Un pensiero avveniristico nel Giardino di Epicuro

Abstract

The Epicurean idea of progress does not match positivistic and materialistic philosophies of the XIX and XX centuries. For Epicurus and his school, there is a progress of the cosmos and of the human being, but also a natural decline, since the atomic compounds undergo a process of aggregation and disintegration. Nevertheless, in this frame, the Epicurean doctrine seems to admit of philosophical progress finally resulting in a sort of Garden of Eden, in particular as far as the members of the Epicurean school are concerned, as shown by a fragment of Diogenes of Oenoanda’s inscription (NF 5-6), which is presented in this paper with new integrations and commentary.