Posts by Randall Moose

I appreciate the positive spin, focusing on life instead of death.

One of my favorite Epicurean quotes is Vatican Saying 52, "Friendship dances around the world, bidding us all to awaken to the recognition of happiness."

It would seem strange to me if someone said they studied Epicurus and that they have no friends. However, I would believe someone if they said that they have no friends that study Epicurus.

With that said, I think it is wise to make friends with purposes besides studying philosophy or creating gardens.

Quoting The Epicurus Reader, Testimony of Cicero, page 64, "So they say that people first meet, pair up, and desire to form associations for the sake of pleasure, but that when increasing experience [of each other] has produced the sense of personal bond, then love flowers to such a degree that even if there is no utility to be gained from the friendship the friends themselves are still loved for their own sake. Indeed, if we typically come to love certain locations, temples, cities, gymnasia, playing fields, dogs, horses, public games (whether with gladiators or animals) just because of familiarity, how much easier and more fitting is it for this to happen in the case of human familiarity?"

I observe that my senses of sight, smell, touch, taste, and hearing constitute my comprehension of the infinite universe of swerving atoms. The natural universe is observable and relevant to me, the unnatural is unobservable and therefore irrelevant to me.  

I observe that newborns and animals seek pleasure and avoid pain. We at least need water, food, shelter, friends, and wisdom. Nature provides water, food, shelter, friends, and wisdom.  

I observe that by using my senses, remembering past pleasures, and consulting frankly with my friends, I can make wise decisions to cultivate my happiness. This is a natural and good way to live.  

Quote from Cassius

I agree with the aboce answers which in most general form is "Do the games being you more pleasure than pain, all things considered?"

Maybe the greater concern than the games is over-reliance on social media for social interaction.

I hear this a lot and I tend to agree. I am still balancing social media and media in general in my own life. I was 8 when the first iPhone came out and I remember how much it changed our lives. In short, I know only a little of a life without the impact of Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, etc. I doubt I know the full extent of that impact. Whatever the case, I am working to spend more times with my friends, with us in the same room and without our faces lit by screens. Especially after experiencing the lockdowns. I'm figuring it out as I go.

Thanks y'all. I would like to see more resources here on how to cultivate and maintain friendships.

Speaking for myself as a 26 year old American, my peers rely on social media for their social lives. I have made an effort to find friends through hobbies such as D&D. The house I share with my roommates is the primary meet up spot for D&D, board games, MtG, CoD, movies, dinners, and nights around the fire pit.

I'm curious what y'all think about this question, "What place do games have in Epicurean philosophy?"

So far, my favorite part of this philosophy is the celebration of friendships and community. When I left the church, the first thing I missed was that sense of community. Since 2017, I have made an effort to grow and maintain my friendships.

With that said, I am surprised that there is not more focus on friendships here. Unless I am missing something?

Firstly, thank you for producing the Lucretius Today podcast. I have been catching up since August 2022. Since I was introduced to Epicurus in 2017, I have not met anyone in person who knows of his philosophy. I am thankful that this forum exists. I have always been shy online and I am still studying the basics, so please be patient with me. It took me some time to discover this forum. It has been a wonderful resource.

As recommended, I just finished reading Epicurus and His Philosophy. I am still processing the entire text and I may reread to collect quotes and notes. Overall, I am still absorbing the fundamentals of Epicurus. I am enjoying the process. I do believe that my life has improved since I began my studies.

Going forward, I want to be active on the forum. I really shouldn't be this anxious about it, but I am.

Right. I found that agreed with this philosophy long before I discovered it.

Salvete,

I've been a lurker here for a while, I was introduced to Epicurus in Happiness: a philosopher's guide by Lenoir, Frédéric in 2017. Long story short, studying Epicurus has helped me deal many childhood abuses and continues to help me today.

I look forward to, hopefully, engaging with y'all.