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Kalosyni
August 18, 2025 at 8:18 PM Replied to the thread The Closing Paragraph of the Letter to Menoeceus.PostThe phrase "contemplative life" is Christian Catholic, which sounds different than saying "a life of contemplation".
For Epicurus, contemplate/meditate would have meant to think about, study, and apply philosophy. -
Cassius
August 18, 2025 at 5:24 PM Replied to the thread The Closing Paragraph of the Letter to Menoeceus.PostUnfortunately I am afraid that the general interpretation of "the contemplative life" you quoted above is very entrenched, so it's important to be careful in praising "contemplation" in contrast with words like "study" or "applying." -
Kalosyni
August 18, 2025 at 4:38 PM Replied to the thread The Closing Paragraph of the Letter to Menoeceus.PostThis is somewhat applicable, and sheds some light on what is being refered to in the closing paragraph of the Letter to Menoeceus, a life of contemplation is like living like the gods (of course, minus the Aristotilian emphasis on virtues).
Epicurus would… -
Kalosyni
August 18, 2025 at 3:19 PM Replied to the thread The Closing Paragraph of the Letter to Menoeceus.Post"AFTER THE ASCENT: PLATO
ON BECOMING LIKE GOD" -- JOHN M. ARMSTRONG
https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid…511cd201d6ff973
From the opening paragraph:
[…]
This shows that there was already the idea of becoming like the gods before Epicurus, but Epicurus… -
Kalosyni
August 18, 2025 at 7:54 AM Replied to the thread Ecclesiastes what insights can we gleam from it?.PostThis thread does bring up the opportunity for a "compare and contrast":
[…]
From the Letter to Menoeceus:
"He thinks that with us lies the chief power in determining events, some of which happen by necessity, and some by chance, and some are within our… -
Kalosyni
August 18, 2025 at 7:40 AM Replied to the thread Ecclesiastes what insights can we gleam from it?.Post[…]
I am surprised to hear that DeWitt made connections between Epicureanism and Ecclesiastes. In my mind there are some very opposite sentiments. Ecclesiastes has a tone of "existential depression"...which then leads to this:
[…]
(Yes it is true...I have… -
Eikadistes
August 18, 2025 at 12:27 AM Replied to the thread Ecclesiastes what insights can we gleam from it?.Post[…]
I'm re-visiting this now.
This question has a lot to do with dating.
The saturation of philosophical ideas initially lead me to believe that it should be dated to the Hellenistic period, but that may not be correct. For example, it doesn't contain any… -
Rolf
August 17, 2025 at 11:42 AM Commented on the image Blessed Are the Cheesemakers.Comment (Image/Video) -
Rolf
August 17, 2025 at 8:09 AM Replied to the thread Welcome Ernesto-Sun!.PostI like your style, Ernesto - welcome! -
Martin
August 17, 2025 at 6:38 AM Replied to the thread Welcome Ernesto-Sun!.PostWelcome Ernesto.Sun! -
ernesto.sun
August 17, 2025 at 6:34 AM Replied to the thread Welcome Ernesto-Sun!.PostHello my new digital friends!
Epicurus not only explains friendship like nobody else (we know of), he also is a (the) good reason to be friends. (at least good neighbors)
Well - that's a fuzzy start - and a personal one. I am definitely far from the… -
Martin
August 17, 2025 at 6:24 AM Replied to the thread Welcome Hubblefanboy!.PostWelcome Hubblefanboy! -
Don
PostAugust 17, 2025 at 6:01 AM https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/plutarch/
Plutarch was a prominent citizen and even the priest of Apollo at Delphi, being instrumental in reviving and reconstructing the site. He traveled extensively, and was a strong proponent and student of Plato's… -
Don
PostAugust 16, 2025 at 11:24 PM […]
Plutarch maintains there's a body and there's a soul (mind), σώματος καὶ ψυχῆς, and they have very different desires and pleasure they experience. Epicurus on the other hand acknowledges they are inextricably linked with one relying on the other.
It's… -
Eikadistes
August 16, 2025 at 10:10 PM Replied to the thread Why was Epicurus condemned to the sixth circle of hell in Dante's Divine Comedy?.PostSpeak of the devil: https://www.twentiers.com/commedia/ -
Cassius
August 16, 2025 at 4:07 PM Posted the thread Welcome Ernesto-Sun!.ThreadWelcome ernesto.sun ~!
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… -
Don
August 16, 2025 at 3:17 PM Posted the thread Grumphism? LOL.Thread -
Don
August 16, 2025 at 3:11 PM Replied to the thread So You Want To Learn Ancient Greek Or Latin?.Post[…]
And that's where we get glucose from in English.
From Etymology Online: name of a group of sugars (in commercial use, "sugar-syrup from starch"), 1840, from French glucose (1838), said to have been coined by French professor Eugène Melchior Péligot… -
Bryan
PostAugust 16, 2025 at 3:02 PM I think it is all in the "toil" over a joy that is only "now and again."
If I enjoy playing an instrument, and it is "low toil" and "frequent joy," then I am not his target.
I enjoy playing my banjo (looking into getting a bouzouki) -- but really only at… -
Kalosyni
August 16, 2025 at 2:57 PM Replied to the thread So You Want To Learn Ancient Greek Or Latin?.PostGood thing I didn't get my forum name as a tattoo...
Looks like γλυκυθυμία rather than καλοσύνη aligns more with my intention when I chose my forum name.
γλυκυθυμία
From γλῠκῠ́θῡμος (glŭkŭ́thūmos, “sweet-minded”) + -ῐ́ᾱ (-ĭ́ā), from γλῠκῠ́ς (glŭkŭ́s,… -
Don
PostAugust 16, 2025 at 2:16 PM So, is Philodemus saying we shouldn't learn to play or just that we don't have to learn to play?
I'm assuming he'd think someone needs to learn how to play if there are public performances to enjoy? -
Bryan
PostAugust 16, 2025 at 2:10 PM […]
Yes, and not only not take part in music theory -- but also not learn to play an instrument.
P.Herc. 1578 fr. 20, Philodemus (Translated, I think, by D. Blank):
"It is typical of small-minded people with nothing worthwhile to which they can dedicate… -
Don
PostAugust 16, 2025 at 1:09 PM […]
It seems to me, the epicureans could take pleasure in the performance and not need to listen to critical analysis or music theory. The Epicureans right from Epicurus took pleasure in the festivals, including music and drama as I remember. Plutarch… -
Cassius
August 16, 2025 at 12:11 PM Replied to the thread Welcome Hubblefanboy!.PostGlad to have you Hubblefanboy! -
Don
August 16, 2025 at 11:07 AM Replied to the thread Welcome Hubblefanboy!.PostWelcome aboard!!
Just curious: Assuming you're a fan of the Hubble Space Telescope and not necessarily the astronomer Edwin Humble? -
Hubblefanboy
August 16, 2025 at 11:04 AM Replied to the thread Welcome Hubblefanboy!.PostHi, sorry for the delay, I've been busy. I love Epicureanism because I think it's a solid, realistic, and useful philosophy. I'm interested in the whole concept: the canon, the physics, and the ethics. What I like most about this website is undoubtedly… -
Cassius
August 16, 2025 at 9:23 AM Replied to the thread Episode 294 - TD24 - Distinguishing Dogs From Wolves And Pleasure From Absence of Pain.PostI have been thinking since I read post #8 about exactly why I am not entirely comfortable with it.
[…]
I think the reason I would not recommend this as a primary response to Cicero is as follows.
To go back to the beginning, Cicero's challenge was this:
[…]
… -
Don
PostAugust 16, 2025 at 12:26 AM Cassius really has done a great service in this outline. Kudos to you.
I also think it's important to put Plutarch into context temporally:- Epicurus 341-270 BCE
- Colotes c. 320 – after 268 BCE
- Cicero (for additional context): 106 - 43 BCE
- Cicero was writing
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Pacatus
August 15, 2025 at 4:57 PM Replied to the thread What is Virtue and what aspects of Virtue does an Epicurean cultivate?.Post[…]
In addition to PD5, there is also this --
Letter to Menoiceus 132: “Of all this the beginning and the greatest good is prudence. Wherefore prudence is a more precious thing even than philosophy: for from prudence are sprung all the other virtues, and… -
Pacatus
August 15, 2025 at 4:41 PM Replied to the thread What is Virtue and what aspects of Virtue does an Epicurean cultivate?.PostHere is a Wiki article on Virtue Ethics: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtue_ethics
“Some modern versions of virtue ethics do not define virtues in terms of well being or flourishing, and some go so far as to define virtues as traits that tend to… -
Don
August 15, 2025 at 4:28 PM Replied to the thread Beyond Stoicism (2025).PostInwood and Gerson are solid translations. -
DaveT
August 15, 2025 at 4:06 PM Replied to the thread Beyond Stoicism (2025).PostIn addition to the texts here on the website, I've just started reading "The Epicurus Reader: Selected Writings and Testimonia" by Brad Inwood and L.P.Gerson. I find it easier to read than DeWitt. In addition to the usual texts, I am anticipating getting… -
Patrikios
August 15, 2025 at 3:25 PM Replied to the thread Episode 294 - TD24 - Distinguishing Dogs From Wolves And Pleasure From Absence of Pain.Post[…]
Cassius
from reading Christos Yapijakaris I find this.
[…]
From my other reading on homeostasis, I summarize these findings thusly.
When we achieve ataraxia (mental tranquility), we prevent the release of:
- Cortisol (stress hormone)
- Excessive… -
Charles
August 15, 2025 at 2:23 PM Replied to the thread Busts of Epicurus.Post[…]
I chose the faux-bronze looking one on the left. Though, I might order the marble one with the rounded base. -
Robert
August 15, 2025 at 1:54 PM Replied to the thread Happy Birthday General Thread.PostThanks very much! This was a really nice surprise! And I love the e-card, with the depiction of Epicurus looking out over the Saronic Gulf (at least that's how I interpret it...but correct me if I got this wrong!).
Hope everyone is having a pleasurable… -
Bryan
August 15, 2025 at 1:29 PM Replied to the thread Busts of Epicurus.PostWhich version did you choose Charles? Which color and base? -
Rolf
August 15, 2025 at 11:29 AM Replied to the thread Busts of Epicurus.Post[…]
Wow, these are beautiful. -
Charles
August 15, 2025 at 10:40 AM Replied to the thread Busts of Epicurus.PostA shop on Etsy sells more "authentic" copies of some busts of Epicurus made of marble. Though they are quite pricy. I have one.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/Historica…_query=epicurus
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Kalosyni
August 15, 2025 at 9:24 AM Replied to the thread The Fun Habit by Mike Rucker.PostAfter reading some of this book, thinking...
Does fun equal novelty? Do you need to have a certain level of reoccurring novelty in life in order to feel happy? ...and I think that this could set you up for feeling unhappy if you feel like you aren't… -
Kalosyni
August 15, 2025 at 8:50 AM Replied to the thread The Fun Habit by Mike Rucker.Post[…]
I happened to find this book at my library, and I am skimming through it now. Lots of thoughts coming up.
An interesting idea that Rucker presents is the PLAY model - where you have four quadrants (four categories) that all of your activities fit into:… -
Cassius
PostAugust 15, 2025 at 8:27 AM […]
Yes, great point. If you're going to be consistent you can either criticize the Epicureans for pursuing gross and debauched pleasures, or criticize them for being ascetic in their view of pleasure, but you can't logically criticize them for both.
And… -
Don
PostAugust 15, 2025 at 7:39 AM Wow! Well and passionately said! Are you sure you even need me for the Plutarch episode? I feel like we could just wind you up and let you go.
In 7, Plutarch goes on about Epicurus' quote (and it is a quote) that "The very essence of good arises from the… -
Cassius
ThreadAugust 15, 2025 at 7:19 AM I was just sent a link to a newly-published article - "Epicurean Induction and Atomism In Mathematics." At the time I am posting this I have not had a chance to read more than the opening and closing paragraphs, but it appears to be a very useful… -
Adrastus
August 15, 2025 at 3:08 AM Commented on the image Blessed Are the Cheesemakers.Comment (Image/Video)Well, they may or may not be Children of the Gods; but they certainly are Beloved and Pleasers of some of the Gods. -
Cassius
PostAugust 15, 2025 at 2:35 AM It seems to me that Plutarch in Section 7 does a particularly persuasive job of setting up the question clearly, and I see no way around a direct and pointed confrontation.
Plutarch is correct that even the "brute animals" do not deny themselves… -
Don
August 14, 2025 at 5:55 PM Replied to the thread Beyond Stoicism (2025).Post[…]
Epicurus And His Philosophy - Norman DeWitt
I've made a number of posts here:
Epicurus and His Philosophy - Chapter Specific Threads -
Eikadistes
August 14, 2025 at 4:40 PM Uploaded the image Blessed Are the Cheesemakers.Image/Video -
Patrikios
August 14, 2025 at 4:04 PM Replied to the thread Beyond Stoicism (2025).Post[…]
Rolf
I recently completed DeWitt’s book. It is comprehensive and helpful. I keep finding Christian overtones seeping through in some of his later chapters. But a review of that book by DeWitt may be a discussion in another thread. -
Bryan
August 14, 2025 at 3:34 PM Replied to the thread "Kepos" - Epicurus' Garden Name, Location, History.PostThanks Eikadistes !
On a slightly related note, it seems that many authors were in the habit of using the plural.
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Heraclitus (fl. f. 50 CE), Allegories of Homer, 4
ὁ δὲ Φαίαξ φιλόσοφος Ἐπίκουρος "ὁτῆς ἡδονῆς ἐν τοῖς ἰδίοις κήποις γεωργὸς"
Phaiāx…
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