More on the ethics-related fragments of Epicurus and accounts by Martha Nussbaum and Tim O'Keefe. What would a purely therapeutic philosophy consist of? Does spreading a philosophy to the masses necessarily water it down to the point where it's not really philosophical any more? Does philosophy as pursuit of pleasure mean that you eschew political action? Can the pleasures Continue Reading …
Ep. 208: Epicurus on Seeking Pleasure (Part One)
On the extant fragments of Epicurus (341–270 BCE) dealing with ethics, including his "Letter to Menoceus" and collections known as “The Principal Doctrines” and “The Vatican Collection of Epicurean Sayings.” How are we supposed to act once we understand nature as we outlined in episode 206, i.e., atoms bouncing and swerving around in the void temporarily producing order Continue Reading …
Ep. 208: Epicurus on Seeking Pleasure (Citizen Edition)
On the extant fragments of Epicurus (341–270 BCE) dealing with ethics, including his "Letter to Menoceus" and collections known as “The Principal Doctrines” and “The Vatican Collection of Epicurean Sayings.” How are we supposed to act once we understand nature as we outlined in episode 206, i.e., atoms bouncing and swerving around in the void temporarily producing order Continue Reading …
PREVIEW-Ep 206 Lucretius’s Epicurean Physics (Part Three)
Mark and Wes go into more textual detail re. Lucretius’s take on atomism and the metaphysical and epistemological problems it entails. Start with Part one. This is a preview; become a PEL Citizen or $5 Patreon supporter to get the full, 50 minute conversation. Lucretius believes in something like entropy: all conjoined atoms eventually break apart, but his account of the Continue Reading …
Ep. 206 Follow-Up Lucretius’s Epicurean Physics (Citizens Only)
Mark and Wes go into more textual detail re. Lucretius’s take on atomism and the metaphysical and epistemological problems it entails. Listen to the full episode discussion first. Lucretius believes in something like entropy: all conjoined atoms eventually break apart, but his account of the mechanism by which they join is less spelled out: When you get two heat atoms Continue Reading …
Ep. 206: Lucretius’s Epicurean Physics (Part Two)
More on Lucretius’s poem about Epicurean science: On the Nature of Things from the first century BCE. We talk more about how macroscopic phenomena are supposed to come out of the interaction of atoms, including mind and its processes of knowledge and illusion, including the illusion of love. One conclusion: life after death is not possible. Can the properties of the atoms Continue Reading …
Ep. 206: Lucretius’s Epicurean Physics (Citizen Edition)
On Lucretius’s poem about Epicurean science: On the Nature of Things aka De Rerum Natura from the first century BCE. How does the world work? Lucretius presents a system that is surprisingly modern, and raises philosophical issues that are still on point today: What are the basic building blocks of the universe? How could these give rise to minds? What ethical views does a Continue Reading …
Applying the Epicurean Theory of Justice to Cannabis Legalization
Cannabis legalization is an idea whose time has come. Bill Maher recently gave us an eye-opening monologue on it, and in his newest book Waking Up, Sam Harris argued that experimenting with altered states of consciousness is certainly a civil right, and that everyone should have certain mind-altering experiences at least once in a lifetime. From an Epicurean perspective, we Continue Reading …
Lucian: the Well of Laughter
I was … concerned … to strike a blow for Epicurus, that great man whose holiness and divinity of nature were not shams, who alone had and imparted true insight into the good, and who brought deliverance to all that consorted with him. –Lucian, in Alexander the Oracle Monger Lucian of Samosata (c. 125–180 CE) was a Greek-speaking Assyrian satirist. He’s particularly relevant Continue Reading …
Contemplations on Tao Series
My Contemplations on Tao blog series (at the Society of Friends of Epicurus site) was an attempt to explore the parallels between Taoism and Epicurean philosophy which become evident when we study Taoism and read the Tao Te Ching. Sometimes the insights we get from both traditions mirror, complete and complement each other. Nature must not be forced. - Epicurus The first Continue Reading …
Come Join Not School in June
Several of our Not School groups wrapped up in May, so June is the perfect time to join up and start a new group. Getting more involved is simple: just draft a quick proposal detailing what you'd like to read, watch or listen to, and post it in the Citizens' Forum. When at least two other members express interest, you're ready to start a group. For a good idea of why the groups Continue Reading …
Epicurus’ Four Cures
As the annals of history have it, in the sixth century Emperor Justinian had all the schools of philosophy that competed with Christianity finally closed. This was the last we heard of the Epicurean School, whose tradition had remained culturally vibrant for seven centuries. Epicurus had been among the first to propose the atom (2,300 years ago), the social contract as a Continue Reading …