ALL CURRENT AND PROSPECTIVE PARTICIPANTS SHOULD READ THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT OF FORUM EDITORIAL POLICY: "Against Katastematic Supremacy - Pleasure Is A Unified Good, Not A House Divided Against Itself."
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Recent Activities
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TauPhi
July 27, 2026 at 10:08 PM Replied to the thread "Healthy Hedonism - Why Feeling Good Is Good For You" - Book By Erica Oberg.PostThank you Godfrey for your posts about Healthy Hedonism. I have to admit these are worth more to me than all the recent innumerable threads and posts about all kinds of pleasure and the attempts to fragmentise, categorise and prioritize the broken… -
Bryan
July 27, 2026 at 6:53 PM Replied to the thread World's Worst Epicurus Videos.PostThese are undeniably terrible... the videos and, it seems, the stations themselves are robot generated... -
Godfrey
July 27, 2026 at 3:04 PM Replied to the thread "Healthy Hedonism - Why Feeling Good Is Good For You" - Book By Erica Oberg.PostKalosyni I agree with your thoughts on these points, that we each are the sole arbiter of the concepts expressed by these words. "Meaningful" is a particular problematic word, for me, as it implies some vague universal standard which, as we know, is a… -
Godfrey
July 27, 2026 at 2:47 PM Replied to the thread "Healthy Hedonism - Why Feeling Good Is Good For You" - Book By Erica Oberg.PostI just noticed my typo: the book is titled Healthy Hedonism. It's not Health Hedonism; mea culpa. -
Martin
July 27, 2026 at 1:15 PM Replied to the thread Modern cosmologists and theoretical physicists who think the universe is spatially infinite.PostBoth Andrei Linde and Alan Guth appear to be off the main stream and partly contradict my understanding. "It became hot only later, when this vacuum-like state decayed" does not make sense to me. Spatial infinity is agreeable to me in the sense that the… -
Kalosyni
ThreadJuly 27, 2026 at 11:48 AM Thoughts today after picking up a fallen pear...prolepsis--->Letter to Herodotus--->the infinite universe...
Here are some modern cosmologists and theoretical physicists who think that the universe is spatially infinite (models of cosmic inflation that… -
Kalosyni
July 27, 2026 at 8:08 AM Replied to the thread "Healthy Hedonism - Why Feeling Good Is Good For You" - Book By Erica Oberg.PostThanks Godfrey for sharing. It ties in with: "And since pleasure is the first good and natural to us, for this very reason we do not choose every pleasure, but sometimes we pass over many pleasures, when greater discomfort accrues to us as the result… -
Cassius
July 27, 2026 at 7:03 AM Replied to the thread Opening Discussion of Kelly Arenson's "Health And Happiness In Plato And Epicurus".PostNote -- Godfrey posted that this "Health Hedonism" book by Erica Oberg is relevant to the "health" aspect of the Arenson book. -
Godfrey
July 27, 2026 at 12:01 AM Replied to the thread "Healthy Hedonism - Why Feeling Good Is Good For You" - Book By Erica Oberg.PostFunny thing, I've been reading Healthy Hedonism: Why feeling good Is good for you! by Erica Oberg.
It's not a philosophical book but rather an argument for pursuing pleasure in various areas of one's life. Some quotes that may be of interest:
The ancient… -
TauPhi
July 26, 2026 at 5:34 PM Replied to the thread Metrodorus project.PostThank you for your kind words, Robert
[…]
Leontion and Leonteus were two different people associated with the Garden. Leontion was a partner/wife of Metrodorus, whereas Leonteus was a male acquaintance of Epicurus. Leonteus was married to Themista… -
Cassius
July 26, 2026 at 5:24 PM Replied to the thread Opening Discussion of Kelly Arenson's "Health And Happiness In Plato And Epicurus".PostI am still in the process of reading this book but I have added it to the "recommended" section along with the DeWitt and Austin books for several reasons:
1. Generally, she takes a modified "Gosling & Taylor" approach and does not read "kinetic pleasure"… -
Cassius
ThreadJuly 26, 2026 at 5:03 PM Amazon description: This book links Plato and Epicurus, two of the most prominent ethicists in the history of philosophy, exploring how Platonic material lays the conceptual groundwork for Epicurean hedonism. It argues that, despite their significant… -
Cassius
July 26, 2026 at 3:53 PM Replied to the thread World's Worst Epicurus Videos.Post -
wbernys
July 26, 2026 at 12:56 PM Posted the thread Smiling at Death.ThreadSaw this at EPCOT today. Not Epicurean but it reminded me of a a qoute by Diogenes of Oenoanda where he says
"we ought to make statues of the gods genial and smiling, so that we may smile back at them rather than be afraid of them."
I like how… -
Robert
July 26, 2026 at 12:19 PM Replied to the thread Metrodorus project.PostTauPhi this is marvelous--does much to flesh out our picture of Metrodorus as a person and philosopher. Grateful for the work you have undertaken here--I'll be going back to it often, as I do with your Gassendi edition.
I was intrigued by Metrodorus's… -
Cassius
July 26, 2026 at 8:47 AM Replied to the thread Episode 344 - EATAQ26 - Not Yet Recorded.PostLast week's transcript, on which we'll build this week
https://epicurustoday.com/00-lucretiusto…st/episode_343/ -
Don
July 25, 2026 at 8:51 PM Replied to the thread Epicurus And Homer's Odyssey.Post -
Cassius
July 25, 2026 at 4:28 PM Replied to the thread World's Worst Epicurus Videos.PostI think someone is trolling me - or the world is just getting dumber - or both!
But whoever is producing this is doing a great job showing how NOT to approach Epicurus.
youtu.be/o3ThfFm598E?si=Fg06mZAElA-Xv7Em -
Cassius
July 25, 2026 at 3:55 PM Replied to the thread Welcome Randres61!.PostRandres61 tells us -
Good afternoon,
I hold a degree in Biology, although I spent my entire professional career working in software development, designing and building computer applications. If you wish, you can find my profile on LinkedIn. As you can see,… -
Cassius
July 25, 2026 at 3:54 PM Posted the thread Welcome Randres61!.ThreadWelcome randres61
There is one last step to complete your registration: All new registrants must email Cassius so that this Welcome Thread can contain basic information about your background and interest in Epicurus. In that email, please tell us what… -
Cassius
July 25, 2026 at 9:56 AM Replied to the thread Athenian Epicurean Program on Thomas Jefferson And Epicurus.PostUnfortunately I've never received any info on the first program but I did just receive this as a reminder for today
The Hellenic American Women's Council – HAWC Great Lakes Region – under the auspices of the Consulate General of Greece in Chicago… -
Godfrey
July 25, 2026 at 1:01 AM Replied to the thread Epicurus And Homer's Odyssey.Post[…] -
Godfrey
July 25, 2026 at 12:49 AM Replied to the thread Epicurus And Homer's Odyssey.PostThere is a recent article in National Geographic that's in a similar vein, but I believe it's behind a pay wall.
As I recall, vaguely, the author got in a nice dig at the Stoics and what they thought of it. I'll see if I can find that. -
Kalosyni
July 24, 2026 at 1:00 PM Wrote the blog article Why Pleasure as a Unified Whole is the Telos in Classical Epicurean Philosophy.Blog ArticleWhy Pleasure as a Unified Whole is the Telos in Classical Epicurean Philosophy
Contemplations by Kalosyni
The correct understanding of Classical Epicurean philosophy begins with Epicurus's own declaration that pleasure is the telos, or ultimate goal,… -
Cassius
July 24, 2026 at 11:18 AM Replied to the thread Epicurus And Homer's Odyssey.PostI know that PD06 has translation issues, but In this discussion of deception both it (especially in Bailey's preferred reading) and other statements about the result being what matters probably has a bearing on Epicurus' attitude toward deception and… -
Kalosyni
July 24, 2026 at 11:15 AM Posted the thread First Monday "Meet-and-Greet" Via Zoom- August 3, 2026 - 8pm ET.ThreadHi Everyone!
We are planning a New Member Meet-and-Greet Zoom, for Monday, August 3, 2026 - 8pm ET -- This Zoom meeting is open to registered members of the forum and new members who have fully completed their registration process.
EpicureanFriends.com… -
Cassius
July 24, 2026 at 11:10 AM Replied to the thread Epicurus And Homer's Odyssey.PostListening to the first part of that reminds me that PENELOPE is also using deception to put off the suitors - but of course only an extreme Stoic would fault her for that?
The role of deception here and how to evaluate it is clearly critical --- and I'd… -
Cassius
July 24, 2026 at 11:04 AM Replied to the thread Epicurus And Homer's Odyssey.Post[…]
That British accent really adds a lot - and the humor too! -
Lowri834
July 24, 2026 at 10:52 AM Replied to the thread Epicurus And Homer's Odyssey.PostIn case anyone wants some background on The Odyssey, also mentions the lying…
A fun half hour summary of The Odyssey.
Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics
Homer: The Odyssey
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001brj5
Also available on podcast apps -
Cassius
July 24, 2026 at 10:34 AM Replied to the thread Epicurus And Homer's Odyssey.PostThis below is going to be far from authoritative but the citations give a place to start answering the question: How did the ancient Greeks view Odysseus? Hero, or deceiver? Give me ancient quotations with citations to back up your answer.
(Hidden… -
Cassius
July 24, 2026 at 10:08 AM Replied to the thread Epicurus And Homer's Odyssey.Post[…]
Yes this is very fascinating to me and the reason that I've never been certain what is really going on here.
That gets at specifically the issues I want to know about:
Did the ANCIENT GREEKS see Odysseus as first and foremost a liar? Or did they approve… -
Bryan
July 24, 2026 at 10:01 AM Replied to the thread Epicurus And Homer's Odyssey.PostHomer’s Odysseus is, first and foremost, a liar. His truth is whatever benefits him.
Odysseus lies to Polyphemus by calling himself “Nobody,” to Athena with a false Cretan identity, to Eumaeus with an invented life story, to the suitors by posing as a… -
Cassius
July 24, 2026 at 7:46 AM Replied to the thread Epicurus And Homer's Odyssey.PostI have updated this thread title and added Youtube links (into post 1 above) to the TV Miniseries production starring Armand Assante, Isabella Rossellini, Vanessa Williams, and many others.
We can certainly discuss the differences between this and the new… -
Cassius
PostJuly 23, 2026 at 1:18 PM Update On This Thread -- I have split this quotation and subsequent responses so we can focus on it with greater focus.
Clearly Diogenes Laertius and Torquatus make statements to the effect that "the wise man is always happy."
Nevertheless Epicurus did not… -
Aristos
July 22, 2026 at 1:15 PM Replied to the thread Welcome Aristos!.PostSince I am still unable to participate fully in the forum, I wanted to share a piece of secondary literature that I recently came across and have been actively reading these days. The author is Ivan Nišavić, a local scholar from my region, and the work… -
Cassius
July 22, 2026 at 10:58 AM Replied to the thread Metrodorus project.PostDehorting -- that's a new one for me, but traces right back to the latin as opposite of exhort - which isn't so archaic!
Dehorting is the present participle/gerund of the rare/archaic verb "dehort".MeaningTo dehort = to strongly advise against something,… -
TauPhi
July 22, 2026 at 10:52 AM Replied to the thread Metrodorus project.Post[…]
It's not. Please compare:
https://archive.org/details/plutar…2up?q=dehorting
[…]
I can't answer this conclusively. Here's what Parente has to say about this fragment:
It's the Sent. Vat. LI, clarified as a letter by the papyrus discovery; see VOGLIANO,… -
Cassius
July 22, 2026 at 6:47 AM Replied to the thread Metrodorus project.PostSo this is from Metrodorus and not Epicurus himself? Seems to me I hear this attributed to Epicurus so if it is not that is a misunderstanding that needs correcting.
TO PYTHOCLES:
Sent. Vat. LI (= Pap. Berol. 16369, col. II) [20]
You tell me that the… -
Cassius
July 22, 2026 at 6:44 AM Replied to the thread Philodemus' "On Anger" - General - Texts and Resources.PostFrom Tau Phi's collection of works of Metrodorus:
PHILODEMUS, On Anger, col. XLV [7]
In fact, Epicurus makes clear in his First Appellations both that the sage “will experience rage” and (will experience it) “in moderation,” and Metrodorus, if he… -
Cassius
July 22, 2026 at 6:37 AM Replied to the thread Metrodorus project.PostTau Phi I have a question here - is this "dehorting" a typo?
PLUTARCH, Against Colotes, 34, 1127 d [5]
If those who abolish laws, governments, and polices of men subvert
and destroy human life, and if Metrodorus and Epicurus do this, by
dehorting and… -
Cassius
July 22, 2026 at 6:21 AM Replied to the thread Key Citations - Nothing Is Supernatural - No Gods Over Nature.PostThe following quote from Tau Phi's recent collection of quotations by or about Metrodorus is relevant to this topic of whether all things that have a beginning must have an end. It's also relevant to DeWitt's point that for Epicurus the gods are not… -
Cassius
July 22, 2026 at 6:18 AM Replied to the thread Must All Things That Have A Beginning Have An End?.PostThe following quote from Tau Phi's recent collection of quotations by or about Metrodorus is relevant to this topic of whether all things that have a beginning must have an end. It's also relevant to DeWitt's point that for Epicurus the gods are not… -
Cassius
July 22, 2026 at 6:09 AM Replied to the thread Key Citations On Atoms, Void, and Emergence.PostFrom Tau Phi's recent collection on the works of Metrodorus I want to add this here under a list of quotes relevant to emergence.
It is pretty confusingly worded, or confusingly translated, or both, but it seems to me to be pretty clearly talking about a… -
Cassius
July 22, 2026 at 5:46 AM Replied to the thread Metrodorus project.PostHere is one of the many useful quotes here that we need to be able to find very often. Lately it seems like every mention of Epicurus is accompanied by the assertion that he lived on bread and water (they like to throw in ....and a little cheese) when… -
Cassius
July 21, 2026 at 9:49 PM Added the file The Life And Works of Metrodorus of Lampsacus.FileThe attached PDF contains 100 fragments related to Metrodorus' life and works. The document includes both ancient testimonia and extant fragments. It's divided into two sections: Life and Works. The first one focuses on Metrodorus' biography; the second… -
Cassius
July 21, 2026 at 9:45 PM Replied to the thread Metrodorus project.PostOutstanding Tau Phi thank you! I'm setting this up in the files section now and will post the link below.
The Life And Works of Metrodorus of Lampsacus -
Cassius
PostJuly 21, 2026 at 9:42 PM […]
I have no problem at all with anything that you wrote as being consistent with the policy. As you state in your last paragraph it is difficult and controversial to decide which pleasures are actially kinetic and katastematic in the first place. On… -
TauPhi
July 21, 2026 at 8:29 PM Posted the thread Metrodorus project.ThreadThis is going to be a longer post, so here's a brief summary of what this is about:
The attached PDF contains 100 fragments related to Metrodorus' life and works. The document includes both ancient testimonia and extant fragments. It's divided into two… -
Aristos
July 21, 2026 at 4:14 PM Replied to the thread Welcome Aristos!.PostThanks, Martin 🤝🍻
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