Happy Eikas: Letter to Menoeceus and Philodemus’ On Anger Study Guides, and other Literary Updates

I wish all our readers a Safe and Happy Eikas and a Happy Pride Month! Below are literary updates from the members of SoFE. I was finally able to finish working on an epitome for the Herculaneum scroll on anger, and also compiled a study guide for Epicurus’ Epistle to Menoeceus similar to the ever-evolving study guides I have published for De rerum natura and Kyriai Doxai (the 40 Principal Doctrines of Epicurus):

Philodemus’ On Anger: Epitome and Commentary – How Epicureans Turn Poison into Medicine

Letter to Menoeceus – Meleta and Study Guide

Twentiers.com’s Kyriai Doxai – Key Doctrines of Epicurus, updated

Dan Boozer was kind enough to recently share with me a comprehensive study guide for Epicurus’ Epistle to Menoeceus which can be read here (PDF file). This was incorporated into SoFE’s Epistle to Menoeceus study guide and commentary (linked above). The ancient Kathegemones always recommended that students gather their own outlines and commentaries on these and other works, so if you have not yet done so, feel free to treat these as the first drafts of your own outlines.

On other updates, the essay Albert Ellis, the Epicurean? Exploring an Underappreciated Influence on REBT (rational-emotive behavioral therapy) demonstrates that the influence of Epicurus on modern psychotherapy is greater than he has been given credit for.

Sadler’s Office Hours: Studying Epicurean Philosophy contains advice for self-directed new learners and gives reasons for studying Epicurean philosophy, what texts to start with, and how to carry out study productively.

We were recently made aware of Project Kanon, which

intends to present Epicureanism as a rigorous, consistent, and far from uninfluential system of thought that is quite autonomous with respect to the philosophies of Plato and Aristotle. The case of Epicureanism is much more relevant than that of Stoicism or Scepticism, because it is often considered a philosophical system isolated from both Classical and Hellenistic philosophies. Our Project, on the contrary, aims to promote Epicurean Canonics as a consistent system of thought in constant and fruitful critical dialogue with previous philosophies.

I recently discovered the webpage Fighing the Gods: Atheism and the Battle for Human Progress. They had two Epicurus-friendly posts:

Jonny Thomson recently published a new e-book. He gave two podcast interviews: An Ancient Guide to Happiness – Epicurus on How to Live Well with Alex O’Connor, and another one with a less friendly host Was Epicurus the Worst Philosopher?

Jack Gedney has published the following essays in his Untroubled blog: