Thanks to the generous support of the Classics Department, the Philosophy Department, and the Center for the Humanities, Washington University in St. Louis is pleased to present the St. Louis Ancient Philosophy Workshop featuring scholar Vivian Feldblyum (Auburn University).

Text-Based Discussion: Texts to be posted

• Time: 1:30–3:30 pm
• Location: McDonnell 212

Bring your copy of the text and join this in-depth examination.

Work-in-Progress Workshop

• Title: From the Cradle to the End” (no Greek or Latin required)
• Abstract: Is pleasure intrinsically good? This was a central question and topic of debate in 
  ancient ethics, and the most common ancient arguments given in favor of the intrinsic value of 
  pleasure were conative arguments, according to which we know that pleasure is intrinsically 
  good because all seek or desire it for its own sake. Traditionally, the Epicureans are understood 
  to have two arguments which they take to establish the intrinsic value of pleasure: the empiricist 
  “argument from immediate experience” and the conative “cradle argument”. In this paper, I 
  argue against the prevailing view that the Epicurean empiricist and conative arguments are 
  distinct. Rather, I propose that the cradle argument’s role in Epicureanism is therapeutic, and 
  meant simply to direct one’s attention to the empiricist argument, which stands alone.
• Time: 4:00–6:00 pm
• Location: McDonnell 212

Who Should Attend

• Graduate students and faculty in classics, philosophy, and related fields
• Anyone interested in ancient ethics, Platonic dialogues, and Epicurean thought

Why Attend

• Attend a dynamic, text-driven workshop and contribute to an active scholarly community
• Participate in a work-in-progress session, witnessing research in transformation

RSVP & Inquiries

No registration is required—just drop by!

You are welcome to join us for dinner afterwards, but to confirm a spot, please reply to us by February 25.
For questions, contact Eric Brown eabrown@wustl.edu or Luis Salas luis.salas@wustl.edu.

Join us for an afternoon of vibrant discussion, engaged scholarship, and meaningful connection with peers—right in the heart of ancient philosophical inquiry.