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Document Details : Title: The Use and Misuse of an Epicurean Dictum in Erycius Puteanus' Somnium Author(s): NIJS, Wim Journal: Latomus Volume: 81 Issue: 1 Date: 2022 Pages: 160-168 DOI: 10.2143/LAT.81.1.3290845 Abstract : Throughout his life and career, the Louvain-based humanist Erycius Puteanus (Venlo, 1574 – Louvain, 1646) feels attracted to the, at that time, rather controversial philosophy of Epicurus. In his successful Comus siue Phagesiposia Cimmeria. Somnium he describes a dream world where the local customs prescribe boundless eating and drinking. In an attempt to present Epicurus in a positive light, and to set him apart from the immoral gluttons of the dream world, Puteanus cites a uox Epicuri which he borrows from Seneca (Ep. Luc. 19.10). The present article aims to demonstrate how Puteanus’ use of this dictum poses significant problems against the background of its original context in Seneca’s letter and its place within the framework of Epicurean philosophy. |
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