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Robert
September 11, 2026 at 10:54 AM Replied to the thread Evolutionary Psychology and "Happiness".PostThe distinction between "pleasure" and "happiness" seems like it might be relevant to this conversation we're having about illusion and storytelling.
Happiness concepts might be illusory, but a warm bowl of pho brings actual, physical pleasure (if you… -
DaveT
September 11, 2026 at 9:11 AM Replied to the thread Evolutionary Psychology and "Happiness".Post[…]
I think it is true.
[…]
I actually don't see how or where Epicurus would refute that both anxiety and happiness are illusions, or are illusory. I think we fool ourselves constantly both as far as fears as well as what results from our behavior in a good… -
Kalosyni
September 10, 2026 at 3:06 PM Replied to the thread Evolutionary Psychology and "Happiness".Post[…]
No, just loosely in that if someone observes the world and starts labeling various things as "an illusion" then it creates ideas such as: "we just can't know much about the world because it is all just an illusion".
[…]
I apologize that I'm a bit… -
DaveT
September 10, 2026 at 9:36 AM Replied to the thread Evolutionary Psychology and "Happiness".Post[…]
Do you mean classical skepticism? How so.
[…]
I intended to indicate anxiety and happiness can be described as illusions, not pain or pleasure. -
Kalosyni
September 10, 2026 at 8:50 AM Replied to the thread A Systematic Review of the Determinants of Happiness (Article).PostIn the opening paragraph of the Letter to Menoeceus it says:
"We must then meditate on the things that make our happiness, seeing that when that is with us we have all, but when it is absent we do all to win it."
The article on the Determinents of Happinss… -
Joshua
September 9, 2026 at 11:04 PM Replied to the thread Episode 350 - EATAQ32 - Addressing A Listener Question On The Flux And Real Life.PostThe links should be correct now! -
Cassius
September 9, 2026 at 5:49 PM Replied to the thread Evolutionary Psychology and "Happiness".Post[…]
And this is one situation in which I would agree with them. Doesn't help anything for me to restate it, but this is where I find the whole deterministic-laced idea of psychological hedonism a very unproductive path and something I too do not take… -
Cassius
September 9, 2026 at 5:18 PM Replied to the thread Episode 350 - EATAQ32 - Addressing A Listener Question On The Flux And Real Life.PostLucretius Today Podcast Episode 350 is now available: "Addressing A Listener Question On The Flux And Real Life"
spreaker.com/episode/75031901/media -
Kalosyni
September 9, 2026 at 2:53 PM Replied to the thread Evolutionary Psychology and "Happiness".Post[…]
I would guess here that the issue has to do with Platonic philosophy, and most of the time religious ideas are built on ideas of striving for absolution perfection. So the word of caution is to be wary when you are agreeing with anything that holds… -
Kalosyni
September 9, 2026 at 2:40 PM Replied to the thread Evolutionary Psychology and "Happiness".Post[…]
I think that what is being said here in this paragraph is swinging a bit too far into skepticism. And I have quite a bit of trouble with the word "illusion"...as anything that is labeled an illusion is assumed to actually not exist.
You still are going… -
Robert
September 9, 2026 at 2:19 PM Replied to the thread Evolutionary Psychology and "Happiness".Post[…]
Dave, my thoughts exactly. Except you've expressed them far more succinctly!
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Robert
September 9, 2026 at 2:14 PM Replied to the thread Evolutionary Psychology and "Happiness".Post[…]
I agree that the essays raise interesting questions. Like hard determinism, evolutionary psychology presents some challenges that just about any philosophical position has to respond to.
For example, as you indicate, Stoics like Seneca and Marcus… -
DaveT
September 9, 2026 at 11:07 AM Replied to the thread Evolutionary Psychology and "Happiness".Post[…]
Speaking frankly as Epicurus advised; I think this phrasing is not a helpful way of addressing the individual search for knowledge. Yes, evaluation of one's beliefs should be an ongoing project. Epicurus learned from Democritus on atoms, and the… -
Cassius
September 9, 2026 at 10:17 AM Replied to the thread Evolutionary Psychology and "Happiness".Post[…]
Yes I agree that it is very helpful to engage with criticisms, and that's why we do the podcast the way we do. HOWEVER I would stress this -- we never intentionally raise an opposing argument without presenting the Epicurean response in the same… -
Kalosyni
September 9, 2026 at 8:17 AM Replied to the thread Evolutionary Psychology and "Happiness".PostI just posted an article over in this other thread, which in my opinion is a more contructive take on key Epicurean questions: what is happiness, and what are the things which are needed to produce it.
A Systematic Review of the Determinants of Happiness… -
Kalosyni
September 9, 2026 at 8:12 AM Posted the thread A Systematic Review of the Determinants of Happiness (Article).ThreadI found this article (which may possibly already be on the forum in another thread) and thought it might be good to discuss. (Published February 2023)
Excerpt:
[…]
Health, Hope, and Harmony: A Systematic Review of the Determinants of Happiness across… -
Matteng
September 8, 2026 at 6:12 PM Replied to the thread Evolutionary Psychology and "Happiness".PostWow thanks for all your responses.
Robert yes I have read "Why Buddhism is True" and viewed some videos.
I like challenging articles like these; they allow one to examine and defend—or rethink—one’s own ideas and attitudes, as well as to develop… -
DaveT
September 8, 2026 at 3:57 PM Replied to the thread Evolutionary Psychology and "Happiness".PostFollowing up with the second essay. I suppose I need help here. I started to read it, but my nose started itching. It itches when I think someone is just repeating the bogey man, average person as the typical human who doesn't understand the basic human… -
DaveT
September 8, 2026 at 3:47 PM Replied to the thread Evolutionary Psychology and "Happiness".PostRobert I appreciate your analysis; I think you're trying to find the kernel of truth that Pinsoff is using in the first essay to make his case. Yes?
Just on that first essay, I noticed two things. He appears to be using an average of all the things he… -
Kalosyni
September 8, 2026 at 1:07 PM Replied to the thread Evolutionary Psychology and "Happiness".Post[…]
Just some free-roaming thoughts:
Regarding habituation...Pizza...I don't think he (the author) is taking into consideration that eating pizza when genuinely hungry will almost always bring a certain amount of pleasure. Also, if a person enjoys driving… -
Cassius
September 8, 2026 at 6:39 AM Replied to the thread Evolutionary Psychology and "Happiness".PostRobert thank you for your comments there. I felt sure when I was reading through those articles that there was a point to be dealt with despite the off-putting language. Your analysis of the article seems to track what parts I did follow as I was… -
Robert
September 7, 2026 at 4:02 PM Replied to the thread Evolutionary Psychology and "Happiness".PostMatteng I found these provocative (in a good way). Have you read any of Robert Wright's books? The Moral Animal was a memorable read for me.
I have a favorable view of evolutionary psychology and feel it has strong explanatory and predictive power.… -
Kalosyni
September 7, 2026 at 11:33 AM Replied to the thread Evolutionary Psychology and "Happiness".PostI recommend this book, for anyone interested in increasing their optimism and positivity:
https://www.amazon.com/Positivity-Top…d/dp/0307393747 -
Kalosyni
September 7, 2026 at 11:09 AM Replied to the thread Evolutionary Psychology and "Happiness".PostFirst off, I think that this blogger has a hidden agenda, when he uses the word "bullsh*t". And his choice of words hints that he is basically an unhappy person looking for why he isn't feeling happy in life. It makes it hard for me to want to even spend… -
Cassius
September 7, 2026 at 7:39 AM Replied to the thread Evolutionary Psychology and "Happiness".PostJust for what it's worth, The final paragraph of the second article:
[…]
As with this final paragraph, my reading of both articles is mostly that they are coarse. There's no positive message here in this last word, just coarseness for the sake of… -
Matteng
September 6, 2026 at 4:35 PM Posted the thread Evolutionary Psychology and "Happiness".ThreadHi, there are 2 Essays I keep thinking about for a long time.
I think it deals with a provocative critique of a naive view and approach regarding "Happiness". The whole Substack of David Pinshof seems to have the goal to be paradox and provocative but… -
Cassius
September 6, 2026 at 11:21 AM Replied to the thread Episode 350 - EATAQ32 - Addressing A Listener Question On The Flux And Real Life.PostToday we are spending much of the episode discussing Patrikios' comments here:
RE: Episode 348 - EATAQ30 - Neither Logic Nor Logos Are Shortcuts To Truth -
Cassius
ThreadSeptember 6, 2026 at 7:16 AM Welcome to Episode 350 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
September 5, 2026 at 9:14 PM Replied to the thread Episode 348 - EATAQ30 - Neither Logic Nor Logos Are Shortcuts To Truth.Post[…]
Yes I think that's exactly the point, and while it seems so easy to understand that flux shouldn't cause us to turn to nihilism, it seems like on occasion that's exactly what happens. -
Patrikios
September 5, 2026 at 2:54 PM Replied to the thread How SMART Fitness Goals Keep You On Track.Post[…]
Godfrey ,
Congratulations on continuing your exercise program with scheduled classes and a workout buddy. One additional way I found to stack exercise sessions into habits was to watch and follow a 15 minute Tai Chi warmup on YouTube, before…
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