'A True Republic'—Anti-Epicurean Discourse in Numenius of Apamea

This article proposes a novel interpretation of a literary fragment by Numenius of Apamea that appears to praise the philosophical cohesion of the Epicurean school by likening it to a "true republic" (fr. 24 Des Places). By situating Numenius's comments within a broader tradition of a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inTAPA (Society for Classical Studies) Vol. 153; no. 1; pp. 149 - 173
Main Author Gorey, Matthew M
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Baltimore Johns Hopkins University Press 01.03.2023
Subjects
Atomic physics
Cohesion
Cosmology
Epicurus (341-270 BC)
Hellenistic
Novels
Numenius of Apamea
Philosophers
Philosophy
Physics
Stereotypes
Theology
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Summary:This article proposes a novel interpretation of a literary fragment by Numenius of Apamea that appears to praise the philosophical cohesion of the Epicurean school by likening it to a "true republic" (fr. 24 Des Places). By situating Numenius's comments within a broader tradition of anti-atomist polemics, I show that this passage can also be understood as a sarcastic parody of the Epicureans and their teachings. While Numenius's comment appears on the surface to traffic in common stereotypes about Epicurean unanimity, his use of allusive, philosophically suggestive language subverts that stereotype by evoking specific tropes of anti-Epicurean discourse.
ISSN:2575-7180
2575-7199
2575-7199
DOI:10.1353/apa.2023.a901019