Great intro to Plutarch. I take pleasure in our being able to use Cicero and Plutarch to learn more about Epicurean philosophy, mostly because it would have infuriated those two authors. For anyone interested in exploring "live unknown" further, the Emperor Julian in his letter to Themistius the Philosopher (section 255) gives additional context for Epicurus' láthe biōsas, and it seems to be basically "Don't get involved in politics." Julian was writing 200+ years after Plutarch but could still easily have had access to far more primary Epicurean sources than we do. If that's the case, it would seem Plutarch was purposefully mischaracterizing the saying and blowing it all out of proportion to its original intent. I know... Hard to believe he'd do that!! LOL - Text of letter: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Letter_to_Themistius_the_philosopher
Yes, I'd agree that "avoid politics" was the main idea behind "lathe biosas," though for modern readers, it's helpful to clarify that it was especially the competitive, fame-seeking pursuit of political power and prominence that Epicurus was cautioning against. Today, there are plenty of forms of "political engagement" that don't involve personal fame (though they may have other negative consequences). I do think those same critiques Epicurus would make of striving for political renown do also apply to non-political pursuits of fame today (being a pop star or online influencer is probably not a high-probability path to happiness either).
If you can get a hold of a copy, Geert Roskam's "Live Unnoticed (Lathe biosas): On the Vicissitudes of an Epicurean Doctrine" goes through all the relevant Epicurean texts quite comprehensively to sort out exactly how the saying might have been understood at different times in the history of the school.
Great intro to Plutarch. I take pleasure in our being able to use Cicero and Plutarch to learn more about Epicurean philosophy, mostly because it would have infuriated those two authors. For anyone interested in exploring "live unknown" further, the Emperor Julian in his letter to Themistius the Philosopher (section 255) gives additional context for Epicurus' láthe biōsas, and it seems to be basically "Don't get involved in politics." Julian was writing 200+ years after Plutarch but could still easily have had access to far more primary Epicurean sources than we do. If that's the case, it would seem Plutarch was purposefully mischaracterizing the saying and blowing it all out of proportion to its original intent. I know... Hard to believe he'd do that!! LOL - Text of letter: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Letter_to_Themistius_the_philosopher
Yes, I'd agree that "avoid politics" was the main idea behind "lathe biosas," though for modern readers, it's helpful to clarify that it was especially the competitive, fame-seeking pursuit of political power and prominence that Epicurus was cautioning against. Today, there are plenty of forms of "political engagement" that don't involve personal fame (though they may have other negative consequences). I do think those same critiques Epicurus would make of striving for political renown do also apply to non-political pursuits of fame today (being a pop star or online influencer is probably not a high-probability path to happiness either).
If you can get a hold of a copy, Geert Roskam's "Live Unnoticed (Lathe biosas): On the Vicissitudes of an Epicurean Doctrine" goes through all the relevant Epicurean texts quite comprehensively to sort out exactly how the saying might have been understood at different times in the history of the school.
Excellent points, and thanks for the article recommendation. Keep up the good work. Thoroughly appreciated.