Episode 022 - 06/12/20 - Lucretius - Book Two Book Two - Epicurean Philosophy As The Only Way To Defeat Fear of Death And Other Errors As To The Goal of Life
Episode 023 - 06/24/20 - The Motion Of The Atoms Continues Without Resting Place, and At Great Speed
Episode 024 - 06/27/20 - The Swerve Part One: As A Producing Force of Nature
Episode 025 - 07/03/20 - The Swerve Part Two: As The Basis of Human Agency
Episode 026 - 07/11/20 - The Atoms Are Not Uniform In Shape
Episode 027 - 07/17/20 - There is A Limit To the Size of Atoms
Episode 028 - 07/20/20 - The Number of Shapes of Atoms Is Not Infinite, But Innumerable
Episode 029 - 08/02/20 - The Earth As Allegorical Mother of All
Episode 030 - 08/07/20 - Only A Limited Number of Combinations Of Atoms Is Possible
Episode 031 - 08/10/20 - Continuation of Episode 30 And Discussion of the Polyaenus Example
Episode 032 - 08/22/20 - The Atoms Are Colorless, But The Implications of That Are Not
Episode 033 - 08/26/20 - More On the Implications of The Colorless Atoms
Episode 034 - 08/31/20 - The Atoms Do Not Possess A Faculty of Sensation
Episode 035 - 09/13/20 - More Reasons Why Atoms Cannot Possess The Faculty of Sense
Episode 036 - 09/19/20 - No Single Thing of A Kind: Earth Not The Only Home of Life
Episode 037 - 09/27/20 - End of Book 2 - The Earth Too Was Born, and It Will One Day Die
25. Cicero's On Ends - Epicurean Sections - Parts 17 - 28¶
Episode 210 - 01/20/24 - Cicero's On Ends - Book Two - Part 17 - Self-Approval As Pleasure
Episode 211 - 01/27/24 - Cicero's On Ends - Book Two - Part 18 - Battle Of The Images
Episode 212 - 01/30/24 - Cicero's On Ends - Book Two - Part 19 - Can "Pleasure" Be Defended In The Public Square?
Episode 213 - 02/06/24 - Cicero's On Ends - Book Two - Part 20 - Only Epicureans Define Pleasure As You Do! Why Do You Lie?
Episode 214 - 02/14/24 - Cicero's On Ends - Book Two - Part 21 - Cicero Argues For Idealized Friendship and Happiness Which Epicurus Rejects
Episode 215 - 02/24/24 - Cicero's On Ends - Book Two - Part 22 - The Epicurean View Of Happiness
Episode 216 - 02/27/24 - Cicero's On Ends - Book Two - Part 23 - Why Does Epicurus Say Length Of Time Does Not Contribute To Pleasure?
Episode 217 - 03/06/24 - Cicero's On Ends - Book Two - Part 24 - Does Luck Control Whether An Epicurean Is Happy?
Episode 218 - 03/15/24 - Cicero's On Ends - Book Two - Part 25 - Can The Epicurean Not Distinguish Between Greater and Lesser Pleasures and Pains?
Episode 219 - 03/23/24 - Cicero's On Ends - Book Two - Part 26 - Cicero Continues His Attack On Epicurus' Position On Pain
Episode 220 - 03/30/24 - Cicero's On Ends - Book Two - Part 27 - Cicero Attacks Epicurus' End-Of-Life Decisionmaking
Episode 221 - 03/31/24 - Cicero's On Ends - Book Two - Part 28 - Cicero Alleges Pleasures Of The Mind Cannot Offset Pain In Epicurean Philosophy
26. Special Episode - The Relationship Between Happiness And Pleasure¶
Episode 222 - 04/08/24 - Revisiting the Relationship Between Happiness and Pleasure
27. Cicero's On Ends - Epicurean Sections - Part 29¶
Episode 223 - 04/16/24 - Cicero's On Ends - Book Two - Part 29 - Are Epicureans Undergoing The Exertions Of Life For Nothing More Than A Drop Of Honey?
28. Special Reading - The Letter of Cosma Raimondi¶
Episode 224 - 04/20/24 - Letter of Cosma Raimondi Special Reading - The 1429 Letter of Cosma Raimondi - In Defense of Epicurus
Episode 226 - 04/30/24 - Cicero's On The Nature of The Gods - Part 01 - Introduction
Episode 227 - 05/10/24 - Cicero's On The Nature of The Gods - Part 02 - Velleius Begins His Attack On Traditional Views Of The Gods
Episode 228 - 05/13/24 - Cicero's On The Nature of The Gods - Part 03 - Velleius Asks "What Woke The Gods To Create The World?"
Episode 229 - 05/22/24 - Cicero's On The Nature of The Gods - Part 04 - Velleius Continues His Assault On Intelligent Design
Episode 230 - 05/27/24 - Cicero's On The Nature of The Gods - Part 05 - Velleius Attacks Misplaced Ideas of Divinity
Episode 231 - 06/07/24 - Cicero's On The Nature of The Gods - Part 06 - How would you live if you were certain that there are no supernatural gods and no life after death?
Episode 232 - 06/15/24 - Cicero's On The Nature of The Gods - Part 07 - Velleius Attacks The Platonist And Aristotelian Views Of Gods
Democritus significantly influenced Epicurean philosophy, particularly in atomism, but Epicurus diverged on determinism and the attainability of truth.
Epicurus emphasized the importance of determining knowable truths to achieve happiness, contrasting with Democritus' skepticism.
Epicurus critiqued traditional theological views, asserting that gods are blessed and incorruptible, unlike Democritus' divine images linked to knowledge.
Sensation and preconceptions (prolepsis) are crucial in Epicurean thought, with Epicurus trusting these faculties for understanding the gods through non-visual images.
The podcast criticizes Plato and Aristotle's inconsistent and contradictory theological views, which Epicurus and his followers found logically and empirically flawed.
Episode 233 - 06/18/24 - Cicero's On The Nature of The Gods - Part 08 - An Epicurean Attack On The False God Of Stoicism
Rejection of Supernatural Elements: The episode emphasizes Epicurus' teaching that the universe is entirely natural, rejecting any supernatural elements, including the belief in life after death.
Critique of Platonic and Stoic Theologies: The discussion critiques Platonic and Stoic views of gods, highlighting the Epicurean stance that gods are blessed, incorruptible, and uninvolved in human affairs.
Nature of Epicurean Gods: Epicurean gods are described as animate beings that are deathless and perfectly blissful, contrasting with Stoic beliefs that deify abstract concepts like the law of nature.
Epicurus' View on Free Will: The podcast underscores Epicurus' rejection of determinism and the importance of free will, opposing Stoic fatalism.
Natural Law and Morality: The episode critiques the Stoic idea of natural law as an imposed divine order, arguing instead that Epicurean philosophy derives ethical guidance from the natural pursuit of pleasure and avoidance of pain observed in living beings.
Episode 234 - 06/24/24 - Cicero's On The Nature of The Gods - Part 09 - Dealing With Marcus Aurelius And The Epicurean Canonical Basis for Divinity
Episode 235 - 07/02/24 - Cicero's On The Nature of The Gods - Part 10 - Velleius Explains the Epicurean Proleptic View of Divinity
Episode 236 - 07/11/24 - Cicero's On The Nature of The Gods - Part 11 - Lucretian Support For Velleius' Views of Epicurean Divinity
Episode 237 - 07/17/24 - Cicero's On The Nature of The Gods - Part 12 - Isonomia And The Implications Of Infinity
Episode 238 - 07/24/24 - Cicero's On The Nature of The Gods - Part 13 - Velleius Erupts Against Stoic Fate and Supernatural God-Making
Episode 239 - 07/29/24 - Cicero's On The Nature of The Gods - Part 14 - The Dishonesty of Academic Skepticism vs. Epicurus' Commitment To Truth Transcript
Episode 240 - 08/06/24 - Cicero's On The Nature of The Gods - Part 15 - The False Allegation That "General Assent" Was The Epicurean Basis For Divinity Transcript
Prolepsis and the Basis of Belief in Gods: Cotta critiques Velleius's argument by suggesting that the belief in gods arises from the general assent of people. However, Epicurus posits that the belief in gods is rooted in prolepsis, a pre-rational perception equivalent to the senses, allowing humans to recognize gods as a class of entities to be examined. This faculty, unlike constructed opinions, provides the foundation for discussing gods, distinct from the specific gods worshipped by different cultures.
Cotta's Misinterpretation of Epicurean Theology: Cotta argues that Epicurus claims the existence of gods is based on widespread belief, misrepresenting Epicurus's position. Epicurus asserts that knowledge of gods stems from prolepsis, not from human consensus, and any particular notion of a god is an opinion subject to scrutiny. Epicurus maintains that the notion of gods as blessed and immortal is derived from innate perception rather than popular belief, challenging Cotta's accusations.
Academic Skepticism and Its Limitations: Cotta's skepticism undermines his arguments against Epicureanism by denying any certain knowledge while asserting the falsity of specific claims. This inconsistency highlights the problematic nature of using skepticism to refute Epicurus, as Cotta fails to substantiate his position while criticizing Epicurean assertions. The discussion reveals the philosophical tension between skepticism and the need for a coherent alternative framework.
Epicurean Critique of Supernatural Deities: Epicurus rejects traditional notions of gods as creators and overseers, emphasizing natural explanations consistent with physics. He distinguishes between common misconceptions and the philosophical understanding of gods as non-interventionist, blessed, and imperishable. This perspective challenges the prevailing orthodoxy of divine intervention and underlines the importance of a rational approach to theology.
Cicero's Contradictory Stance on Philosophy and Belief: The text reveals Cicero's inconsistent treatment of philosophical issues, oscillating between skepticism and an acceptance of comforting beliefs like the afterlife. Cicero's critiques of Epicureanism reflect a selective approach to philosophy, prioritizing emotional comfort over truth-seeking. This inconsistency contrasts with Epicurus's commitment to understanding the nature of gods and the universe through evidence and reason.
Episode 241 - 08/08/24 - Cicero's On The Nature of The Gods - Part 16 - A Common Thread Between The Epicurean View of "The Gods" and "The Good" Transcript
Episode 242 - 08/17/24 - Cicero's On The Nature of The Gods - Part 17 - Is Truth A Matter Of Logic? Transcript
Episode 243 - 08/23/24 - Cicero's On The Nature of The Gods - Part 18 - From "All Sensations Are True" to Reasoning By Similarity And Analogy Transcript
Episode 244 - 08/28/24 - Cicero's On The Nature of The Gods - Part 19 - Zeno's Paradoxes - Profundity Or Gaslighting? Transcript
Episode 245 - 09/06/24 - Cicero's On The Nature Of The Gods - Part 20 - Right, Wrong, Or Incomplete? Transcript
Episode 246 - 09/17/24 - Cicero's On The Nature Of The Gods - Part 21 - Examining Epicurean Evidence-Based Reasoning? Transcript
Episode 247 - 09/28/24 - Cicero's On The Nature Of The Gods - Part 22 - Cotta Continues To Attack The Epicurean View That Gods Are Natural Living Beings. Transcript
Episode 248 - 10/02/24 - Cicero's On The Nature Of The Gods - Part 23 - Cotta Pushes The "Argument By Design" Against The Epicurean View That All - Including Gods - Is Natural. Transcript
Episode 249 - 10/12/24 - Cicero's On The Nature Of The Gods - Part 24 - Are the Epicurean Gods Totally Inactive, And Are We To Emulate Them Through Laziness? Transcript
Episode 250 - 10/14/24 - Cicero's On The Nature Of The Gods - Part 25 - The Relationship Of "Images" To All Human Thought - Not Just To The Gods. Transcript
Episode 251 - 10/26/24 - Cicero's On The Nature Of The Gods - Part 26 - How Niagara Falls Helps Us Understand The Flux, The Heap, and The Epicurean Gods. Transcript