Epicurean Meteorology: Sources, Method, Scope and OrganizationIn Epicurean Meteorology Frederik Bakker discusses the meteorology as laid out by Epicurus (341-270 BCE) and Lucretius (1st century BCE). Although in scope and organization their ideas are clearly rooted in the Peripatetic tradition, their meteorology sets itself apart from this tradition by its systematic use of multiple explanations and its sole reliance on sensory evidence as opposed to mathematics and other axiomatic principles. Through a thorough investigation of the available evidence Bakker offers an updated and qualified account of Epicurean meteorology, arguing against Theophrastus’ authorship of the Syriac meteorology, highlighting the originality of Lucretius’ treatment of mirabilia, and refuting the oft-repeated claim that the Epicureans held the earth to be flat. |
Contents
| 1 | |
| 8 | |
Chapter 3 Range and Order of Subjects in Ancient Meteorology | 76 |
Chapter 4 The Shape of the Earth | 162 |
Chapter 5 General Conclusions | 264 |
Appendix 1 Multiple Explanations in Epicurus Letter to Pythocles | 269 |
Appendix 2 Multiple Explanations in Lucretius DRN V and VI | 272 |
Appendix 3 General Structure of the Syriac Meteorology | 274 |
| 276 | |
| 286 | |
| 298 | |
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Epicurean Meteorology: Sources, Method, Scope and Organization Frederik A. Bakker No preview available - 2016 |
Common terms and phrases
Aėt Aėtius alternative explanations Anaxagoras argument Arist Aristotle astronomical atmospherical phenomena atoms Bailey Cael causes centre centrifocal chapter Cleomedes clouds comets and shooting contestation cosmogony cosmology cosmos Democritus Diogenes Diogenes Laėrtius Diogenes of Oenoanda discussed downward motion doxographical earth's sphericity earthquakes eclipses Epic Epicurean Epicurus and Lucretius explicitly flat earth Furley halo heavenly bodies interpretation Laėrt Letter to Pythocles Leucippus Lucr lunar eclipses mathematical astronomers matter Mete meteorological phenomena moon multiple explanations Nile non-contestation number of alternative observed order of subjects paradoxography parallel parallel-linear passage Pliny possible prēstēres problems proof Pyth Pytheas rainbow reference rejected Sedley seems Seneca shooting stars spherical earth Stobaeus Stoics Strabo Syriac meteorology terrestrial phenomena Theophrastus theory thunder thunderbolts upward winds γὰρ δὲ εἶναι εἰς ἐν ἐπὶ καὶ κατὰ μὲν περὶ πρὸς τὰ τὴν τῆς τὸ τοῖς τὸν τοῦ τῷ τῶν