Ethics - General Discussion (plus unfiled Ethics Threads)

In this section we discuss Epicurean Ethics and how to live as an Epicurean in a world where there are no supernatural gods and no life after death.

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  1. General Information And Discussion - Start Here
  2. Private Section - Includes Level 03 And Above Discussions and 20th Zoom Meeting
  3. The Lucretius Today Podcast and other Projects
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  5. Physics - The Nature of the Universe
  6. Canonics - The Tests of Truth: The Five Senses, Anticipations, and Feelings of Pleasure and Pain
  7. Ethics - How to Live As An Epicurean
  8. Epicurean Historical Figures - Biographies of Epicureans from Epicurus To The Present
  9. Ancient Epicurean Texts (300 BC to 300 AD)
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  11. Comparisons With Non-Epicurean Philosophies
  12. History, Locations, and Customs Relevant to Ancient Epicureans
  13. Epicurean Symbolism in Art, Music, Literature, and Poetry

    2. Why Minimizing All Desire Is Incorrect (And What To Do Instead) 34

      • Kalosyni
      • December 8, 2024 at 2:08 PM
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    4. Cassius

      December 8, 2024 at 2:08 PM

    2. A Fable on Unattainable Expectations 6

      • Pacatus
      • October 16, 2024 at 5:12 PM
      • Pacatus
      • November 22, 2024 at 11:32 AM
    3. Replies
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      594
      6

    4. Don

      November 22, 2024 at 11:32 AM

    2. Questions re Pleasure 2

      • Matteng
      • November 9, 2024 at 5:35 AM
      • Matteng
      • November 9, 2024 at 3:50 PM
    3. Replies
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      947
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    4. Matteng

      November 9, 2024 at 3:50 PM

    2. Epicurean Golden Rule? 14

      • Pacatus
      • September 30, 2024 at 9:17 AM
    3. Replies
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      2.6k
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    4. Don

      September 30, 2024 at 9:17 AM

    2. Health of the Body and Happiness of the Soul -vs- "The Goal is Pleasure" 4

      • Kalosyni
      • September 9, 2024 at 6:56 AM
    3. Replies
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      1.3k
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    4. Cassius

      September 9, 2024 at 6:56 AM

    2. The Normal Curve of Pleasure 5

      • kochiekoch
      • July 23, 2024 at 5:59 PM
    3. Replies
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      1.2k
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    4. kochiekoch

      July 23, 2024 at 5:59 PM

    2. Explaining In Summary Form How A Man In Extreme Pain Can Be Said To Be "Happy" 22

      • Cassius
      • April 20, 2024 at 5:38 AM
      • Cassius
      • July 1, 2024 at 1:24 PM
    3. Replies
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      3.3k
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    4. Kalosyni

      July 1, 2024 at 1:24 PM

    2. Scientific Support for Psychological Hedonism 19

      • kochiekoch
      • April 23, 2024 at 8:04 PM
    3. Replies
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      3k
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    4. Little Rocker

      April 23, 2024 at 8:04 PM

    2. If We Agree For The Sake of Argument That "The Perfect Should Not Be The Enemy of The Good," then let's ask "What *Should* We Consider To Be The Proper Relationship Between The Perfect And The Good?" 8

      • Cassius
      • February 26, 2024 at 4:43 PM
      • Cassius
      • February 29, 2024 at 12:22 AM
    3. Replies
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    4. Don

      February 29, 2024 at 12:22 AM

    2. Given The Stress That Many Greek Philosophers' Placed On "Virtue" or a perfect view of "The Good" As The Ultimate Goal, To What Extent Would An Epicurus Have Considered That Approach An "Unnatural and Unnecessary Desire?" 4

      • Cassius
      • February 26, 2024 at 4:51 PM
      • Cassius
      • February 26, 2024 at 10:48 PM
    3. Replies
      4
      Views
      1.4k
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    4. Don

      February 26, 2024 at 10:48 PM

    2. Is All "Ataraxia" Equal? 30

      • Cassius
      • November 18, 2023 at 7:47 PM
      • Cassius
      • February 19, 2024 at 12:29 PM
    3. Replies
      30
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      5.7k
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    4. Cassius

      February 19, 2024 at 12:29 PM

    2. Epicurus And Pleasure As The Awareness Of Smooth Motion 13

      • Cassius
      • February 6, 2024 at 12:24 PM
    3. Replies
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      2k
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    4. Cassius

      February 6, 2024 at 12:24 PM

    2. My 2024 Resolution: Get A More Accurate Picture of Epicurean Pleasure To The World Rather Than "Tranquility" or "Live Unkown"(Comment on Irish Times Article) 15

      • Cassius
      • January 1, 2024 at 7:03 AM
      • Cassius
      • January 27, 2024 at 5:25 PM
    3. Replies
      15
      Views
      2.9k
      15

    4. Eikadistes

      January 27, 2024 at 5:25 PM

    2. Maximum pleasure as absence of all pain: a philosophical question concerning neuroscientific and Epicurean outlook toward the feeling of pleasure 10

      • shahabgh66
      • January 26, 2024 at 7:24 PM
    3. Replies
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      3.8k
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    4. DavidN

      January 26, 2024 at 7:24 PM

    2. Fundamental Issues In Hedonism 15

      • BrainToBeing
      • December 14, 2023 at 9:52 AM
    3. Replies
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    4. Kalosyni

      December 14, 2023 at 9:52 AM

    2. Mental pleasure/pain more intense and longer lasting than physical pleasure/pain 33

      • frank1syl
      • December 13, 2023 at 10:19 PM
    3. Replies
      33
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      5.1k
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    4. BrainToBeing

      December 13, 2023 at 10:19 PM

    2. "Absence Of Pain Is Pleasure" - How Would You Articulate That To Someone? 30

      • Eoghan Gardiner
      • December 2, 2023 at 12:47 PM
    3. Replies
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      6k
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    4. warjuning

      December 2, 2023 at 12:47 PM

    2. Tips On Offsetting Pleasures Against Pains 24

      • Cassius
      • November 28, 2023 at 8:27 AM
      • Cassius
      • November 29, 2023 at 9:56 AM
    3. Replies
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    4. Cassius

      November 29, 2023 at 9:56 AM

    2. Perspectives On "Proving" That Pleasure is "The Good" 205

      • Todd
      • December 19, 2022 at 4:34 PM
      • Todd
      • November 28, 2023 at 1:28 PM
    3. Replies
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    4. Eoghan Gardiner

      November 28, 2023 at 1:28 PM

    2. List of Epicurean philosophical remedies

      • Kalosyni
      • November 8, 2023 at 10:52 AM
    3. Replies
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      543

    2. Would You Rather Live For A Week As (1) Epicurus During the Last Week of His Life or (2) An Anonymous Shepherd Laying In The Grass In The Summertime With No Pain At All? 104

      • Cassius
      • September 6, 2023 at 2:36 PM
      • Cassius
      • October 22, 2023 at 3:28 PM
    3. Replies
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    4. Pacatus

      October 22, 2023 at 3:28 PM

    2. Wikipedia on "Pleasure"

      • Kalosyni
      • October 18, 2023 at 6:24 PM
    3. Replies
      0
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      542

    2. Explaining Perspectives - Chart Of Whole Organism vs Discrete Feelings

      • Cassius
      • October 17, 2023 at 8:52 AM
      • Cassius
      • October 17, 2023 at 8:52 AM
    3. Replies
      0
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      411

    2. If Death Is Nothing To Us, Then Life Is Everything to Us 29

      • Cassius
      • October 7, 2023 at 12:06 AM
      • Cassius
      • October 7, 2023 at 8:22 PM
    3. Replies
      29
      Views
      4.3k
      29

    4. Cassius

      October 7, 2023 at 8:22 PM

    2. Practical Pleasure-Pain Perspectives: How Different is 99% Pleasure From 100% Pleasure? 13

      • Cassius
      • October 5, 2023 at 12:06 PM
      • Cassius
      • October 6, 2023 at 10:24 AM
    3. Replies
      13
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      3.9k
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    4. Cassius

      October 6, 2023 at 10:24 AM

    2. A Pleasant Life instead of Pleasure 7

      • EricR
      • August 4, 2023 at 8:14 AM
      • EricR
      • August 5, 2023 at 8:27 PM
    3. Replies
      7
      Views
      1.8k
      7

    4. Kalosyni

      August 5, 2023 at 8:27 PM

    2. Desiderata 2

      • Pacatus
      • August 2, 2023 at 7:02 PM
      • Pacatus
      • August 2, 2023 at 7:45 PM
    3. Replies
      2
      Views
      815
      2

    4. Pacatus

      August 2, 2023 at 7:45 PM

    2. How would you respond to an existentialist who says "You Epicureans have chosen pleasure as your meaning but it's not universal" do Epicureans hold that pleasure is the universal Good? 13

      • Eoghan Gardiner
      • June 15, 2023 at 12:36 AM
    3. Replies
      13
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      2.6k
      13

    4. Root304

      June 15, 2023 at 12:36 AM

    2. Ruminations on leading with “Pleasure and Pain as the Guide” v “The Goal is Pleasure” 4

      • Godfrey
      • June 9, 2023 at 7:07 AM
    3. Replies
      4
      Views
      1.6k
      4

    4. Cassius

      June 9, 2023 at 7:07 AM

    2. Pleasure vs pain - example and thoughts! 10

      • ThinkingCat
      • May 21, 2023 at 9:08 PM
    3. Replies
      10
      Views
      2.3k
      10

    4. Don

      May 21, 2023 at 9:08 PM

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    2. Epicureanism and Scientific Debates Epicurean Tradition and its Ancient Reception - New (2023) Collection of Commentaries 7

      • Matteng
      • December 17, 2024 at 2:19 PM
    3. Replies
      7
      Views
      969
      7

    4. Don

      December 17, 2024 at 2:19 PM

    2. what did epicurean actually mean by free will ? i think the article on the main page is confusing determinism with fatalism 7

      • UnPaid_Landlord
      • December 16, 2024 at 7:04 AM
    3. Replies
      7
      Views
      538
      7

    4. Cassius

      December 16, 2024 at 7:04 AM

    2. How Would Epicurus Analyze The Slogan "Live Free Or Die" As An Ethical Guide? 7

      • Cassius
      • December 9, 2024 at 2:57 PM
    3. Replies
      7
      Views
      803
      7

    4. Root304

      December 9, 2024 at 2:57 PM

    2. Video Games For Mental Focus and Relaxation 2

      • Cassius
      • December 9, 2024 at 12:11 AM
    3. Replies
      2
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      966
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    4. Root304

      December 9, 2024 at 12:11 AM

    2. Discussion of New Substack Article: "A Gate To Be Burst: Absence of Pain" 29

      • Cassius
      • December 9, 2024 at 12:11 AM
    3. Replies
      29
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      4.8k
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    4. Bryan

      December 9, 2024 at 12:11 AM