Live UnnoticedAgainst the background of age-old Greek wisdom, Epicurus' advice to 'live unnoticed' (lathe biosas) was particularly provocative and scandalous. Why, after all, would an unknown Greek soldier in Agamemnon's army have been happier than famous Achilles? Or why should an ordinary Athenian be regarded as more blessed and enviable than Pericles? Yet Epicurus' ideal was far from unattractive, guaranteeing as it did a quiet and untroubled existence far from the dangerous turmoil of public life. This book casts new light on Epicurus' socio-political philosophy through a careful analysis of his arguments. It also shows how the ideal of an 'unnoticed life' was received during the later history of Epicureanism and how it occasionally occurs in ancient Latin poetry. |
Contents
Chapter One Introduction | 1 |
Chapter Two Epicurus | 29 |
Epicurus συμφιλοσοφοθντες | 67 |
Chapter Four Later generations of the school | 83 |
Chapter Five Conclusion | 145 |
Augustan poetry | 155 |
Bibliography | 189 |
Indices | 209 |
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Common terms and phrases
According advice alternative ambition appears argues argument aspects attack attention avoid beginning claim clear Colot completely concern conclusion concrete connected context contribute course deal death Democritus desires different Diog Diogenes direct discussion doctrine doubt engage Epicurean Epicurus epist example fact fame famous first followers fragment friends further give hand honour ideal illustrates implies important inscription interesting interpretation Laert later leads least less letter live unnoticed Lucretius maxim means mentioned merely Metrodorus Moreover motivated natural never offer once one’s passage perspective Philodemus philosophical pleasure Plutarch polemical political politician position possible present probably problem proves question reach reading reason reference regarded remains rest Rhet rhetoric sage sense sequestered shows sources Stoic suggest term thinking tion traditional true turn understood unnoticed Virgil whole wish κα λε ισας