385L38
BRONZE AGE 3000-1100 BCE Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations DARK AGE 1100-800 BCE economic collapse ARCHAIC PERIOD 800-480 BCE trade and economic renewal literacy rise of polis Presocratic speculation CLASSICAL PERIOD 480-323 BCE Athenian supremacy scientific advances: logic, astronomy, medicine, physics, mathematics, biology… research institutes (Academy, Lyceum) HELLENISTIC PERIOD 323-31 BCE Alexander the Great syncretism research libraries (Alexandria, Pergamon) ROMAN REPUBLIC 509-31 BCE Roman conquest of Greece (150) expansion of Empire ROMAN EMPIRE 31 BCE — 476 CE collapse of Republic imperial rule religious cults “fall” of Rome
• loss of traditional community frameworks • inadequacy of polis religion • rise of eschatological cults (Pythagoreanism, Orphism) and associations • influx of foreign (religious, magical) influences • consolidation of power in bureaucracies and totalitarian systems • rise of interest in magic • rise of individualistic philosophies • rise of interest in astrology
• loss of traditional community frameworks • inadequacy of polis religion • rise of eschatological cults (Pythagoreanism, Orphism) and associations • influx of foreign (religious, magical) influences • consolidation of power in bureaucracies and totalitarian systems • rise of interest in magic • rise of individualistic philosophies • rise of interest in astrology
Roots of Epicureanism 515-445 Parmenides material monism ca. 420 BCE Demokritos corpuscular-atomic theory 428-348 BCE Plato geometrical astronomy 384-322 BCE Aristotle astronomy, logic, physics, meteorology, biology, psychology... 341-270 BCE Epicurus Epicureanism ca. 300 BCE Zeno Stoicism 99-55 BCE Lucretius Epicureanism (De Rerum Natura) 4 BCE – 65 CE Seneca 121-180 CE M. Aurelius
Corpuscular Theory : Demokritos (ca. 420 BCE) •All that is real are -atoms (atoma) : infinite numerically, in size, and shapes -void (kenon) : infinite in extent -movement : incessant •Atoma differ only in shape (AN), arrangement (NA), and position (NZ). •Atoma continuously move through kenon at different speeds, as determined by weight (= a function of size). •Phenomena (both quantitative and qualitative) come into being when atoma collide and interlock to form combinations. •Phenomena pass out of existence when atomic bonds disintegrate.
Epicureanism : Epicurus (341-270) Physics • Reality composed of invisible atoma in different sizes and shapes. • At indeterminate times and places atoma swerve and collide. • Clusters of interlocking atoma give rise to world. Theology • Gods are made of fine, round atoma, and can neither be touched, nor can they touch human beings. • Death is dispersal of atoma. Ethics • Only unconditional good = pleasure. Only unconditional evil = pain. • Pleasure mainly negative = freedom from pain and trouble (ataraxia). • Free will = corollary to "swerve" of atoma. • Avoid public life, emotional contacts.