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  • Eikadistes March 13, 2026 at 4:20 PM

    Replied to the thread Welcome Phscha.
    Post
    My publications can't finance my expenses, but I definitely think of myself as a philosopher.

    For context, I believe the "is-ought" problem is expressed in Hume's A Treatise of Human Nature:

    […]

    If I've read Hume right (him being a modern sceptic), I…

  • Pacatus March 13, 2026 at 3:30 PM

    Replied to the thread Welcome Phscha.
    Post
    Welcome, Phscha.

    I might suggest that the only way to get to some “ought” from whatever “is” – is to add an “if.” For example:

    Given circumstances c, if I want to bring about g, then I ought to (based on the evidence of c) do a, as the most likely…

  • Cassius March 13, 2026 at 2:45 PM

    Replied to the thread Welcome Phscha.
    Post
    Thanks for your reply and you raise excellent points which are valuable to debate.

    Neither I nor anyone else here (to my knowledge) is a professional philosopher, so I am sure there are more intellectual ways to respond to the Hume's razor question than…

  • phscha March 13, 2026 at 2:21 PM

    Replied to the thread Welcome Phscha.
    Post
    Thank you for the warm welcome!

    I believe that one can understand Epicurean philosophy by following his train of thought from his knowledge and assumptions regarding nature to his conclusion. But for me at least, to apply his philosophy to life I should…

  • Cassius March 13, 2026 at 11:27 AM

    Post
    As to Emerson's statements about consistency Joshua reminded me in the most recent podcast (324 - not yet posted as of this writing) about what Cicero had to say in Tusculan Disputations. In this section he's arguing against Epicurus, but what he's…

  • Cassius March 13, 2026 at 8:51 AM

    Replied to the thread Welcome Phscha.
    Post
    […]

    Welcome Phscha! However given you have made a very specific point in regard to physics, and I better address it immediately.

    This forum is dedicated to the pursuit of Epicurean philosophy, which is not tied to the terminology of 300 BC, but is tied to…

  • phscha March 13, 2026 at 7:38 AM

    Replied to the thread Welcome Phscha.
    Post
    Hi everyone,

    I am a 43 yo male from Munich, Germany. PhD, curious mind, traveler. Interested in Epicurian philosophy as it resonates with my personal life experience: A home shared with friends is the best form of human coexistence. Motivated to discuss a…

  • Cassius March 12, 2026 at 7:05 PM

    Replied to the thread Welcome Phscha.
    Post
    Pscha confirms their account request this way:



    […]

  • Cassius March 12, 2026 at 7:05 PM

    Posted the thread Welcome Phscha.
    Thread
    Welcome phscha !

    There is one last step to complete your registration:

    All new registrants must post a response to this message here in this welcome thread (we do this in order to minimize spam registrations).

    You must post your response within 24 hours,…

  • Pacatus March 12, 2026 at 1:30 PM

    Replied to the thread Tim O'Keefe -- Ouch!.
    Post
    […]

    Your “no cookie-cutter” comment in another thread is certainly spot on, and I like the approach you’re suggesting here.

    As a – likely beyond-the-pale whimsical* – metaphor, perhaps we could think in terms of a philosophical “clade”:

    “In biology, a…

  • DavidN March 12, 2026 at 11:54 AM

    Replied to the thread Tim O'Keefe -- Ouch!.
    Post
    […]

    Ya taking a break from my project, figured I'd come see how everyone is doing.

  • Kalosyni March 12, 2026 at 11:04 AM

    Replied to the thread Tim O'Keefe -- Ouch!.
    Post
    […]

    […]

    I think that the term "Epicurean" can't be applied to someone who only has one single concept that they follow which might be considered "Epicurean". Epicureanism is a collection of specific concepts that guide one's outlook and choices.

    This…

  • Cassius March 12, 2026 at 9:49 AM

    Post
    All these are difficult issues that everyone has to address, but the first step is seeing that they are in fact issues.

    […]

    Certainly if I want brain surgery I am going to look for someone I conclude to be an "expert." Even in recent years regarding such…

  • Don March 11, 2026 at 4:29 PM

    Post
    […]

    Well put.

    Along those lines, Epicurus himself was experiencing severe pain in his last days but could also call that time blissful (μακαρίαν "blessed" aka like a god) and could experience the pleasure of the "gladness of mind" (χαῖρον a…

  • DaveT March 11, 2026 at 2:33 PM

    Replied to the thread Tim O'Keefe -- Ouch!.
    Post
    I see evidence that Epicurean teachings are far more widespread than many think it to be. Epicurus' name is not attached to the actions and beliefs of people, especially in western, educated, Industrialized, rich, democracies (WEIRD). Just listen to any…

  • DaveT March 11, 2026 at 1:57 PM

    Post
    […]

    I get it, your view. I lean more to the side that says I don't believe any of those items are true because I have never seen evidence that they are true. Therefore, since I believe them all to be false, I'm not concerned about the amount of evidence I…

  • Cassius March 11, 2026 at 11:42 AM

    Replied to the thread Tim O'Keefe -- Ouch!.
    Post
    And it's good to hear from you DavidN!

  • DavidN March 11, 2026 at 11:32 AM

    Replied to the thread Tim O'Keefe -- Ouch!.
    Post
    I think o'keefe is making the same mistake as many enlightenment thinkers, I see the pleonachōs tropos (πλεοναχῶς τρόπος) as a precursor of modern evergreen policies, adaptable to changing information landscapes. To say that his theories…

  • Cassius March 11, 2026 at 8:07 AM

    Replied to the thread Tim O'Keefe -- Ouch!.
    Post
    […]

    "Modern thinkers" are in many cases the problem, not the solution, and you can't make opposites compatible. It would be more accurate to say that it is desirable to use new methods and technologies to explain to such "modern thinkers" as are open to…

  • Kalosyni March 11, 2026 at 7:47 AM

    Replied to the thread Tim O'Keefe -- Ouch!.
    Post
    Regarding a lack of followers, as well as eclecticism...we are really just getting started with unpacking the system presented by Epicurus, based on the extant remains. And, a big challenge is updating the philosophy to make it compatible for modern…

  • Cassius March 11, 2026 at 7:44 AM

    Post
    […]

    I am definitely considering Jefferson, who embraced Epicurus in my view very accurately, as correct in most all of his statements on these issues. I have the most relevant of his statements relating to Epicurus here: …

  • Kalosyni March 11, 2026 at 7:16 AM

    Post
    Here are some areas to compare and contrast, and perhaps if we place them in a table of comparison it would become more clear:

    -----Ancient Skepticism vs modern notion of skepticism, vs aspects of "skepticism" in modern science vs Epicurean canonics, AND…

  • DaveT March 10, 2026 at 9:21 PM

    Post
    Cassius I'm lost! Please see the quotes I attached below and bolded relevant parts. Looking at the beginning of Kalosyni 's post, below, then your reply, and your answer to my question to you for clarification has me lost. Especially the Jefferson…

  • Martin March 10, 2026 at 8:44 PM

    Replied to the thread Welcome Ludenbergcastle.
    Post
    Welcome Ludenbergcastle!

  • Pacatus March 10, 2026 at 5:10 PM

    Post
    […]

    Totally agree, with all of this post. :)

  • Cassius March 10, 2026 at 3:18 PM

    Post
    […]

    which calls to my mind Pacatus the question of whether to view happiness as *complete* pleasure or as some predominance of pleasure over pain. That seems to be a major point of dispute - whether to consider someone happy even when they are…

  • Cassius March 10, 2026 at 2:26 PM

    Replied to the thread Tim O'Keefe -- Ouch!.
    Post
    Yes and thank you for this post. This is good information tokeep on hand. Tim Okeefe has written some very good stuff on Epicurus, but this part of his attitude has to be kept in mind. This sutuation reminds me of Cyril Bailey, whose work is extremely…

  • Pacatus March 10, 2026 at 1:33 PM

    Posted the thread Tim O'Keefe -- Ouch!.
    Thread
    “Most of the empirical claims Epicurus made about the world – some fundamental to his system, others peripheral – have since been falsified. … So it is not surprising that the philosophical system of Epicureanism has no adherents today.” (!?) :huh: [Tim…

  • Pacatus March 10, 2026 at 12:36 PM

    Post
    It seems to me that if the dichotomy of control (as in Epictetus) refers to whatever is completely within my control versus whatever is completely out of my control – then it is an idealistic abstraction, and not useful. (And I suspect that idealism is…

  • Cassius March 10, 2026 at 12:13 PM

    Post
    […]

    Agreeing with your post, but I don't catch your meaning of this part.



    ------

    My explanation for this applies to much of the reason that Dave and I appear to disagree - but I don't think we are really that far apart.

    I would like to be proven wrong, but…

  • Cassius March 10, 2026 at 12:01 PM

    Post
    Right. Everyone today is marinated in the negative meaning of "dogmatism" just like they are in the narrow and negative view of "pleasure" as an ethical guide.

    I'm by no means proud or happy of every aspect of the legal profession, but there are good…

  • Pacatus March 10, 2026 at 11:50 AM

    Comment (Blog Article)
    A powerfully beautiful homily! Worth more than one read! Thank you! <3

  • Cassius March 10, 2026 at 11:41 AM

    Replied to the thread Welcome Ludenbergcastle.
    Post
    Thank you for your frank and clear post. I hope you'll find the PDF helpful.

    I would also suggest our reading list material, especially the two key books that we recommend (depending on one's background and level of interest) by Norman DeWitt and Emily…

  • ludenbergcastle March 10, 2026 at 10:48 AM

    Replied to the thread Welcome Ludenbergcastle.
    Post
    Thank you for the warm welcome.

    Given that this is one of the more active places where Epicurean philosophy is discussed, it usually pops up whenever I look up anything about Epicurus.

    The reason I signed up was that it was required in order to download…

  • DaveT March 10, 2026 at 10:39 AM

    Post
    […]

    Agreeing with your post, but I don't catch your meaning of this part.

  • Pacatus March 10, 2026 at 9:39 AM

    Post
    As I read through this, I had to remind myself that Cassius is using the word “dogmatic” in the sense that the Hellenistic philosophers such as Epicurus did – not the sense of “characterized by or given to the expression of opinions very strongly or…

  • wbernys March 9, 2026 at 6:05 PM

    Replied to the thread Welcome Ludenbergcastle.
    Post
    Welcome ludenbergcastle

  • DaveT March 9, 2026 at 4:01 PM

    Post
    […]

    I appreciate your observations. I do not take issue with your prior thoughts on how different people might not understand consensus. And I find the quote from PD 24 highly appropriate here. An opinion affirmed only in part will not escape error.…

  • Cassius March 9, 2026 at 10:35 AM

    Post
    That's right, and it's not easy but what's the alternative? You can throw up your hands and not even try to get it right. That's what is advocated by Socrates and the radical skeptics who say it's never possible to be confident of anything. And what do…

  • Kalosyni March 9, 2026 at 9:39 AM

    Post
    Here are my thoughts on this, by just using the wording of Bailey translation, first posting the PD, then directly following is my take.

    PD.24: "If you reject any single sensation, and fail to distinguish between the conclusion of opinion, as to the…

  • Eikadistes March 9, 2026 at 8:59 AM

    Replied to the thread Welcome Ludenbergcastle.
    Post
    Welcome!

  • Cassius March 9, 2026 at 7:03 AM

    Replied to the thread Welcome Ludenbergcastle.
    Post
    ludenbergcastle has established to me by email that this account is that of a real person who accepts the terms of service of the forum. Welcome.

  • Cassius March 9, 2026 at 7:02 AM

    Posted the thread Welcome Ludenbergcastle.
    Thread
    Welcome ludenbergcastle !

    There is one last step to complete your registration:

    All new registrants must post a response to this message here in this welcome thread (we do this in order to minimize spam registrations).

    You must post your response within…

  • Kalosyni March 8, 2026 at 7:08 PM

    Post
    It seems that PD 24 could have some relevance to the discussion here, and there are are a number of posts exploring the canon, etc, over in the thread linked below.

    PD24 "If you reject any single sensation, and fail to distinguish between the conclusion…

  • Cassius March 8, 2026 at 12:25 PM

    Post
    It's probably also a good way of looking at it to compare this to court.

    If we're going to reach a conclusion about something, we have to tell the jury the standard of proof.

    Telling them to just decide what's "probably" happened or happened "with a high…

  • Cassius March 8, 2026 at 12:22 PM

    Post
    […]

    Within philosophy, that's exactly the position Cicero and other skeptics take -- that "probability" is all anyone can ask for, and to ask for anything more than "probability" is improper.

    The problem is that most reasonable people are not going to find…

  • DaveT March 8, 2026 at 11:03 AM

    Post
    […]

    Of course, this is not what I was saying, right?

    Yet, what is the problem with the phrase "a high degree of confidence"? Do you think this is radical skepticism in the sense of the Hellenistic era of Greece, or in the modern sense of the word…

  • Cassius March 7, 2026 at 5:40 PM

    Post
    Dave I would say that you are discussing the topic of the "conflict" between "science" and "philosophy."

    Each of us has to decide what we think for ourselves, but from a philosophic perspective philosophy does not yield to anyone or anything to dictate to…

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