AR105 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: De Rerum Natura, Epic Poetry, Ancient Greek Philosophy
13 Mar 2015
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Theology: practical atheism: god didn"t create the universe, rather atoms swerved and collide, world is created, gods live in other universes but do not influence our world. Physics: atomism: explains the soul when dead, sould is made of very fine atoms which takes a while to dissipate . Not popular, did not fit well with roman activism. De rerum natura epic poem about epicurean philosophy. Atticus friend of cicero, liked the quiet life. Gaius cassius longinus was an epicurean: aristotelianism (the peripatos) Not a big effect on rome: stoicism (the porch) Doctrines: positive epistemology of cognitive impressions (we can know something, ethics: nature/logos as guide, virtue as goal, live by what is rational. Popularity: most popular, in sync with traditional roman ethics and political activism (e. g. Marcus aurelius, last of the stoics : platonism (the academy) Doctrines: skepticism, that"s stupid, you don"t know that, don"t know anything. History: 2nd century bc, impressed but concerned by greek philosophy, cato"s reaction.
