurean Philosophy 03/31/24 Sections 32–33 of De Finibus. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 220 — Cicero's On Ends - Book Two - Part 27 - Cicero Attacks Epicurus' End-Of-Life Decisionmaking 03/30/24 Section 31 of De Finibus. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 219 — Cicero's On Ends - Book Two - Part 26 - Cicero Continues His Attack On Epicurus' Position On Pain 03/23/24 Sections 29–30 of De Finibus. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 218 — Cicero's On Ends - Book Two - Part 25 - Can The Epicurean Not Distinguish Between Greater and Lesser Pleasures and Pains? 03/15/24 Continuing in Section 28. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 217 — Cicero's On Ends - Book Two - Part 24 - Does Luck Control Whether An Epicurean Is Happy? 03/06/24 Recap of the time-and-pleasure debate from Episode 216, then continuing into Section 28. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 216 — Cicero's On Ends - Book Two - Part 23 - Why Does Epicurus Say Length Of Time Does Not Contribute To Pleasure? 02/27/24 Continuing De Finibus Book Two, page 66 (Rackham). Discussion · Transcript
Episode 215 — Cicero's On Ends - Book Two - Part 22 - The Epicurean View Of Happiness 02/24/24 Continuing De Finibus Book Two, section 27 (page 66 of the Reid edition). Discussion · Transcript
Episode 214 — Cicero's On Ends - Book Two - Part 21 - Cicero Argues For Idealized Friendship and Happiness Which Epicurus Rejects 02/14/24 Continuing De Finibus Book Two, sections 26–27. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 213 — Cicero's On Ends - Book Two - Part 20 - Only Epicureans Define Pleasure As You Do! Why Do You Lie? 02/06/24 Continuing De Finibus Book Two, sections 23–25. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 212 — Cicero's On Ends - Book Two - Part 19 - Can \"Pleasure\" Be Defended In The Public Square? 01/30/24 Continuing De Finibus Book Two, sections 22–23. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 211 — Cicero's On Ends - Book Two - Part 18 - Battle Of The Images 01/27/24 Continuing De Finibus Book Two, sections 21–22 (page 58 of the Reid edition). Discussion · Transcript
Episode 210 — Cicero's On Ends - Book Two - Part 17 - Self-Approval As Pleasure 01/20/24 Continuing De Finibus Book Two, sections 19–20. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 209 — Foundations of Epicurean Philosophy 01/14/24 A special episode featuring a continuous reading of arranged Epicurean texts covering the main aspects of Epicurean philosophy: Epicurus as conqueror of religion (from Lucretius Book 1); canonics and the three criteria of truth (senses. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 208 — Cicero's On Ends - Book Two - Part 16 - Epicurus Stands For The Truth Rather Than Make-Believe 01/01/24 New Year's Day 2024 episode. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 207 — Cicero's On Ends - Book Two - Part 15 - Does Epicurean Philosophy Lead to Injustice? 12/25/23 Christmas Eve 2023 episode. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 206 — Cicero's On Ends - Book Two - Part 14 - More On The Nature of Morality 12/22/23 Continuing De Finibus Book Two, sections 15–16. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 205 — Cicero's On Ends - Book Two - Part 13 - The Nature of Morality 12/15/23 Continuing De Finibus Book Two, sections 15–16. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 204 — Cicero's On Ends - Book Two - Part 12 - More On The \"Jurisdiction\" Question 12/09/23 Continuing De Finibus Book Two, sections 13–14. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 203 — Cicero's On Ends - Book Two - Part 11 - Do The Senses Have Jurisdiction To Judge The Supreme Good? 12/02/23 Continuing De Finibus Book Two, sections 12–13. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 202 — Cicero's On Ends - Book Two - Part 10 - The Animality Argument 11/22/23 Continuing through Cicero's De Finibus Book Two, sections 10–11, focusing on Cicero's attack on Epicurus's "animality argument" — the Epicurean claim that observing young animals and infants, before they are corrupted. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 201 — Cicero's On Ends - Book Two - Part 09 11/15/23 Episode 201 continues Cicero's On Ends Book Two, beginning with Section 9. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 200 — Lucretius Today 200th Episode: Retrospective, Recap, and Looking To The Future 11/10/23 Episode 200 is a retrospective on the podcast's history since its launch in January 2020, featuring returning guest Don alongside Cassius, Joshua, and Martin. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 199 — Cicero's On Ends - Book Two - Part 08 11/03/23 Episode 199 continues Cicero's On Ends Book Two, covering sections 7 and 8. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 198 — Cicero's On Ends - Book Two - Part 07 10/25/23 Episode 198 continues the reading of Cicero's On Ends Book Two, with Cassius opening by connecting this episode to the preceding interview with Dr. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 197 — Interview With Dr Marcelo Boeri 10/23/23 A special interview episode in which Cassius and co-host Fernando speak with Dr. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 196 — Cicero's On Ends - Book Two - Part 06 10/16/23 The group opens with a thorough recap of the textual evidence on pleasure and pain before picking up where last week left off in Section 3. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 195 — Cicero's On Ends - Book Two - Part 05 10/09/23 The fifth episode in the On Ends series opens Book Two in detail. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 194 — Cicero's On Ends - Book One - Part 04 10/02/23 The group opens Book One Part Four with Cassius extending the elephant analogy introduced in earlier episodes — different parts of the elephant representing different aspects of pleasure — to emphasize that Epicurus offers a. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 193 — Cicero's On Ends - Book One - Part 03 09/30/23 Episode 193 resumes Book One of Cicero's On Ends, picking up with Torquatus's response to Cicero's criticisms. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 192 — Chapter 16 of A Few Days In Athens 09/18/23 A special edition episode with Cassius reading alone, as most regular podcasters were out of town and unavailable to record. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 191 — Cicero's On Ends - Book One - Part 02 09/15/23 Episode 191 continues the reading of Cicero's On Ends, Book One. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 190 — Cicero's On Ends - Book One - Part 01 09/09/23 Opening episode of the "Fighting Back Against the Anti-Epicureans" series. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 189 — \"Epicurus And His Philosophy\" Part 41 - Chapter 15 - Extension, Submergence, Revival - 04 08/31/23 Episode 189 completes the reading of Norman DeWitt's Epicurus and His Philosophy, concluding Chapter 15 with "The Epicurean Revival." The discussion opens with forerunners of Gassendi: Lorenzo Valla's On Pleasure (1431). Discussion · Transcript
Episode 188 — \"Epicurus And His Philosophy\" Part 40 - Chapter 15 - Extension, Submergence, Revival - 03 08/24/23 Episode 188 covers Epicureanism in the Early Empire and beyond, completing the bulk of Chapter 15 of DeWitt's Epicurus and His Philosophy. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 187 — \"Epicurus And His Philosophy\" Part 39 - Chapter 15 - Extension, Submergence, Revival - 02 08/18/23 Episode 187 continues Chapter 15 of DeWitt's Epicurus and His Philosophy, covering Epicureanism in Alexandria (Ptolemaeus the White and Ptolemaeus the Black; Philo of Alexandria; Dionysius the Great. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 186 — \"Epicurus And His Philosophy\" Part 38 - Chapter 15 - Extension, Submergence, Revival - 01 08/12/23 Episode 186 opens Chapter 15 of DeWitt's Epicurus and His Philosophy, entitled "Extension, Submergence. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 185 — \"Epicurus And His Philosophy\" Part 37 - Chapter 14 - The New Virtues 08 08/04/23 Episode 185 covers the final sections of Chapter 14 ("The New Virtues") in Norman DeWitt's Epicurus and His Philosophy, focusing on the Epicurean attitude toward the present and multiple dimensions of gratitude. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 184 — \"Epicurus And His Philosophy\" Part 36 - Chapter 14 - The New Virtues 07 07/28/23 Episode 184 continues Chapter 14, "The New Virtues," covering faith, love of mankind, friendship, suavity, considerateness, and hope. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 183 — \"Epicurus And His Philosophy\" Part 35 - Chapter 14 - The New Virtues 06 - Honesty 07/22/23 Episode 183 continues Chapter 14, "The New Virtues," turning from justice to honesty — which DeWitt treats not as mere truth-telling but as a sweeping virtue encompassing parrhesia (frank speech), freedom from sycophancy. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 182 — \"Epicurus And His Philosophy\" Part 34 - Chapter 14 - The New Virtues 05 07/15/23 Episode 182 continues the DeWitt series through Chapter 14, "The New Virtues," devoting the full episode to justice — the most emotionally charged virtue in Epicurean thought. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 181 — \"Epicurus And His Philosophy\" Part 33 - Chapter 14 - The New Virtues 04 07/06/23 Episode 181 opens Chapter 14, "The New Virtues," with all four regular speakers — Cassius, Joshua, Don, Martin (nothing to contribute), and Callistheni. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 180 — \"Epicurus And His Philosophy\" Part 32 - Chapter 13 - The True Piety 03 06/30/23 Episode 180 concludes Chapter 13 "The True Piety" with Cassius, Joshua, and Callistheni — Don and Martin are both absent. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 179 — \"Epicurus And His Philosophy\" Part 31 - Chapter 13 - The True Piety 02 06/23/23 Episode 179 continues Chapter 13, "The True Piety," with Cassius, Joshua, Don, and Callistheni — Martin is again absent. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 178 — \"Epicurus And His Philosophy\" Part 30 - Chapter 13 - The True Piety 01 06/16/23 Episode 178 opens DeWitt's Chapter 13, "The True Piety," with Cassius, Joshua, Don, and Callistheni exploring Epicurus's views on the gods — widely recognized as the most controversial and contested area of Epicurean scholarship. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 177 — \"Epicurus And His Philosophy\" Part 29 - Chapter 12 - The New Hedonism 06 06/08/23 Episode 177 concludes DeWitt's Chapter 12, "The New Hedonism. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 176 — \"Epicurus And His Philosophy\" Part 29 - Chapter 12 - The New Hedonism 05 06/01/23 Episode 176 returns to the full podcast team — Don, Joshua, Martin, and Callistheni — for the fifth session on Chapter 12. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 175 — \"Epicurus And His Philosophy\" Part 28 - Chapter 12 - The New Hedonism 04 05/25/23 Episode 175 is hosted by Cassius and Don (substituting for Joshua, who is absent). Discussion · Transcript
Episode 174 — \"Epicurus And His Philosophy\" Part 27 - Chapter 12 - The New Hedonism 03 05/19/23 Episode 174 opens the subsection "The True Nature of Pleasure" in DeWitt's Chapter 12. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 173 — \"Epicurus And His Philosophy\" Part 26 - Chapter 12 - The New Hedonism 02 05/13/23 Episode 173 continues Chapter 12, "The New Hedonism," picking up from Episode 172's discussion of the difficulties surrounding the words "good," "guide. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 172 — \"Epicurus And His Philosophy\" Part 25 - Chapter 12 - The New Hedonism 01 05/05/23 Episode 172 opens DeWitt's Chapter 12, "The New Hedonism," marking the first chapter in the book devoted entirely to pleasure and ethics after the long groundwork of epistemology, physics, determinism, and soul theory. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 171 — \"Epicurus And His Philosophy\" Part 24 - Chapter 11 - Soul, Sensation, and Mind 01 04/27/23 Episode 171 opens Chapter 11, "Soul, Sensation, and Mind. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 170 — \"Epicurus And His Philosophy\" Part 23 - Chapter 10 - The New Freedom 03 04/20/23 Episode 170 completes Chapter 10, "The New Freedom," working through the remaining subsections: necessity of death, freedom and government, freedom in public careers, control of environment, freedom in the simple life, and control of desires. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 169 — \"Epicurus And His Philosophy\" Part 22 - Chapter 10 - The New Freedom 02 04/12/23 Episode 169 continues Chapter 10, "The New Freedom," moving through the subsections on "Necessity and Fortune," "Freedom and Fortune. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 168 — \"Epicurus And His Philosophy\" Part 21 - Chapter 10 - The New Freedom 01 04/05/23 Episode 168 opens Chapter 10, "The New Freedom," which DeWitt frames as Epicurus's response to both supernatural fatalism and hard determinism — arguably the most emotionally contested issue in the study of Epicurus. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 167 — \"Epicurus And His Philosophy\" Part 20 - Chapter 9 - The New Physics 02 03/29/23 This episode continues Chapter 9 of DeWitt's Epicurus and His Philosophy, focusing on motion, the swerve, and the problem of first cause. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 166 — Lucretius Today Interviews Dr. David Glidden on \"Epicurean Prolepsis\ 03/21/23 This episode features an extended interview with Dr. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 165 — \"Epicurus And His Philosophy\" Part 19 - Chapter 9 - The New Physics 01 03/18/23 This episode begins Chapter 9 of DeWitt's Epicurus and His Philosophy, "The New Physics," opening with DeWitt's statement that in the Epicurean scheme of knowledge. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 164 — \"Epicurus And His Philosophy\" Part 18 - Chapter 8 - Sensations, Anticipations, and Feelings 05 03/09/23 (No transcript is available for this episode.) --- Discussion · Transcript
Episode 163 — \"Epicurus And His Philosophy\" Part 17 - Chapter 8 - Sensations, Anticipations, and Feelings 04 02/28/23 This episode marks the return of Joshua after his absence in Episode 162, and features Don from Ohio as a returning guest. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 162 — \"Epicurus And His Philosophy\" Part 16 - Chapter 8 - Sensations, Anticipations, and Feelings 03 02/21/23 Episode 162 presents an abbreviated introduction to the subsection on Anticipations in Chapter 8 of DeWitt's Epicurus and His Philosophy, recorded without Joshua who was absent this week. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 161 — \"Epicurus And His Philosophy\" Part 15 - Chapter 8 - Sensations, Anticipations, and Feelings 02 02/15/23 Episode 161 continues Chapter 8 of Norman DeWitt's Epicurus and His Philosophy, covering the subsections "Sensations" and "Epicurus Not an Empiricist" in depth. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 160 — \"Epicurus And His Philosophy\" Part 14 - Chapter 8 - Sensations, Anticipations, and Feelings 01 02/07/23 Episode 160 begins Chapter 8 of Norman DeWitt's Epicurus and His Philosophy ("Sensations, Anticipations, and Feelings"). Discussion · Transcript
Episode 159 — \"Epicurus And His Philosophy\" Part 13 - Chapter 7 - The Canon Reason and Nature 04 02/03/23 Episode 159 is the final installment on Chapter 7 of Norman DeWitt's Epicurus and His Philosophy ("The Canon, Reason, and Nature"). Discussion · Transcript
Episode 158 — \"Epicurus And His Philosophy\" Part 12 - Chapter 7 - The Canon Reason and Nature 03 01/31/23 Episode 158 continues the third installment of discussion on Chapter 7 of Norman DeWitt's Epicurus and His Philosophy ("The Canon, Reason, and Nature"). Discussion · Transcript
Episode 157 — Lucretius Today Interviews Dr. Emily Austin - Part Two 01/25/23 Episode 157 is the second part of the interview with Dr. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 156 — Lucretius Today Interviews Dr. Emily Austin - Part One 01/18/23 Episode 156 is the first part of a special two-part interview with Dr. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 155 — \"Epicurus And His Philosophy\" Part 11 - Chapter 7 - The Canon Reason and Nature 02 01/10/23 Episode 155 continues Chapter 7 of DeWitt's Epicurus and His Philosophy, focusing on the section "The Dethronement of Reason." The central question is why Epicurus excluded reason from his three-part Canon (senses, anticipations. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 154 — \"Epicurus And His Philosophy\" Part 10 - Chapter 7 - The Canon Reason and Nature 01 01/02/23 Episode 154 opens Chapter 7 of DeWitt's Epicurus and His Philosophy, "The Canon, Reason, and Nature. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 153 — \"Epicurus And His Philosophy\" Part 09 - The New Education 02 12/23/22 Episode 153 concludes Chapter 6 of DeWitt's Epicurus and His Philosophy, titled "The New Education. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 152 — \"Epicurus And His Philosophy\" Part 08 - The New Education 01 12/14/22 Episode 152 covers the first half of Chapter 6 of DeWitt's Epicurus and His Philosophy, "The New Education." All four panelists — Cassius, Joshua, Martin, and Callistheni — are present. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 151 — \"Epicurus And His Philosophy\" Part 07 - The New School In Athens 12/11/22 Episode 151 covers Chapter 5 of DeWitt's Epicurus and His Philosophy, "The New School in Athens." Epicurus arrived in Athens in 306 BC — the full panel of Cassius, Joshua, Martin, and Callistheni is present. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 150 — \"Epicurus And His Philosophy\" Part 06 - Development of the School in Mytilene and Lampsacus 12/03/22 Episode 150 covers Chapters 4 through 6 of DeWitt's Epicurus and His Philosophy, focusing primarily on Epicurus's periods in Mytilene and Lampsacus. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 149 — \"Epicurus And His Philosophy\" Part 05 - The Early Years of Epicurus 11/23/22 Episode 149 wraps up the discussion of Chapter 1 of DeWitt's Epicurus and His Philosophy and transitions to Chapter 2, the early life of Epicurus. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 148 — \"Epicurus And His Philosophy\" Part 04 - True Opinions And False Opinions About Epicurus 11/14/22 Episode 148 continues the panel's discussion of Norman DeWitt's Chapter 1 list of true and false opinions about Epicurus from Epicurus and His Philosophy (1954). Discussion · Transcript
Episode 147 — \"Epicurus And His Philosophy\" Part 03 - True Opinions And False Opinions About Epicurus 11/07/22 (No transcript is available for this episode.) --- Discussion · Transcript
Episode 146 — \"Epicurus And His Philosophy\" Part 02 - The Three Divisions of Epicurean Philosophy 11/01/22 Continuing the DeWitt series, the episode maps the three major divisions of Epicurean philosophy as recorded in Diogenes Laertius: Physics (the nature of the universe, humanity's place in it. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 145 — \"Epicurus And His Philosophy\" Part 01 - Chapter 1 - Introduction 10/24/22 The podcast announces a new format: rather than reading through ancient texts, the next several episodes will present a general overview of Epicurean philosophy for the generalist reader who is not a professional philosopher. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 144 — Diogenes of Oinoanda (Part 4) Virtue Not The Highest Good 10/21/22 Martin reads Fragments 29, 30, and 32 of the Diogenes of Oenoanda inscription — the concluding section of the podcast's examination of that text. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 143 — Diogenes of Oinoanda (Part 3) The Superiority of The Epicurean Viewpoint on \"Gods\ 10/11/22 Cassius hosts with Joshua and Martin; the fragmentary physics section of the inscription is skipped to move directly to religion. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 142 — Diogenes of Oinoanda (Part 2) \"Reality\ 10/05/22 Cassius reads in Joshua's absence; the panel is Cassius, Martin, and Callistheni. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 141 — Diogenes of Oinoanda (Part 1) The Inscription 09/28/22 Martin reads the opening fragments of Diogenes of Oenoanda's inscription — "I wanted to refute those who accuse natural science of being unable to be of any benefit to us... having reached the sunset of. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 140 — Letter to Menoeceus 07 - Completion of the Letter 09/19/22 Callistheni reads the final sections 133–135 of the Letter to Menoikeus — Epicurus laughs at destiny as the mistress of all things, insists that the chief power in determining events lies within us. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 139 — Letter to Menoeceus 06 - On Pleasure (Part Two) 09/12/22 Joshua reads sections 130–132 of the Letter to Menoikeus — "independence of desire we think a great good," the definition of pleasure as freedom from pain in the body and from trouble in the mind. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 138 — Letter to Menoeceus 05 - On Pleasure (Part One) 09/05/22 (No transcript is available for this episode.) --- Discussion · Transcript
Episode 137 — Letter to Menoeceus 04 - On Death (Part Two) 09/01/22 Callistheni reads the completion of the death section — "for if he says this from conviction. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 136 — Letter to Menoeceus 03 - On Death (Part One) 08/23/22 Joshua reads sections 124–126 of the Letter to Menoikeus — "become accustomed to the belief that death is nothing to us" through the wise man neither seeking to escape life nor fearing its end. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 135 — Letter to Menoeceus 02 - On The Nature of The Gods 08/15/22 Martin reads sections 123–124 on the Epicurean gods. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 134 — Letter to Menoeceus 01 - Context and Opening of the Letter 08/08/22 The episode marks the debut of Callistheni, a new regular panelist from EpicureanFriends.com with an artistic and Buddhist background, who reads section 122: "Let no one when young delay to study philosophy. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 133 — Letter to Pythocles 07 - Conclusion Of The Letter 08/06/22 Joshua reads sections 112–116, completing the Letter to Pythocles: comets, fixed stars (with Polaris as a possible referent), wandering stars or planets, falling stars, the weather-signs of animals. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 132 — Letter to Pythocles 06 - More on The Weather 07/30/22 Martin reads sections on earthquakes, wind, hail, snow, dew, frost, ice, the rainbow, and the halo around the moon. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 131 — Letter to Pythocles 05 - Weather Phenomena 07/23/22 Joshua reads sections 99–104 on weather signs, clouds, rain, thunder, lightning, thunderbolts, and cyclones. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 130 — Letter to Pythocles 04 - More on the Sun and Moon 07/16/22 Martin reads sections 94-98 of the Letter to Pythocles covering the phases of the moon, whether the moon and sun shine by their own or reflected light, eclipses, the regularity of heavenly motions. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 129 — Letter to Pythocles 03 - The Implications Of the Epicurean Position On The Size of the Sun 07/09/22 Joshua reads section 91 of the Letter to Pythocles, which states that the size of the sun, moon, and stars is "what it appears to be — either slightly greater than what we see. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 128 — Short Review of the Twelve Fundamentals of Nature 07/03/22 With Joshua and Don both unavailable. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 127 — Letter to Pythocles 02 - The Formation of \"Worlds\ 06/25/22 Don reads sections 89-90 on the formation of "worlds" (cosmoi), with Joshua away. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 126 — Letter to Pythocles 01 - Introduction On The Basic Approach of Epicurean Philosophy 06/15/22 Joshua reads sections 84-88, the introduction to the Letter to Pythocles, as the group welcomes back guest panelist Don for his first appearance in several months. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 125 — Letter to Herodotus 14 - Purpose and Method of Studying Nature - Conclusion 06/11/22 Martin reads sections 78-83, the concluding passages of the Letter to Herodotus, which synthesize Epicurus's entire physics program and its relationship to peace of mind, sure confidence, and happy living. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 124 — Letter to Herodotus 13 - Life On Other Worlds, Development of Language, And the Regular Motion of the Stars 06/04/22 Joshua reads sections 74-77, covering three major topics: the existence of living creatures on other worlds, the natural development of language, and why celestial motions must not be attributed to supernatural beings. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 123 — Letter to Herodotus 12 - Events and Time (More on Properties and Qualities) 05/28/22 Martin reads a continuation of sections 70-71 on properties and accidents/events — noting poor audio quality this week — followed by sections 72-73 on the nature of time. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 122 — Letter to Herodotus 11 - What it Means to \"Exist\" - Properties and Qualities 05/20/22 Joshua reads sections 67-71, which address the incorporeal, independent existence, and the relationship between properties, qualities, and accidents/events of bodies; Cassius notes at the outset that the recorder was not turned on at the start. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 121 — Letter to Herodotus 10 - Atoms and The Soul 05/14/22 Martin reads sections 60-66 of the Letter to Herodotus, covering atomic motion and Epicurus's physical account of the soul. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 120 — Letter to Herodotus 9 - Epicurus' Rejection of Infinite Divisibility 05/06/22 Episode 120 centers on sections 56–59 of Epicurus' Letter to Herodotus, which address the upper and lower limits of atom size and the doctrine that atoms, though physically indivisible. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 119 — Letter to Herodotus 8 - More On Perception Through The Atoms 04/30/22 Episode 119 continues through the Letter to Herodotus, with Martin reading sections 53–57 covering Epicurus' explanations of hearing and smell as atom-particle transmissions, the critical assertion that atoms possess only shape, weight. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 118 — Letter to Herodotus 7 - Images - There's More To Them Than Meets the Eye 04/21/22 Episode 118 tackles what Cassius describes as the most complicated and mysterious topic he has encountered in all of Epicurus — the doctrine of images (idols) from sections 46–52 of the Letter to Herodotus. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 117 — Letter to Herodotus 6 - The Doctrine of Infinity of Worlds And Its Implications 04/11/22 Episode 117 devotes the entire session to section 45 of Epicurus' Letter to Herodotus — the doctrine of infinite worlds — despite Martin having read a much longer passage through section 52. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 116 — Letter to Herodotus 5 - More Fundamentals of Physics 04/08/22 Episode 116 continues the panel's review of Epicurus' Letter to Herodotus, covering sections 41–45 on fundamental physics. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 115 — Letter to Herodotus 4 - Atoms, Void, and Basic Epistemology Issues 04/01/22 Martin reads the same physics section again (sections 40-45). Discussion · Transcript
Episode 114 — Letter to Herodotus 3 - First Principles of Physics 03/25/22 The episode returns to the same physics section (sections 39-45) with Joshua reading. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 113 — Letter to Herodotus 2 - Principles of Thinking 03/18/22 Martin reads a large block of the Letter to Herodotus covering both the epistemological opening (sections 37-38: grasping ideas attached to words; the three-part canon of sensations, anticipations. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 112 — Epicurus' Letter to Herodotus - Introduction and Outlining 03/12/22 The panel introduces Epicurus' Letter to Herodotus with Joshua reading the opening paragraph from Cyril Bailey's translation, and the group explains why Bailey was chosen over Hicks and Yonge. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 111 — Torquatus Summarizes The Significance of the Epicurus 03/05/22 The final session on the Torquatus material completes sections 71–72 of Cicero's On Ends, with Martin reading the Reid translation and Joshua reading the Rackham translation of the same two paragraphs. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 110 — The Epicurean View of Friendship (Part Two) 02/23/22 The second session on Epicurean friendship works through the remainder of sections 66–70 of the Torquatus passage in Cicero's On Ends, with Joshua reading the text. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 109 — The Epicurean View of Friendship 02/17/22 Episode 109 opens the Epicurean treatment of friendship with sections 65–66 of the Torquatus passage in Cicero's On Ends. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 108 — The Benefits of A Proper Understanding of the Senses and of Natural Science 02/10/22 Continuing in section 64 of the Torquatus text, this episode focuses on the Epicurean defense of the reliability of the senses against radical skepticism. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 107 — The Epicurean Emphasis on Natural Science 02/03/22 Continuing from Episode 106. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 106 — The Epicurean Attitude Toward Fate / Fortune and the Role of Reason 01/28/22 This episode covers two main topics from the Torquatus text in Cicero's On Ends (sections 63–64). Discussion · Transcript
Episode 105 — More From Torquatus On The Key Doctrines of Epicurus 01/19/22 Martin reads De Finibus line 62 (the passage on the wise man being continually happy), and the panel goes through each element carefully. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 104 — More Torquatus and a Question: Was The Ancient Epicurean Movement A Cult? 01/13/22 Joshua reads De Finibus lines 62–63 (the passage on the wise man being continually happy, fortune crossing the wise man's path only in small degree, and the importance of natural science/canonics). Discussion · Transcript
Episode 103 — Corollaries to the Doctrines of Epicurus - Part Three 01/07/22 First episode of 2022. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 102 — Corollaries to the Doctrines of Epicurus - Part Two 12/31/21 Joshua reads De Finibus lines 56–59, covering the corollaries on mental versus bodily pleasure: the removal of pain is itself a pleasure; memory and anticipation amplify both pleasures and pains beyond their bodily source. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 101 — Corollaries to the Doctrines of Epicurus - Part One 12/22/21 A shortened holiday episode with only Cassius and Martin present. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 100 — Concluding On Justice With A Shout To Keep The Virtues In Their Proper Place 12/17/21 The 100th episode concludes the justice section of Torquatus's presentation in De Finibus. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 99 — The Epicurean View of Justice (Part Two) 12/09/21 Continuing the justice discussion from Episode 098. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 98 — The Epicurean View of Justice (Part One) 12/02/21 Martin reads De Finibus Book 1, line 50 (the justice section) as a recap, having covered it at the end of last week. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 97 — The Virtues As Instrumental For Pleasure: Temperance and Courage 11/26/21 Martin reads De Finibus Book 1, sections 47–54, covering temperance, courage, and justice as virtues instrumental to pleasure, plus the final summary argument that pleasure is the supreme good. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 96 — The Proof That Pleasure (And Not Virtue) Is the Supreme Good 11/15/21 Joshua and Don read De Finibus Book 1, Sections 12–13, covering Torquatus's two key arguments: the "best life / worst life" thought experiment (Section 12). Discussion · Transcript
Episode 95 — Understanding The Paradoxical \"Absence of Pain\ 11/10/21 Martin reads De Finibus Book 1, sections 37–38 — the passage asserting that "the greatest pleasure is that which is enjoyed when all pain is removed," followed by Torquatus's response to Chrysippus's famous statue argument. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 94 — Torquatus Explains Pleasure As The Goal Of Life 11/06/21 Continuing through Cicero's De Finibus Book 1, with Don reading sections 33–36. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 93 — Torquatus on Ethics Torquatus Leads Us Forward Into Conflict Over Epicurean Ethics 10/25/21 A major milestone: the podcast has completed all six books of Lucretius's poem. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 92 — The Plague of Athens, And The End of the Poem 10/12/21 The final regular episode of the poem covers Book 6 from line 1125 to the end — Lucretius's account of the plague in Athens, adapted from Thucydides. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 91 — More on Magnetism, and Introduction To Disease And Plagues 10/04/21 The episode covers Book 6, lines 1002–1125. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 90 — Special Guest Panelist - Preparation for Discussion of Magnetism 09/27/21 The episode covers Book 6, lines 906–998: Lucretius's extended introduction to the magnetism discussion. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 89 — Unusual Geological Phenomena - Springs That Change From Hot to Cold And Back Again 09/25/21 The episode covers Book 6 lines 830–917. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 88 — The Waters of the Nile And The Sulfur Pits That Are Fatal To Birds 09/18/21 The panel reads Book 6, lines 703–818, covering: the Epicurean methodological rule that multiple natural causes may explain a single phenomenon (illustrated by a dead man on the road). Discussion · Transcript
Episode 87 — Earthquakes and The Water Cycle 09/05/21 Martin reads Book 6, lines 527–700+, covering earthquakes (underground caverns and winds, cave-ins as a localized mechanism — though Martin clarifies that tectonic plates are the real cause). Discussion · Transcript
Episode 86 — Typhoons and Whirlwinds 09/04/21 The panel reads Book 6, lines 423–527, covering Lucretius's account of prestors (the Greek term for whirlwinds or waterspouts), cloud formation, the water cycle, rain, and a brief mention of the rainbow. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 85 — Thunder and Lightning Part 3 - Why Do The Gods Send Thunderbolts Onto Their Own Temples? 08/29/21 Martin reads Book 6, lines 340–417. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 84 — Thunder and Lightning Part Two - Very Very Frightening 08/22/21 Before entering the passage, Cassius quotes the Letter to Pythocles on Epicurus's method of multiple explanations: when several theories are consistent with the phenomena and none can be eliminated. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 83 — Meteorology: Thunder and Lightning Part One 08/14/21 The episode opens with the conclusion of the Book 6 introduction on the gods: the panel discusses Principal Doctrine 1, why a correct view of the gods is foundational to Epicurean physics. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 82 — Lucretius - Book Six Opening of Book Six - Restatement of Goal of Poem 08/06/21 Cassius, Don, and Martin begin Book Six. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 81 — Development of the Arts And The End of Book Five 07/31/21 Martin reads Book 5 lines 1350 through the end of the book. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 80 — The Development of Metallurgy And The Art of War 07/19/21 Don reads Book 5 lines 1226–1341 (Martin had technical difficulties and could not read). Discussion · Transcript
Episode 79 — The Cause Of The Arising of Belief In Gods 07/16/21 Panel reads Book 5 lines 1151–1240 on the origins of religion. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 78 — Ethical Issues Arising In the Formation Of Societies 07/09/21 Martin reads Book 5 lines 1105–1240, covering the fall of kings, the rise of laws and magistracies, and the origins of religion. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 77 — The Formation of Language and Early Societies 07/02/21 Panel reads Book 5 lines 1028–1105. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 76 — Early Humans and Their Society 06/26/21 Martin reads Book Five lines 925–1027, covering: why the variety of early earth creatures does not support mixed-species births (each species breeds true to its kind). Discussion · Transcript
Episode 75 — The Rise of Life On Earth, And Which Forms Were Possible And Impossible 06/18/21 Charles reads Book Five lines 821–924, covering the earth's gradual exhaustion (compared to a woman past her prime), the early monstrous births (portenta / monstra) that could not survive. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 74 — Eclipses, And The Beginnings of Life on Earth 06/09/21 Don reads Book Five lines 705–820, covering the moon possibly being created anew each month (the Berossean rotating-hemisphere theory), a poetic procession of the seasons (Venus, Flora, Bacchus). Discussion · Transcript
Episode 73 — More on the Sun and Moon And Similar Astronomical Issues 06/04/21 Martin reads Book Five lines 614–704, covering the sun's seasonal movements between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, night as either the sun circling beneath the earth or extinguishing its fire. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 72 — Alternative Explanations in Science, and The Size of The Sun 05/27/21 Don reads Book Five lines 509–613, covering the formation of ether and sky from fine seeds, the motion of the heavenly bodies (with multiple possible causes given). Discussion · Transcript
Episode 71 — Back To The Beginning - The Beginning of Our Corner of the Universe 05/20/21 Martin reads Book Five lines ~416–508 on the formation of our local cosmos: from a chaotic mass of seeds, heavier particles sank to form the earth at the center. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 70 — More On The End Of The World 05/15/21 Charles reads Book Five lines ~324–415 with three arguments for the world's eventual end: (1) lack of historical records before the Trojan War suggests the world is relatively new. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 69 — The Eventual End of Our World 05/08/21 Don reads Book Five lines ~235–323: the four elements (earth, water, air, fire) are composed of mortal seeds, so our world must also be mortal — demonstrated through the water cycle, air's constant flux. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 68 — This World Was Not Made By The Gods For Humanity 04/28/21 Martin reads Book Five lines ~195 onward — Lucretius's argument that the earth was clearly not made for humanity: two-thirds is uninhabitable (mountains, seas, heat, cold), crops require constant toil and still fail. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 67 — Did The Gods Wake Up One Day To Create The Universe? 04/19/21 Charles returns and reads Book Five lines ~146 onward: the gods' abodes are too subtle to be perceived by the senses. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 66 — The End of All Things (But Not Of The Universe Itself!) 04/13/21 Don reads Book Five lines ~91 onward, Lucretius's program for the rest of the poem: the mortal nature of our cosmos, origins of life and humanity, language. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 65 — Introducing a New Panelist (Don) and A Recap of the Opening of Book Five 04/09/21 Don joins as a new panelist for Books 5 and 6, replacing Elaine (temporarily absent) and Charles (away). Discussion · Transcript
Episode 64 — Lucretius - Book Five Due To His Accomplishments, Epicurus Should Be Thought Of As Godlike 03/31/21 Book 5 opening: Lucretius praises Epicurus as "a god" for discovering the rule of life (philosophy/wisdom). Discussion · Transcript
Episode 63 — The Perils of Romantic Love (Part 3 - End of Book 4) 03/26/21 Book Four final lines: heredity and resemblance to parents and grandparents (explained via "concealed seeds"); why some couples cannot conceive (seed too thick or thin, or partner incompatibility). Discussion · Transcript
Episode 62 — The Perils of Romantic Love (Part 2) 03/15/21 Book Four lines 1141–1208: Lucretius's satirical catalog of how lovers rationalize their partners' physical flaws, the "filthy smells" passage on women concealing their defects. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 61 — The Perils of Romantic Love (Part 1) 03/12/21 Book Four lines 1037–1140: the opening of Lucretius's extended treatment of romantic love. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 60 — Dreams, And The Mind's Use of Images 03/01/21 Book Four lines 907–1036. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 59 — The Uses Of The Body Were Not Designed Before They Arose 02/27/21 Book Four lines 823–906, read by Martin: no limb or organ was made for any particular use — use was found after the part already existed; language, sight. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 58 — The Mind's Direct Receipt of Images 02/20/21 Book Four lines 722–822, read by Elaine: subtle images pierce through the pores of the body directly into the mind; the mind sees images of a more thin and subtle nature than the eyes see. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 57 — Taste, Smell, and the Subjectivity of the Senses 02/12/21 Book Four lines 632–721, read by Charles: different foods suit different palates because seeds fit different-shaped pores; what is food to one creature is sharp poison to another (hellebore, serpent and human spittle). Discussion · Transcript
Episode 56 — More On The Operation Of The Senses 02/06/21 Book Four lines 522–632, read by Martin: Lucretius explains that sound and voice are corporeal (they scrape the throat, wear the speaker down); the mechanism of echo and reverberation in hills and valleys. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 55 — Reason Is Dependent on The Senses (Part 2) 01/25/21 The second part of the Book Four epistemology section (lines 469–521) is read by Elaine and discussed. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 54 — Reason Is Dependent on the Senses 01/17/21 Book Four's passage on how reason is wholly dependent on the senses is read and discussed. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 53 — The Senses Are Never Deceived, Even By Illusions 01/16/21 Elaine is absent and Charles is under the weather as Martin reads lines 324–468 of Book Four, covering a long series of optical illusions: jaundice causing yellow vision; square towers appearing round at distance. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 52 — More on Light, Vision, and Reflections 01/11/21 Elaine reads lines 230–323 of Book Four, covering the argument that touch and sight must share a common cause (the quadrangular shape argument). Discussion · Transcript
Episode 51 — More On The Working of \"Images\ 01/03/21 Elaine returns after her COVID vaccine reaction as the group continues through Book Four, with Martin reading lines 110–229. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 50 — Lucretius - Book Four The Opening of Book Four - Images 12/27/20 Episode 50 opens Book Four, recorded on December 20. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 49 — Conclusions On Death And The End of Book Three 12/21/20 Episode 49 concludes Book Three with Martin reading the final passages, lines 1024 through the end. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 48 — Nature Speaks To Us About Death 12/12/20 This episode covers lines 931–1023 of Book Three, where Lucretius has Nature herself speak directly to those who indulge in grief about death. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 47 — Death Is Nothing To Us 12/05/20 Episode 47, a three-person session without Elaine (whose father has just passed away), opens the famous final section of Book Three. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 46 — Conclusion of the Presentation that the Mind and Soul Cannot Survive Death 11/29/20 Episode 46, with Elaine back from last week, covers lines 741–829 of Book Three — the final accumulation of arguments for the soul's mortality. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 45 — More on The Mortality of the Mind and Soul 11/21/20 Episode 45, a three-person session without Elaine, covers lines 634–740 of Book Three. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 44 — Additional Evidence By Which We Conclude The Mind Cannot Survive Apart from the Body 11/14/20 Episode 44 covers lines 548–633 of Book Three, a further accumulation of evidence that the soul cannot survive outside the body. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 43 — The Mind is Born, Grows Old, and Dies With the Body 11/07/20 Episode 43 covers lines 445–547 of Book Three, Lucretius's catalogue of evidence that the mind is mortal: it grows with the body in childhood, matures in middle age, deteriorates in old age. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 42 — The Mind Works Through the Senses; Both Mind and Spirit Are Mortal 10/31/20 Episode 42 covers lines 358–444 of Book Three. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 41 — The Nature of the Mind and Spirit Is Complex; Sense is Not a Property of The Elements That Make Them, But An Event 10/25/20 This four-person episode (Cassius, Martin and Charles reading, Elaine) covers Book Three lines 258–357. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 40 — Argument That The Mind and Spirit Are Corporeal 10/17/20 This four-person episode (Cassius, Elaine reading, Martin, and Charles) covers Book Three lines 161 onward, presenting Lucretius's core arguments that the mind and soul are corporeal — composed of actual matter, not supernatural or ethereal. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 39 — The Mind And Spirit Are Not Supernatural But Parts of A Man Just Like The Head and Foot 10/09/20 This four-person episode (Cassius, Martin reading, Charles, and Elaine who joins midway after being muted) begins Book Three in earnest, covering lines 94 onward. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 38 — Lucretius - Book Three - Epicurus Our Guide Who Dispels The Darkness of Error and Fear of Hell 09/27/20 This three-person episode (Cassius, Elaine, and Martin; Charles absent) opens Book Three of Lucretius with one of the most celebrated passages in the poem. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 37 — End of Book 2 - The Earth Too Was Born, and It Will One Day Die 09/27/20 This three-person episode (Cassius, Charles, and Martin; Elaine absent) completes Book Two of Lucretius. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 36 — No Single Thing of A Kind: Earth Not The Only Home of Life 09/19/20 This four-person episode (Cassius, Elaine, Martin, and Charles) covers Lucretius Book Two lines 1048–1104, approaching the end of Book Two. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 35 — More Reasons Why Atoms Cannot Possess The Faculty of Sense 09/13/20 In this three-person episode (Cassius, Charles, and Martin; Elaine absent), the group works through Lucretius's remaining arguments in Book Two against the theory that atoms themselves possess sensation. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 34 — The Atoms Do Not Possess A Faculty of Sensation 08/31/20 Episode 034 is a three-person episode (Cassius, Elaine reading, Charles; Martin is absent) covering approximately line 865 of Book Two, where Lucretius argues that sensible (sentient) beings must arise from insensible (non-sentient) seeds. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 33 — More On the Implications of The Colorless Atoms 08/26/20 Episode 033 is a four-person episode (Cassius, Elaine reading, Martin, and Charles — who arrives late and is tired) covering approximately lines 788 through 864 of Book Two. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 32 — The Atoms Are Colorless, But The Implications of That Are Not 08/22/20 Episode 032 returns to Book Two for a three-person panel (Cassius, Martin, Elaine — Charles is absent) examining Lucretius's argument that the atoms are colorless. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 31 — Continuation of Episode 30 And Discussion of the Polyaenus Example 08/10/20 Episode 031 is a two-person episode with Cassius and Martin only — Elaine and Charles are absent. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 30 — Only A Limited Number of Combinations Of Atoms Is Possible 08/07/20 Episode 030 covers a passage from Book Two in which Lucretius argues that atoms cannot combine in every possible way — only a limited (though vast) number of combinations is possible. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 29 — The Earth As Allegorical Mother of All 08/02/20 Episode 029 covers Book Two's extended passage on the Earth as the Great Mother of the Gods — the Magna Mater cult — and Lucretius's philosophical commentary on it. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 28 — The Number of Shapes of Atoms Is Not Infinite, But Innumerable 07/20/20 Episode 028 covers Book Two's argument that while the variety of atomic shapes is finite (not infinite), the number of atoms of each shape is itself infinite — because the universe's total matter is infinite. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 27 — There is A Limit To the Size of Atoms 07/17/20 Episode 027 covers Book Two's argument that atomic shapes, though various, are not infinite in number but finite — because if atoms could gain new parts without limit to alter their shapes. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 26 — The Atoms Are Not Uniform In Shape 07/11/20 Episode 026 covers Book Two's argument that the first seeds of things are not all of uniform shape, but differ widely in figure, as proven by the vast variety of phenomena they produce. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 25 — The Swerve Part Two: As The Basis of Human Agency 07/03/20 Episode 025 continues the discussion of the swerve, this time focusing on Book Two's argument that atomic indeterminacy grounds human agency and the freedom of will. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 24 — The Swerve Part One: As A Producing Force of Nature 06/27/20 Episode 024 introduces the swerve (the slight, unpredictable deflection of atoms from their paths) in the first of two episodes on the topic. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 23 — The Motion Of The Atoms Continues Without Resting Place, and At Great Speed 06/24/20 Episode 023 returns to the physics of atomic motion in Book Two, with Elaine absent. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 22 — Lucretius Book Two - Epicurean Philosophy As The Only Way To Defeat Fear of Death And Other Errors As To The Goal of Life 06/12/20 Episode 022 opens Book Two with its celebrated prologue, which Martin reads in Daniel Brown's translation. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 21 — The Universe Has No Center 06/06/20 Episode 021 completes Book One of Lucretius by addressing the final corollary of an infinite universe: there is no center. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 20 — The Universe Is Infinite In Size 05/30/20 Episode 020 takes up the closing arguments of Book One, where Lucretius establishes that the universe is infinite in size. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 19 — All Things Are Not Made of Pieces of the Same Thing, Or Pieces of All Things 05/23/20 Elaine reads the Daniel Brown passage on Anaxagoras's homeomeria theory — the claim that everything is made of minute particles of the same substance (bones from little bones, blood from blood drops. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 18 — All Things Are Not Made of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water 05/16/20 Martin reads Daniel Brown's passage introducing Empedocles of Agrigentum — praised with near-hyperbolic admiration as "scarce-born of human race but from the gods" for his discoveries — followed immediately by the critique: the four-element theorists. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 17 — All Things Are Not Made Of A Single Element, Such as Fire 05/09/20 Elaine reads the Daniel Brown passage in which Lucretius refutes the pre-Socratic materialistic monists — Heraclitus (fire), Thales of Miletus (water), Anaximander (earth). Discussion · Transcript
Episode 16 — The Atoms Are Imperishable And Provide Continuity To All Nature 04/27/20 Martin reads the Daniel Brown translation of several Book One passages: the argument that if matter were infinitely divisible everything would long since have dissolved. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 15 — Recap Two - Reflections On Book One So Far 04/26/20 In this second recap episode, Cassius is joined by Charles and Martin — without Elaine and Julie. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 14 — Atoms Are Solid and Indestructible And Constitute the Seeds Of All Things 04/22/20 Episode 014 features Cassius, Elaine, Julie, Martin, and Charles working through the Daniel Brown passage where Lucretius argues that atoms (which Lucretius calls the "seeds" of things) are solid, indestructible. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 13 — Properties, Qualities, and the Trojan War 04/10/20 Episode 013 features Cassius, Elaine, and Martin (with Charles present but not feeling well) returning to the same Daniel Brown passage read at the close of Episode 012. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 12 — Nothing But Combinations Of Matter And Void 03/30/20 Episode 012 opens with Charles and Elaine reading back-to-back passages from Daniel Brown's translation of Book 1: Charles reads the passage (around lines 401–431) where Lucretius asserts that all nature is either body or space. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 11 — More On The Void and Its Implications 03/28/20 Episode 011 returns to the full panel — Cassius, Julie, Elaine, Charles, and Martin — resuming the discussion of void from the previous week's two-person coronavirus episode. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 10 — The Void And Its Nature 03/22/20 Episode 010 is a special "coronavirus edition" featuring only Cassius and Martin, as the other panelists were unavailable. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 9 — The Evidence That Atoms Exist, Even Though They Are Unseen 03/12/20 Episode 009 covers Book One around Latin Lines 265–328, on the evidence that atoms exist even though they cannot be seen. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 8 — Step Two - Nothing Goes to Nothing! 03/07/20 Episode 008 covers the second great physical principle from Book One: "Nothing goes to nothing" — the complementary observation to "nothing comes from nothing." Julie reads the full Daniel Brown passage (lines ~157–250). Discussion · Transcript
Episode 7 — The Evidence That Nothing Comes From Nothing 02/29/20 (Add summary here) --- Discussion · Transcript
Episode 6 — Step One - Nothing Comes From Nothing! 02/20/20 Episode 006 covers Book One beginning at approximately Latin Line 137. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 5 — On Resisting The Threats of Priests and Poets 02/14/20 Episode 005 covers Book One of On the Nature of Things beginning at approximately Latin Line 105. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 4 — Recap of Opening Sections Of Book One 02/07/20 Episode 004 recaps the opening sections of On the Nature of Things through the Iphianassa sacrifice passage, with extended discussion of two central themes. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 3 — So Great Is The Power of Religion To Inspire Evil Deeds! 01/30/20 Episode 003 covers On the Nature of Things, Book One. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 2 — The Achievement of Epicurus 01/25/20 Episode 002 focuses on the famous "Achievement of Epicurus" passage from On the Nature of Things, Book One. Discussion · Transcript
Episode 1 — Lucretius - Book One Venus / Pleasure As Guide Of Life 01/14/20 Episode 001 launches the Lucretius Today podcast with introductions from all panelists — Cassius (host), Elaine, Julie, Charles, and Martin — each sharing their prior experience with Lucretius. Discussion · Transcript

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