Gerechtigheid en Philia: Politiek en Filosofie in het Griekse Epicurisme. Justice and Philia. Politics and Philosophy in Greek Epicureanism.

The main object of the research is the analysis of the Epicurean position towards politics, as a doctrine, and towards effective political action. Because of the inadequate reception of statements as λάθε βιώσας or μὴ πολιτεύεσθαι, Epicureans have been considered cut off from politics and as society's parasites, interested only in satisfying their «belly's pleasure», without contributing to society's life. Indeed, Epicurus used a double register, which has not been adequately placed in evidence by modern studies. In fact, on one hand, he discouraged the active participation in politics for those who would be disturbed by it and advised them to reach security in the Garden by living amongst their friends (RS XIV). On the other hand, he encouraged the honour lovers to take part in political affairs, in order to enjoy a pleasant life (RS VI), always by following Epicurean teachings and applying the sober calculus of pleasure and pain (Epist. ad Men. 129).

Before dealing with the study of Epicurean political philosophy, the concept of justice in Epicureanism will be analysed through the reading of the RS XXXI-XXXVIII. The examination of what is “right” will be preliminary to the political conception, because one of the reasons why the Epicurean philosopher has never been a proponent of a βίος πολιτικός is that justice and politics are not considered as ends by themselves. In fact, the ultimate goal of Epicurean ethics is the attainment of happiness and, therefore, the stable and enduring achievement of ἀταραξία and ἀπονία through ἡδονή.

Furthermore, Later Epicurean philosophies will be studied to determine what was their real and genuine contribution to political thought, and, in particular, to understand which was the relationship between their considerations and the Master's original doctrine. Personalities such as those of Philonides of Laodiceia-on-Sea and Diogenes of Oinoanda need greater scholarly focus, because they are emblematic of the controversial relationship that Epicureans maintained with their contemporary politicians. The most important part of the research will be dedicated to the examination of the development of Epicurean political philosophy following Epicurus' death: to this scope, all available sources, including epigraphic and papyrical ones, will be considered with historical-philological scruple and historical-philosophical attention.

It will be equally important to insert these thinkers in their historical context, in addition to the consideration of their biographical and personal happenings. For this reason, a careful historical examination of the political and social systems existing in Greece will be useful. It will also be significant to read in detail works written by the opponents of Epicureanism, first of all Cicero and Plutarch. Their writings will be duly contextualized to avoid misunderstanding Epicurean philosophy. Furthermore, on the background, there will always be Platonic, Aristotelian and Stoic traditions, which cannot be ignored, even if Epicureanism detached itself from them.

It is essential to underline the innovative nature of this project. In Italy there are no publications that study in a synoptic and complete way the Epicurean political thought, especially after Epicurus. On the international scene, there are fundamental contributions to the critique of Epicurus' political thought, such as Live Unnoticed (Λάθε βιώσας): On the Vicissitudes of an Epicurean Doctrine, written by G. Roskam, which gives a considerable interpretation of Epicurus' “political philosophy”, but leaves in the background the study of later Epicureans. Another precious volume is Ciues Epicurei: Les épicuriens et l’idée de monarchie à Rome et en Italie de Sylla à Octave, written by Y. Benferhat. However, it examines only the Epicurean preference for a certain type of government and its relationship with the idea of monarchy, without offering a wider theoretical overview or a more specific examination of the role played by each disciple, both in the Epicurean philosophy and within the society. Therefore, the ultimate goal of this research will be to fill a gap in the modern studies about Epicureanism, by pointing out how it is necessary to reconsider the political thought and the relationships maintained by Epicurus' disciples with their contemporary political and social traditions. In contrast to what has been stated many times, Epicureans did not live far from politics and they did not despise or ignore it entirely. Accordingly, this research intends to show in detail how a similar description is historically unconvincing.

Index proposal

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1: Justice and Politics in Epicurus

1. The basics of Epicurean ethics and friendship

2. The theme of justice (RS XXXI-XXXVIII)

3. Λάθε βιώσας: The philosophical community

4. Timocrates: The Garden's apostate

CHAPTER 2: The First Generation of the Epicurean School 

1. The “paene alter Epicurus”: Metrodorus of Lampsacus

2. Hermarchus and the homicide law

3. Mithres, Idomeneus and the political commitment

4. Colotes and the law as a guarantor of security

CHAPTER 3: Philonides and Diogenes of Oinoanda between Politics and Euergetism

1. The Vita Philonidis (PHerc. 1044)

2. Philonides' double identity

3. Diogenes' heritage: The porch and its inscription

4. Diogenes of Oinoanda's role: The euergetism's practice

CONCLUSION

Essential bibliography

Primary sources

Arrighetti G. (a cura di), Epicuro: Opere, Einaudi, Torino, 1973.

Dorandi T. (a cura di), Filodemo: Il buon re secondo Omero, Bibliopolis, Napoli, 1982.

Einarson B., De Lacy P.H. (eds.), Plutarch: Moralia, Harvard University Press, London, 1967.

Gallo I. (a cura di), Frammenti biografici da papiri, 2 voll., Edizioni dell’Ateneo & Bizzarri, Roma, 1975.

Giancotti F. (a cura di), Lucrezio: La natura, Garzanti, Milano, 2008.

Gigante M. (a cura di), Diogene Laerzio: Vite dei filosofi, 2 voll., Laterza, Roma-Bari, 1962.

Koerte A. (ed.), Metrodori Epicurei Fragmenta, in Jahrbücher für Classische Philologie Suppl., 17 (1890), pp. 531-597.

Longo Auricchio F. (a cura di), Ermarco: Frammenti, Bibliopolis, Napoli, 1988.

Marinone N. (a cura di), Cicerone: Opere politiche e filosofiche, 2 voll., UTET, Torino, 2010.

Militello C. (a cura di), Filodemo: Memorie epicuree (PHerc. 1418 e 310), Bibliopolis, Napoli, 1997.

Smith M.F. (ed.), Diogenes of Oinoanda: The Epicurean Inscription, Bibliopolis, Napoli, 1993.

Usener H. (ed.), Epicurea, Teubner, Lipsiae, 1887.

Secondary sources

Auvray-Assayas C., Delattre D., Cicéron et Philodème: La polémique en philosophie, Éditions Rue d’Ulm, Paris, 2001, pp. 109-128.

Benferath Y., Ciues Epicurei: Les épicuriens et l’idée de monarchie à Rome et en Italie de Sylla à Octave, Éditions Latomus, Bruxelles, 2005.

De Sanctis D., Il buon re di Filodemo tra Epicuro e Omero, in Cronache ercolanesi, 38 (2008), pp. 165-177.

De Sanctis D., Il filosofo e il re: Osservazioni sulla Vita Philonidis (PHerc. 1044), in Cronache ercolanesi, 39 (2009), pp. 107-118.

Eckerman C., Lucretius’ Self-Positioning in the History of Roman Epicureanism, in Classical Quarterly, 63/2 (2013), pp. 785-800.

Gastaldi S., Introduzione alla storia del pensiero politico antico, Laterza, Roma-Bari, 2008.

Gera D., Philonides the Epicurean at Court: Early Connections, in Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphyk, 125 (1999), pp. 77-83.

Maso S., Capire e dissentire: Cicerone e la filosofia di Epicuro, Bibliopolis, Napoli, 2008.

Morel P.-M., Épicure, l’histoire et le droit, in Revue des études anciennes, 102 (2000), pp. 393-411.

Nichols J.H., Epicurean Political Philosophy. The De rerum natura of Lucretius, Cornell University Press, London, 1976.

Roskam G., Live Unnoticed (Λάθε βιώσας): On the Vicissitudes of an Epicurean Doctrine, Brill, Leiden-Boston, 2007.

Roskam G., Will the Epicurean Sage Break the Law if He is Perfectly Sure that He Will Escape Detenction?: A Difficult Problem Revisited, in Transactions of the American Philological Association, 142/1 (2012), pp. 23-40.

Roskam G., Plutarch’s Polemic Against Colotes’ View on Legislation and Politics. A Reading of Adversus Colotem 30-34 (1124D-1127E), in Aitia, 3 (2013), http://aitia.revues.org/731.

Verde F., Epicuro, Carocci, Roma, 2013.

Vesperini P., La philosophia et ses pratiques d’Ennius à Cicéron, École française de Rome, Rome, 2012.