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Epicurus Today

26-08-23

Sunday August 23, 2026 - Zoom Discussion 12:30 PM EST - Lucretius Book Review - End of Lucretius Book 1 and Transition To Book 2

Section titled “Sunday August 23, 2026 - Zoom Discussion 12:30 PM EST - Lucretius Book Review - End of Lucretius Book 1 and Transition To Book 2”
  1. Welcome and news / requests for new topics.
  2. Please help us stay on topic.
  3. Every session let’s try to cover questions like:
    1. What is the context of this section?
    2. Why included at this point in the presentation?
    3. What are the major points Lucretius is making?
    4. What are the implications of these points?
  4. Notes on New Topics / Announcements
    1. Risk Aversion / Risk Management
      1. Relevant references in Epicurean texts
      2. What does it fall under? Prudence? The Virtue Of Courage? Both?
        1. Manage according tot he natural/necessary desire division.
        2. Can eleiminate fear of gods and fear of what happens after death but how do you calculate prudently here and now.
        3. Consult Philodemus’ property management text.
        4. Self-suficiency as a goal. Self-knowledge is important.
        5. How do we articulate a proiper level of risk tolerance?
        6. Boy Scouts - “Be Prepared” Analysis Paralysis - Some don’t want to make a decision bdecause they don’t want accountability.
        7. Wpicurus ins’t as concerned bout length of life as he is about quality. That tells us something about risk. Sedley’s take in overall view of happiness in Epicurean vs Cyreniac happiness
        8. So there is perhaps an “objective” percentage of risk from an activity but there is not a way to objectively weigh the pleasure or pain that comes from the activity
        9. The pushpin question as to the interchangeability of pleasures
        10. The question of whether to consoider the plesaure and pain that will result “after death” vs “while you are alive” depends on religious views.
        11. Jeffferson’s Head and Heart Letter!!!!!
        12. ZGo back to the Epicurus College project —
    2. Pleasure As the Highest Good - Torquatus
    3. What is “Good”? Is there a “highest good”? Is this part of modern thinking? SHOULD it be a part of modern thinking?
    4. Will a life coach ask us this question? What do you want out of life? is this a productive way of looking at things?
    5. Does the fact that many people have different goals - and don’t agree on them - mean that we should not talk about a highest good?
    6. Is it useful to talk about a “highest good” at all?
    7. In letter to menoeceus, guide as desires, goal of avoidance of pain or fear, greatest good as prudence.