This chapter outlines the fundamental principles of Philodemus' ethics in connection with the canonical views of the Epicurean school, and points to his own original contributions. It examines the central features of Philodemus' hedonism, which sometimes are stated but often merely presupposed, and also looks at elements of his approach to the virtues and friendship. It draws evidence from the text [On Choices and Avoidances] and from the eulogy On Epicurus both of which can confidently be attributed to Philodemus, and also from the first and the second books of Cicero's De finibus.
Keywords: Philodemus, ethics, Epicurean school, hedonism, virtues, friendship, Cicero, On Choices and Avoidances, On Epicurus, De finibus