Workshop in Ancient Philosophy (Thursday - Week 3, MT21)

AEpicurus and the Stoa had a lot in common in their epistemologies. In particular, they both recognized the so-called prolepsis as a criterion of truth.

Epicurus and Zeno had different epistemological agendas: the core of Zeno’s epistemology was the phantasia kataleptike, while prolepsis was at the centre of Epicurus’ epistemology. But Chrysippus, in some contexts, recognized katalepsis and prolepsis as two complementary criteria. Chrysippus obviously borrowed prolepsis from the Epicureans, while, in the second generation of Hellenistic philosophers, Cleanthes had elaborated is own views on the ennoia of the gods. How did the two schools conceived prolepsis? What do they have in common and how and to which extent do they differ or influence each other? And what does it mean that prolepseis are emphutoi or innatae? A comparison of the views of the two schools, following the chronological development of the prolepsis between Epicurus and the Stoa may probably help us to answer to these questions.

The Seminar will take place via Microsoft Teams. By clicking this link you will be redirected to a page in which you will be prompted to sign in with your Oxford SSO.