Németh Attila, a HUN-REN BTK Tudományos főmunkatársa előadást tart az Universität Wien Filozófia Tanszékén, Bécsben, Epicurus’ Conceptions of Time címmel a Speaker’s Events of Epicurean Philosophy sorozat részeként.

Időpont: 2024. december 12, 18.30-20.00.

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Az előadás absztraktja:

Epicurus' understanding of nature is grounded in his atomist metaphysics, which raises an important question: if atoms move continuously through void, they must constantly produce change. However, nature exhibits apparent regularities. Therefore, there must be certain limits to the incessant changes allowed within Epicurus’ atomism. What are these deeply set boundary stones – to use Lucretius’ metaphor (alte terminus haerens DRN 1.76-77 = 1.595-596; 5.89-90; 6.65-66) – that underwrite these consistencies?
Epicurus established several limits within his version of atomism, including a restricted variety of atoms (Ep. Hdt. 42; DRN 2.478-521), the finite size of atoms (Ep. Hdt. 55-56; DRN 2.498-499), and the minima that are only theoretically distinguishable and not even theoretically further divisible limits of the atoms (Ep. Hdt. 56-59; DRN 1. 599-634 & 1.749-52). The theory of minima is often seen as a response to Aristotle’s criticism of the early atomists (Phys. 6.1-4 &), where Aristotle linked atoms to magnitude, motion, and time. Consequently, in many influential—though not all—interpretations of Epicurus' concept of time, time is understood as atomic and thus functions as a form of limit.
In my paper, I wish to argue that Epicurus, in fact, had several conceptions of time. Two based on experience, and a third, theoretical concept that asserts the real existence of time. This viewpoint may challenge the conventional belief that Epicureans regarded time merely as a secondary aspect of existence, as an accident of accidents as suggested by Demetrius of Laconia’s fragmentary evidence. However, insights from the Herculanean papyri of Epicurus’ own writings, particularly from his major work, Peri Physeōs (On Nature), backed up and extended by his conceptions of time in the Letter to Herodotus reveal a more complex differentiation of time.
To unpack this, my paper will first examine how we form our conceptions of time empirically. In the second part, I will inquire into the metaphysical foundations of time. And finally, I will conclude with a discussion of the sort of limit time is in Epicurus’ natural philosophy. Thus, I will address three key questions: 1. How do we conceive time? 2. What is the nature of time? And 3. How does Epicurus’ conception of time as a limit apply to his natural philosophy?