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  • Cassius July 4, 2026 at 10:40 AM

    Post
    The original question is an excellent one and I am still thinking about what to write further.

    As we see in other discussions that focus on translations, there is considerable peril in looking solely to dictionaries and taking definitions out of context.…

  • Joshua July 4, 2026 at 10:39 AM

    Post
    […]

    The Law of Xenia, or hospitality, was regarded as sacred to Zeus himself, and stories abound of the punishments inflicted on those who violated it. This unwritten law was the cornerstone of the Greek idea of social trust, and of the etiquette…

  • Cassius July 4, 2026 at 10:33 AM

    Reaction (Post)
    What is often translated as „friendship“ is greek „philia“

    Like in the word „philosophy“

    It is a kind of love or attitude to others, so has a much broader meaning than having a few friends:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philia

  • Cassius July 4, 2026 at 10:33 AM

    Replied to the thread Welcome Max Duboff.
    Post
    […]

    Agreed!

    […]

    I agree with your contention, but I also think this is exactly what is in dispute. Neither of these terms have readily-understandable meanings in English beyond "calmness" at best.

    The major purpose of EpicureanFriends is to make Epicurean…

  • Don July 4, 2026 at 9:50 AM

    Reacted with Thanks to Kalosyni’s post in the thread Welcome Max Duboff.
    Reaction (Post)
    I am a little late in joining this discussion, and may or may not say much more.

    I object to using the word tranquility for the following reasons:

    Translating the ancient Greek concept of ataraxia as strictly "tranquility" is considered somewhat inaccurate…

  • Kalosyni July 4, 2026 at 9:48 AM

    Replied to the thread Welcome Max Duboff.
    Post
    I am a little late in joining this discussion, and may or may not say much more.

    I object to using the word tranquility for the following reasons:

    Translating the ancient Greek concept of ataraxia as strictly "tranquility" is considered somewhat inaccurate…

  • Don July 4, 2026 at 9:36 AM

    Replied to the thread Welcome Max Duboff.
    Post
    FWIW, here's a post I did on katastematic pleasure, specifically looking at aponia:

    RE: Neither "ataraxia" nor "not ataraxia", but "Joy as the goal"

  • Don July 4, 2026 at 9:30 AM

    Replied to the thread Welcome Max Duboff.
    Post
    […]

    By additive, I take it he means more and more can be added, but adding more and more friends doesn't seem to me to be in the same category as eating more and more ice cream. Eating more and more ice cream or wine or fish leads inexorably to pain and…

  • Don July 4, 2026 at 9:24 AM

    Replied to the thread Welcome Max Duboff.
    Post
    […]

    By definition, someone with a tranquil mind is experiencing pleasure. We're also not only minds but bodies. There's no way to have "tranquility" in one's mind without a body, one is a physical sensing being to be tranquil in the first place. While I…

  • Cassius July 4, 2026 at 9:24 AM

    Replied to the thread Welcome Max Duboff.
    Post
    Thanks for the translation comment Don. The PD, on any translation, says that of all the things wisdom prepares or provides toward a blessed life, friendship is by far the greatest. Not a good and useful means among equally-good means — the single…

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    2. Updates To Participation Level Designations

      • Cassius
      • June 20, 2026 at 5:09 PM
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    2. "Print Thread" Feature Added

      • Cassius
      • May 21, 2026 at 8:35 AM
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    2. Acccelerating Study of Canonics Through Philodemus' "On Methods of Inference"

      • Cassius
      • April 6, 2026 at 10:56 AM
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