Document Type
Article
Version
Final Published Version
Publication Title
Ex-position
Publication Date
2024
Abstract
Lucretius innovates upon prior Epicurean philosophers by making the discussion of atomic movement in his didactic epic not just a complement to his exegesis of Epicurean philosophy, but in developing new scientific explanations for Epicurean doctrine through the principles of atomic motion. I claim that Lucretian tranquility is a kinetic phenomenon, an approach which provides new insight on the psychological and the ethical elements of his philosophy, and allows his On the Nature of Things to be brought into a fuller conversation with current scholarship on Epicurean psychology and ethics. I examine how atomic movement is emulated on the individual/psychological and societal/ethical level through metaphor and allegory.The leaky vessel and the honeyed cup refer to the link between atomic turbulence and the psychological realm: representing emotional imbalance and its opposite.Meanwhile, allegories of Venus and Mars represent the unifying and disruptive effects of atomic movement in interpersonal relationships and society. Finally, I propose that Lucretius’ plague account enshrines mutual aid and self-sacrifice without violating the principles of Epicurean egoism, establishing ethical behavior as an essential component of tranquility.
Citation
Tobár, Sophia Ophelia. 2024. "Go with the Flow: The Psychology and Ethics of Atomic Motion in Lucretius." Ex-position 52: 5-33.
DOI
DOI: 10.6153/EXP.202412_(52).0002
