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Recent Activities

  • Cassius April 4, 2026 at 4:40 PM

    Replied to the thread Is There A "Paradox of Hedonism"?.
    Post
    It occurs to me to add here that in some of our physics discussions recently we have had reason to focus on the importance of "emergence" or "emergent qualities" to the nature of the way things are.

    Probably friendship and love and the issues you are…

  • Joshua April 4, 2026 at 3:48 PM

    Post
    […]

    That is a good question! I will try to remember to look into this later today.

  • Patrikios April 4, 2026 at 3:35 PM

    Post
    Joshua ,

    Thanks to you and Cassius for this excellent episode (327).

    This is a very timely episode for helping people make some sense of a world in turmoil, with much re-framing of reality.


    This first section appears to describe a worldview not too…

  • Martin April 4, 2026 at 12:17 PM

    Replied to the thread Welcome Lamar!.
    Post
    Welcome Lamar!

  • Eikadistes April 4, 2026 at 11:10 AM

    Replied to the thread Is There A "Paradox of Hedonism"?.
    Post
    […]

    This is a solid observation, and Epíkouros addresses those exact points. In a nutshell, the Garden observes all friendships starting with two individuals providing each other with mutual utility. In the beginning, you're totally right. Friendship can…

  • DaveT April 4, 2026 at 10:17 AM

    Replied to the thread Is There A "Paradox of Hedonism"?.
    Post
    […]

    For me, this process does not feel shallow or transactional in a negative sense. First as to the transactional, the positive view is apparent in the old saying: you have to be a friend to have a friend. Is it transactional? In my view, yes it is…

  • Cassius April 4, 2026 at 9:46 AM

    Thread
    These week we will continue around section 1:305 of Lucretius and explore further the implications of the invisibility of atoms and how we can have confidence in something that is not visible. This week we go over Lucretius' specific examples of how we…

  • Kalosyni April 4, 2026 at 8:26 AM

    Replied to the thread Is There A "Paradox of Hedonism"?.
    Post
    Welcome to the forum LAMAR__44 ...here are my thoughts to give some correction and guidance:

    […]

    I think that your wording here makes for an incorrect understanding and application -- the meaning of the word "sole" = only. This sets you up for a big…

  • Cassius April 4, 2026 at 8:22 AM

    Replied to the thread Is There A "Paradox of Hedonism"?.
    Post
    Just a little more on this (admittedly largely repeating what I already wrote, but for emphasis):

    […]

    Consistent with what I wrote about above - there's no problem here in arguing against "hedonism." - I will help you in fact, given that I think it's a…

  • Cassius April 4, 2026 at 8:16 AM

    Replied to the thread Welcome Lamar!.
    Post
    Lamar you have asked a very good question and I set it up as a separate thread here:

    Is There A "Paradox of Hedonism"?

    If you have any problems getting access to post in it please let me know.

  • Cassius April 4, 2026 at 8:10 AM

    Replied to the thread Is There A "Paradox of Hedonism"?.
    Post
    Good to have you Lamar.

    Couple of points:

    1 - This is why I don't care to refer to "hedonism" very often. Epicurean philosophy gets placed into that box with certain other groups, but Epicurus is far more subtle than most, and so "hedonism" gets used as a…

  • LAMAR__44 April 4, 2026 at 7:49 AM

    Has solved the quiz Basic Epicurean Ethics.
    Quiz

  • LAMAR__44 April 4, 2026 at 7:27 AM

    Replied to the thread Is There A "Paradox of Hedonism"?.
    Post
    Hi Cassius, thanks for welcoming me. I wanted to speak about the paradox of hedonism. This isn’t me arguing against hedonism, but just something I’ve had trouble in resolving and would love to get everyone’s viewpoints here.

    Essentially, since we know…

  • Cassius April 4, 2026 at 7:03 AM

    Replied to the thread Welcome Lamar!.
    Post
    Lamar -- Welcome -- please post here as to the subject of the topic and we'll create a full thread in the appropriate place later as needed. Thanks.

  • Cassius April 4, 2026 at 7:02 AM

    Replied to the thread Welcome Lamar!.
    Post
    Lamar tells us:

    Hi, I’ve been interested in Epicureanism for a while and have been reading
    the forums at Epicureanfriends for a while now, but I wanted to create a
    post on something that I believe hasn’t been touched on which is why I’m
    creating an account…

  • Cassius April 4, 2026 at 7:01 AM

    Posted the thread Welcome Lamar!.
    Thread
    Welcome LAMAR__44 !

    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…

  • Cassius April 3, 2026 at 6:26 PM

    Post
    […]

    i think this is a misreading if from it you conclude that Epicurus is deprecating mental experience that is not painful as not being pleasure. Everything about us ultimately arises through the body as we do not exist without it. That means anything…

  • Kalosyni April 3, 2026 at 6:13 PM

    Thread
    Here is an interesting Q & A, but looks like the main article is behind a paywall.

    […]

    You can read the full Q & A here:

    https://euppublishingblog.com/2026/01/12/qa-…days-in-athens/

  • wbernys April 3, 2026 at 5:43 PM

    Post
    […]

    I just put that as an option in case others view his hedonism as more crude. I don't really agree but still some people will say it so wanted that as an option.

    The only matter I may consider Epicurus a little crude I think is his insistence that all…

  • Cassius April 3, 2026 at 5:35 PM

    Post
    […]

    I see Diogenes of Oinoanda as completely orthodox and consistent with Lucretius' tone as to sympathy for "hearts in darkness." And of course Epicurus' whole career and school-building was outward-facing.

    And I don't know what you would mean in…

  • wbernys April 3, 2026 at 5:13 PM

    Thread
    I recall Eikadistes mentioning how Diogones of Oenoanda strong statements of empathy sound almost Judeo-Christian.

    "I have therefore composed this inscription, because I consider it a part of wisdom for a good man to give benevolent assistance, to the…

  • Cassius April 3, 2026 at 4:56 PM

    Post
    This episode is now up. As I reflect post-editing I regret that we didn't give more examples from Sedley's article about emergence (downward or otherwise) but that's a deep subject on its own and one we'll return to in the future. There's a lot more…

  • Cassius April 3, 2026 at 4:54 PM

    Post
    Episode 327 of the Lucretius Today Podcast is now available. This week our episode is entitled: "Intelligent Design vs Emergence"

    [media]https://www.spreaker.com/episode/71088166/media

  • Cassius April 3, 2026 at 11:25 AM

    Post
    The applicable cliche is hard cases make bad law, but the problem is in the one size fits all law rather than in the cases. If Kant was consistent (and I know nothing about his personal life) he would either follow his categorical imperative or ditch the…

  • Cassius April 3, 2026 at 9:19 AM

    Post
    […]

    it's exactly the attitude that people like Lucretius or Diogenes of Oinoanda displayed in calling Epicurus a "savior" or "father" or a virtual "god among men."

    […]

    And I see that statement as totally inconsistent with your prior statements to the effect…

  • DaveT April 3, 2026 at 9:13 AM

    Post
    […]

    Why must extreme examples be used to dispute a point in discussion. Extremes are not the norm for belief in my opinion. This is an example of the type of argumentation that can be found in Lucretius that diminishes its power. Giving five examples of…

  • TauPhi April 3, 2026 at 8:54 AM

    Post
    […]

    If that's the case, Epicurus was the One. Every philosopher before and after him was and is infected with a "mind virus"? I'm pretty sure this attitude will not get you far in promoting Epicurean philosophy.

    […]

    In that case I think almost all of us are…

  • Kalosyni April 3, 2026 at 8:31 AM

    Thread
    Already quite some time ago (back in 2022) I started writing a fictional story about a modern Epicurean Philosophy "school"...basically a place were people gather and learn Epicurean philosophy (both the theory and the practice). In some ways it would be…

  • Cassius April 3, 2026 at 8:00 AM

    Post
    As i am editing this podcast I want to insert this note, that at about the 22 minute mark Joshua quotes Plato as taking the position that there is only ONE created world - not "many worlds." This too is something Epicurus directly contradicts.

  • Cassius April 3, 2026 at 7:30 AM

    Post
    As an aside many of these same issues are discussed when Joshua quotes from Timaeus at length in Episode 327 of the podcast (to be released later today or tomorrow). This appears in depth around the 15 minute mark but much of the episode is devoted…

  • Cassius April 3, 2026 at 7:09 AM

    Post
    As to the arguments in recent posts as to the possibility of knowledge and proof and how to define terms, I want to cite and praise as insightful something that Titus raise in another context

    […]

    I think this is an excellent analogy to be brought to…

  • Cassius April 3, 2026 at 6:48 AM

    Post
    […]

    if you are correct Kant is apparently saying that truth is never possible, on "models," some of which work better than others. I believe Epicurus would say that this is effectively the same thing as saying that "nothing can be known" just using…

  • Cassius April 3, 2026 at 6:41 AM

    Post
    […]

    It's fair to say that I think "philosophy" in general has done nothing but regress since about 50 BC (which I'm equating with the high-water mark of penetration by Epicurean thinking).

    […]

    Well stated! :)

    […]

    No, the goal of this forum is not to "host…

  • Eikadistes April 2, 2026 at 10:52 PM

    Post
    In his introduction to Critique of Pure Reason, Kant writes:

    […]

    I think he agreed that the world of senses, by itself, is "too narrow", but at the same time, Kant heavily criticizes Plátōn for the same reasons that he criticizes the pure rationalism of…

  • DaveT April 2, 2026 at 9:20 PM

    Post
    […]

    Speaking as an Epicurean friend, I think you missed my point. I was not talking about those he was struggling against for contemporary dominance. I was referring to the progress of philosophy depending on the prior generations of great thinkers. And…

  • Cassius April 2, 2026 at 9:13 PM

    Post
    […]

    I clipped a number of statements to comment on but probably this one was all that is necessary. Whether we talk about "knowledge" or "truth" or "reality" or any other similar word, the issue is whether we can ever have confidence that our major…

  • Cassius April 2, 2026 at 8:37 PM

    Post
    […]

    This is a good conversation. I'm pressed for time in writing but just to note quickly:

    1 - I completely agree with concerns about not trying to convert "the masses." It always pays to know who you're talking to and not intrude on others who clearly…

  • TauPhi April 2, 2026 at 7:21 PM

    Post
    Martin and Cassius . Please correct me if my reasoning is faulty at any point but at the moment here are my thoughts about some of the things you mentioned in the posts above:

    […]

    […]

    I'm sorry but this doesn't make any sense based on what Martin…

  • wbernys April 2, 2026 at 7:05 PM

    Has received the trophy Frequent Posters.
    Trophy
    Recognition of Members Who Have Contributed More Than Thirty Posts On The Forum

  • wbernys April 2, 2026 at 7:03 PM

    Post
    Great collection of qoutes Eikadistes !

    I feel like the main focus right now should be on actually connecting personal relationships. I'm really trying to convert my father into really liking Epicurean philosophy as a great remedy which fills you with…

  • Eikadistes April 2, 2026 at 6:19 PM

    Post
    This discussion brings a few quotes to mind that provide some nuance.

    We're certainly cautioned against explicit proselytization as a matter of practicality:

    - "Never did I reach to please the masses, for truly what pleases them, I did not understand, but…

  • Cassius April 2, 2026 at 4:43 PM

    Post
    […]

    I think Epicurus would say that he has 'proven' that the universe as a whole is eternal and infinite in size and there is nothing "outside" of it. Now obviously that's a different definition than saying "I've been there and seen it and you can rely…

  • DaveT April 2, 2026 at 4:40 PM

    Post
    […]

    I find that surprising in my limited knowledge of forum participants. You of course must have the data to support your comment. Also, I'm at a loss over your statement, "we're not catering to those who live for the exhilaration that they apparently…

  • DaveT April 2, 2026 at 4:32 PM

    Post
    For conversation's sake: What philosopher actually proves anything? We've probably dealt with that issue often enough, but my devilish sense of humor drove me to ask it again.

    But seriously, imagine for a moment, Epicurus and Kant, and, I don't know,…

  • wbernys April 2, 2026 at 2:10 PM

    Post
    […]

    I am perhaps less pessimistic than you on this Don , Emily Austin pointed out that philosophers at a convention felt no one could even defend Epicureanism (it's why she write the book and it went on to be the most popular in the series bu far)

    We…

  • Cassius April 2, 2026 at 2:10 PM

    Post
    Thanks Martin will fix!

  • Martin April 2, 2026 at 1:52 PM

    Post
    […]

    should be "just like Lucretius and Diogenes of Oinoanda and many others let the size of the job not stop them from what they accomplished".

  • Cassius April 2, 2026 at 1:25 PM

    Post
    DaveT another example of my personal priority of where to spend time:

    (1) I think we need very clear lists and charts and descriptions of the most basic of Epicurean canonical, physical, and ethical positions. That's what I've been working on for…

  • Cassius April 2, 2026 at 11:35 AM

    Post
    […]

    I definitely think it can be done, and that it would be helpful to do exactly that.

    Differences can be sharpened in an unbiased unemotional way. Once we have a sharp view of the differences, then we can pretty easily find the line where we cross into…

  • DaveT April 2, 2026 at 9:56 AM

    Post
    I would like to see one aspect of this discussion of Epicurean vs Kantian perspectives in this or another thread on the forum.

    I know comparatively little about Epicurus and less about Kant. However, I sense that the current distinctions between the…

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