LATEST LUCRETIUS TODAY PODCAST: Episode 329 - "Cracks In The Academy On Ideal Forms and Virtue Lead To The Emergence of Aristotle, The Stoics,And Epicurus" | Website Overview | Forum Navigation Map | Latest Blog Post: Not a Bunker But A Camp - Epicurean Engagement With Society
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Cassius
April 20, 2026 at 7:00 PM Replied to the thread Welcome ReiWolfWoman!.PostI think that's a very good question and the answer isn't obvious at all.
To me, some of what you're commentin on is a variation of the "psychological hedonism" argument which goes - everyone does what they think brings them pleasure, even pursuing virtue… -
ReiWolfWoman
April 20, 2026 at 5:12 PM Replied to the thread Welcome ReiWolfWoman!.PostI’m reading a book called Jane Austen’s Philosophy of Virtues. Emsley writes, “Socrates calls this kind of adherence to principle illusory, and suggests that it is actually a kind of self-indulgence that forces one to be temperate for the sake of later… -
Cassius
April 20, 2026 at 4:19 PM Replied to the thread What would Epicurus have thought of going to the moon?.Post[…]
And I would not hesitate to say that this is both (1) an example of regression in philosophy over 2000 years and (2) why I would be cautious about endorsing Bentham or applying the label of "hedonism" to Epicurus overbroadly. Epicurus was firm that… -
Eikadistes
April 20, 2026 at 2:39 PM Replied to the thread What would Epicurus have thought of going to the moon?.Post[…]
This is one of the primary differences in the flavors of ancient Epicurean Philosophy versus contemporary Utilitarianism, both being hedonistic, but with different emphases on the happiness of an association of friends versus the collective happiness… -
Godfrey
April 20, 2026 at 2:33 PM Replied to the thread What would Epicurus have thought of going to the moon?.PostAnd that given situation always includes the personal pleasure/pain of the person doing the evaluating. The internal situation of this individual consists of a variety of factors, and these may change over time or in relation to external circumstances.
… -
Cassius
April 20, 2026 at 1:16 PM Replied to the thread What would Epicurus have thought of going to the moon?.Post[…]
Rather than saying not clear I would say it is always contextually relative and the answer for any individual situation is going to require evaluation of all the facts of that situation. So I would see this as an example where the hypothetical… -
Cassius
April 20, 2026 at 1:13 PM Replied to the thread Innovations/Updates in Epicurus Philosophy.PostIn this case I follow Lucretius' argument in book one, (1-551) which is if I recall correctly is largely that if matter were infinitely divisible then the universe as a whole would have long since disappeared.
As I see it the fact that a particular theory… -
ReiWolfWoman
April 20, 2026 at 1:12 PM Replied to the thread What would Epicurus have thought of going to the moon?.PostExcellent points. I guess it is merely conjecture. We can glean what he valued for himself and his friends, which includes both spectacle and smaller pleasures and needs, but a cost-benefit analysis he would advise a ruler to perform, or that he made for… -
Martin
April 20, 2026 at 11:01 AM Replied to the thread Innovations/Updates in Epicurus Philosophy.Post[…]
If Plato writes something like "finite divisibility of matter is logically impossible", we reject it because logic does not tell anything about reality, and logic is not in Epicurus' canon of truth.
The statement "infinite divisibility of matter is… -
Kalosyni
April 20, 2026 at 7:03 AM Posted the thread Happy Twentieth of April 2026.Thread
Happy Twentieth Everyone!
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Cassius
April 20, 2026 at 4:05 AM Replied to the thread Happy Birthday General Thread.PostHappy Birthday to ranc1! Learn more about ranc1 and say happy birthday on ranc1's timeline: ranc1 -
Cassius
April 19, 2026 at 4:17 PM Posted the thread Recent Discovery of Empedocles Material.ThreadI haven't had time to look at this but may be relevant to Lucretius references:
https://www.recherche.uliege.be/cms/c_20650757…yrus-from-cairo -
Cassius
April 19, 2026 at 3:15 PM Replied to the thread What would Epicurus have thought of going to the moon?.Post[…]
As Joshua indicated the question of what an Epicurean would consider is a wide one. There is no "universal Epicurean" who would follow a single analysis, and when you extrapolate out to a government and taxation and use of tax dollars you're… -
Joshua
April 19, 2026 at 12:17 PM Replied to the thread What would Epicurus have thought of going to the moon?.PostThat's a somewhat difficult question. Ancient Rome is usually credited with the first invention of what we now call public welfare, which for them was the grain dole; the 'bread' in 'bread and circuses'. In Greece, citizens that did not own land and thus… -
ReiWolfWoman
April 19, 2026 at 10:56 AM Replied to the thread What would Epicurus have thought of going to the moon?.PostYou have all collectively answered this question quite in depth and contemplatively. Would he also consider the financial cost to the government a wise use of its money? Does that depend on the possibility for that money to actually bring Epicurean… -
Cassius
April 19, 2026 at 7:15 AM Replied to the thread Innovations/Updates in Epicurus Philosophy.Post[…]
Yes all of these discussions are of interest. The dividing line becomes one of appreciating that Epicurus was not ultimately taking positions on the latest developments in experimental theories then or now. It is very easy to confuse people with… -
Cassius
April 19, 2026 at 6:57 AM Posted the thread "Self-Evident" Truth.ThreadWe have a very old discussion of self-evident truth as referenced in the Declaration of Independence here. I am starting this new thread because in the podcast we are about to tackle some very specific issues regarding "truth" where the question of … -
Matteng
April 19, 2026 at 2:51 AM Replied to the thread Innovations/Updates in Epicurus Philosophy.PostCassius Yes, I agree.
My intention is not to change anything in the Philosophy. Indeed I think that the core principles are kind of eternal/timeless in this world.
My intention is more to see/ show that Epicurean Philosophy is not an old/dead/fixed one… -
wbernys
April 19, 2026 at 12:04 AM Replied to the thread Welcome Morgan!.PostWelcome Morgan. You're definitely right to like Epicurus as a fundamental revolutionary of his time. The main revolution i would put with him is his fundamental optimism about everything! I think it's his best quality.
Take a look at Plato and the… -
Cassius
April 18, 2026 at 8:00 PM Replied to the thread Welcome Morgan!.PostWow this is great Morgan - thanks for the information! You've got quite a stellar background, and having had dealings with Martin Ferguson Smith is enough to make many of us "envious."
We look forward to your being on the forum and I hope you will let us… -
Cassius
April 18, 2026 at 7:59 PM Replied to the thread Welcome Morgan!.PostMorgan has sent some additional information:
Hello Cassius,
Apologies for missing this email, I will now give a few details about me…
I’m retired, officially, but a writer and interested in pursuing an interest in Epicurus and Epicureanism that has been… -
Cassius
April 18, 2026 at 4:58 PM Replied to the thread Innovations/Updates in Epicurus Philosophy.PostThanks to Joshua for his post which I did not previously see.
As to the "fourth criteria" we have this earlier thread which explains the DeWitt position. Again, I'm by no means saying it is ridiculous to talk about the present impressions of the mind. … -
Cassius
April 18, 2026 at 4:47 PM Replied to the thread Innovations/Updates in Epicurus Philosophy.PostAlso while this topic is on my mind:
it's always important to be clear here as to exactly what we are talking about. When some hear"innovation" or "Updates" they are thinking about "let's talk about applying Epicurean ethics and ideas to modern… -
Cassius
April 18, 2026 at 4:23 PM Replied to the thread Innovations/Updates in Epicurus Philosophy.Post[…]
This is one of the basic differences between Hiram's approach and that which I set out to accomplish here in forming EpicureanFriends. Our focus is on understanding the philosophy as it was originally taught, which we are all including me very far… -
Joshua
April 18, 2026 at 4:18 PM Replied to the thread Innovations/Updates in Epicurus Philosophy.PostExcellent question, Matteng !
Regarding the fourth criterion of the canon, I will simply point the way to Prof. David Glidden's Epicurean Prolepsis. It won't furnish any answers, but in it he does attempt to explain why the question itself is extremely… -
wbernys
April 18, 2026 at 12:13 PM Replied to the thread Have PD35 and Vatican Saying 7 been straw-manned?.Post[…]
Hmm. Odd. You're right. I asked ai for grammar help and it may have f'd up the greek. Can't edit my original post to change it though for some reason.
For what I've seen the point still stands, relied on Cyril Bailey who translates it as "evil-doer"… -
Cassius
PostApril 18, 2026 at 11:38 AM I personally consider the four virtues listed to track what seems pretty much a classical list. The "opposites" seem to me to be more Jefferson's word choice, and I'd certainly question listing "Desire" unless a lot more is understood about what is… -
Cassius
April 18, 2026 at 11:33 AM Replied to the thread Have PD35 and Vatican Saying 7 been straw-manned?.PostI have no ability to add anything to your parsing of the Greek, but I strongly agree with the direction you are going in each of your evaluations.
1 - Certainly we are going to sometimes break the law - that's inherent in the full analysis of how justice… -
Brandenoz
PostApril 18, 2026 at 11:13 AM I had a question. This part from Thomas Jefferson on the virtues of Epicurus, did he just come up with this? I haven't seen them anywhere else. It seems Epicurus was bigger on a pleasant life cannot be lived without the virtues, but we don't live for the… -
Eikadistes
April 18, 2026 at 10:55 AM Replied to the thread Have PD35 and Vatican Saying 7 been straw-manned?.PostI'm curious about the phrasing you got. I might have it wrong and need to review.
In KD35, I have "Οὐκ ἔστι τὸν λάθρα τι κινοῦντα..."
I based my translation of Book 10 on this text from Perseus. -
Eikadistes
April 18, 2026 at 10:50 AM Replied to the thread Have PD35 and Vatican Saying 7 been straw-manned?.Post[…]
Epíkouros stops short of saying, 'don't ever break the law'.
This reflection seems poignant in times of lawlessness and collapse, when "someone establishes a law" that "no longer possesses the nature of the just" (KD 37), or when many "things appear… -
Brandenoz
PostApril 18, 2026 at 10:28 AM I finished reading this book. I liked the selections from Lucretius and Newton. That was my first time reading Lucretius. Klavan does have commentary throughout the book, and otherwise only writes the preface, but he ends the book with Maxwell:
"They… -
Matteng
April 18, 2026 at 7:16 AM Posted the thread Innovations/Updates in Epicurus Philosophy.ThreadHi,
in one of Hirams essays about the 4. criterion of the Canon he mentions rules for Innovations or Updating the Philosophy. I like the idea so that it can evolve with new data and scientific findings.
What do you think about it ? Has someone direct… -
wbernys
April 18, 2026 at 3:28 AM Posted the thread Have PD35 and Vatican Saying 7 been straw-manned?.ThreadHello all,
I’ve been thinking about PD 35 and Vatican Saying 7, A common interpretation (especially in modern discussions) is that even a single unjust act results in ever-lasting fear or instability until death, since one can never be certain of escaping… -
Cassius
ThreadApril 18, 2026 at 12:14 AM This week we pick up with more on the void at line 346 of book one.
https://handbook.epicureanfriends.com/sbslucretius/#1-346 -
Cassius
ThreadApril 17, 2026 at 11:44 PM Welcome to Episode 330 of Lucretius Today. This is a podcast dedicated to the poet Lucretius, who wrote "On The Nature of Things," the most complete presentation of Epicurean philosophy left to us from the ancient world. Each week we walk you through the… -
Cassius
PostApril 17, 2026 at 4:01 PM -
Cassius
April 17, 2026 at 11:10 AM Posted the thread Commentary On The Principal Doctrines And Vatican Sayings.ThreadI have prepared a short commentary on each of the Principal Doctrines and Vatican Sayings with special attention given to common misconceptions about each one.
The home of the basic list will be here while it is going through early phases of composition… -
Cassius
April 17, 2026 at 10:59 AM Replied to the thread Welcome Morgan!.PostI don't know that we know much more about the story of Epicurus questioning his teachers, but if anyone has an anecdote from Usener it's probably Bryan -
Cassius
April 17, 2026 at 10:57 AM Replied to the thread Welcome Morgan!.PostMorgan thanks for your email. You should have received "Registration" email saying essentially this:
Thank you for your interest in the EpicureanFriends forum.
Please respond to this email with basic information about your background and interest in… -
Cassius
April 17, 2026 at 10:56 AM Replied to the thread Welcome Morgan!.PostMorgan writes us:
Hello, I'm delighted to become a new member, and as far as I can see, I should respond to my welcome message, and whilst I'm pretty sure this may not be the way to do so, I can't identify a 'reply' button, so forgive the rough and ready… -
Cassius
April 17, 2026 at 10:55 AM Posted the thread Welcome Morgan!.ThreadWelcome Morgan
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,… -
Martin
PostApril 17, 2026 at 2:50 AM There are analogies between modern physics and ancient philosophies. In comparison, the most and strongest analogies appear to be with Epicurean physics.
A new theory typically does not follow from the old theory it replaces. Nevertheless, the old theory… -
Matteng
PostApril 17, 2026 at 1:22 AM Right, this was not good formulated from my side. Modern Physics are all new discoveries.
I think that Epicurus would integrate their findings today in his Philosophy when they have good evidence. -
Cassius
PostApril 16, 2026 at 8:36 PM This episode is turning out to be a little shorter than usual, and kind of transitional, as we discuss the divergence of Aristotle from the Academy and begin to touch on the emergence of Stoicism. This is complicated stuff and we can only touch the… -
Cassius
PostApril 16, 2026 at 8:31 PM […]
I would not say that, and I feel certain Martin would not say so either.
Epicurus is targeting his claim of their being an ultimate limit to divisibility to the opposite argument made by prior philosophers - that there is no conceivable limit to… -
kochiekoch
April 16, 2026 at 4:20 PM Replied to the thread Why Emily Austin's "Living For Pleasure" Book Title Is Particularly Apt.PostShe's dead to the community. She's not playing the game and getting into the role the early Christian community laid out for her. The sinning widow is going to hell in a bucket!
Grateful Dead - Hell In A Bucket (Official Music Video) -
Patrikios
April 16, 2026 at 3:50 PM Replied to the thread Epicurus' Response to "Infinite Regress" Arguments.PostIs this topic related to the thread on Motion?
Is Motion One Of The Three Eternal Properties of Atoms? I.E. Are The Three Properties Shape, Size, and MOTION? -
Patrikios
April 16, 2026 at 3:44 PM Replied to the thread Why Emily Austin's "Living For Pleasure" Book Title Is Particularly Apt.Post[…]
From a naturalist or Epicurean standpoint, the widow who studies nature, cultivates reason, builds friendships, and finds peace through understanding the world around her is living with extraordinary richness and intentionality. Calling that… -
Matteng
PostApril 16, 2026 at 3:21 PM In the past I thought laws of nature and natural forces are missing in Epicurean physics.
I searched for them and yes would like partly in this thread see the forces in the „motion of uncuttables“ but maybe also with an extension like an additional…
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