***THIS WEEK IN EPICUREAN PHILOSOPHY - 12/6/2014*** **This is the eighty-third in a series of weekly reports on news from the world of Epicurean Philosophy. Our home base for discussion is https://facebook/groups/EpicureanPhilosophy/ Copies of these posts, and links to active Epicurean websites, are stored at EpicurusCentral.wordpress. **As of tonight, our group has grown to 1149. Last week this time we were 1102. We continue to grow steadily, and we welcome all participants and lurkers. We are here to discuss Epicurean Philosophy, have fun, and in the words of Lucian, 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! **Weve had another active week of discussion so lets check the highlights: ** Most-Commented Post of the Week: The clear winner this week was Yiannis Ts post to a Daniel Dennett speech on our well-worn topic of free will and determinism. We have covered this so thoroughly in the Update that Ill pass on further comment here, other than to remind new readers that Epicurus was firmly in the free will camp, with a very realistic view of both free will and its limitations. If you are in need of a refresher, this is a good thread: https://facebook/groups/EpicureanPhilosophy/permalink/753575274691435/ Runner up in most-commented category, and therefore deserving highlight this week, as Maniang Gs Is it possible to be an Epicurean in this modern world? This is an important question and a good thread: https://facebook/groups/EpicureanPhilosophy/permalink/753369864711976/ **In other posts of the week - **Some of our newer readers may not be familiar with Thomas Jeffersons Head and Heart letter where he discusses the competition that sometimes occurs between the two, and resolves it in a very Epicurean fashion. An excellent graphic on a new members page prompted the discussion: https://facebook/photo.php?fbid=865646526800821&set=gm.753007691414860&type=1 **Yiannis T posted a link to an essay on thoughts on pleasure and joy. https://facebook/groups/EpicureanPhilosophy/permalink/753372048045091/ **This week brought new reminders of the hazards of using Facebook, and Facebooks claims to our personal information. If youve not seen the details of what is supposed to happen at the first of the year, check out this thread. This is another reminder that it is a very good idea to refrain from posting too much personal information. https://facebook/groups/EpicureanPhilosophy/permalink/753341981381431/ **Yiannis T also posted a wikipedia link on free will which does not even mention Epicurus - https://facebook/groups/EpicureanPhilosophy/permalink/753186394730323/ **As a late memoriam of Stoic Week (which you can find elsewhere on the internet) I posted Nietzsches statement about Stoicicm from Beyond Good and Evil. https://facebook/groups/EpicureanPhilosophy/permalink/754660104582952/ **Hiram started a very good thread on abiding pleasure and how we might get wider attention for the concept using on-line dictionaries. https://facebook/groups/EpicureanPhilosophy/permalink/754942061221423/ **Mohamad Q posted a question about the life of Lucretius: https://facebook/groups/EpicureanPhilosophy/permalink/754047611310868/ **Hiram also posted a link to a video by George Kateb which contained high praise for Epicurus. I noted in the comments that the end of the interview did not seem to do Epicurus justice, but the clip is well worth watching.https://facebook/groups/EpicureanPhilosophy/permalink/755307031184926/ **It is common to note certain similarities between Epicurus and eastern thought, and Julius v M launched a good thread on that: https://facebook/groups/EpicureanPhilosophy/permalink/753409421374687/ **Alexander R stated a thread on Bill Nye and how religious fears drive people to strange conclusions. https://facebook/groups/EpicureanPhilosophy/permalink/755465401169089/ **Aurelius E started a thread about the extent to which we should think about death. https://facebook/groups/EpicureanPhilosophy/permalink/755496017832694/ **Hiram posted an excellent graphic from George Carlin on the importance of individual thinking and integrity. https://facebook/photo.php?fbid=10152504911975267&set=gm.755808071134822&type=1 **Last for the week, but one that could turn into a very popular thread, Omel R. asked What is Epicurus advice to someone who is of ill health? https://facebook/groups/EpicureanPhilosophy/permalink/755962171119412/ That one is particularly appropriate for me tonight, as I am significantly under the weather. Look for more next week! **OK thats all for this week! Feel free to post any comments in this thread. I apologize if I missed anyone or anything. As always, if you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please add a comment or participate in the Epicurean Philosophy Facebook Group https://facebook/groups/EpicureanPhilosophy/ or hop around the internet world of Epicurean Philosophy by checking the links here: EpicurusCentral.wordpress PEACE AND SAFETY! Cassius Amicus
Posted on: Sun, 07 Dec 2014 00:02:48 +0000
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