Sic hominum genus est : animals and the continuum of life in the De rerum natura of Lucretius

Abstract

The objective of this thesis is to analyze the place of animals in Lucretius' account of Epicurean philosophy of mind. It uses philosophy of mind to investigate his representation of animals in De rerum natura and the theoretical basis of his views; conversely, it uses his engagement with animals in the exposition of such theories toward a reevaluation of the theories themselves. The thesis approaches De rerum natura both sequentially and synchronically, integrating literary and philosophical analysis. Treating causation as a process, it rejoins the analysis of physiological mechanisms to the study of psychological phenomena. It thus reconstructs Lucretius' understanding of the so-called faculties of mind across all living creatures, as well as the faculties' ontology, aetiology, and relationships. It places particular emphasis on how Lucretius uses ancient atomic physics to explain the continuities and differences between humans and other animals.