Sept. 7, 2022 - Epicurean Philosophy Zoom Discussion

Please remember our Zoom meeting tonight and join us if you can. We have some really interesting discussions going on right now on the forum as to the relationship between desire and pleasure and if you have time to join us we will make time for that as well.

Oh shoot! My time agnosia really got the best of me this week. I somehow simultaneously knew today was Wednesday, knew this meeting was on Wednesday, yet thought that I missed it last night. My partner was even out with the kids, so I could've been participating in real time instead of just looking up dictionary definitions of desire.

I'm curious about this conversation tonight. This is another one that (based on this translation) seems like it could have a couple of interpretations. What are these possible "nearer" standards? Is he referring to pleasure as the end of nature, or is he talking about looking out past the near future to make good decisions for the long term?

I guess my question is, in part, what standard could be nearer than pleasure?

The "nearby" is misleading in that translation. As always, Eikadistes 's compilation is helpful but here's two:

Hicks translation

25If you do not on every separate occasion refer each of your actions to the chief end of nature, but if instead of this in the act of choice or avoidance you swerve aside to some other end, your acts will not be consistent with your theories.

Saint-Andre translation

25If at all critical times you do not connect each of your actions to the natural goal of life, but instead turn too soon to some other kind of goal in thinking whether to avoid or pursue something, then your thoughts and your actions will not be in harmony.

Plus, here's the Epicurus Wiki commentary:

Principal Doctrine 25 - Epicurus Wiki

It seems to me that this PD is just saying "walk the walk, don't just talk the talk." If you're going to profess following the "natural goal of life" (pleasure) but you don't make your choices and rejections based on that, your actions will not "be in harmony" with your beliefs.

Please.join us next week and don't regret missing tonight because our session was shortened by my very poor Internet connection tonight,

Plus next week is a PD on DESIRE which is highly topical!

Quote from Cassius

Please.join us next week and don't regret missing tonight because our session was shortened by my very poor Internet connection tonight,

Plus next week is a PD on DESIRE which is highly topical!

I'll put it in my calendar and definitely try to make it!