エピクロス哲学に対するエウセビオスの「肯定的」反応について

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  • The “Affirmative” Response of Eusebius to the Philosophy of Epicurus

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This article is an attempt to deal with the response of Eusebius to the philosophy of Epicurus in his missionary book, Praeparatio evangelica and examine whether his response is affirmative and if it is the case, to what extent it is so. According to H. Jones, The Epicurean Tradition (Routledge, 1989), among the overall negative responses of the Early Church Fathers to the philosophy to Epicurus, there are exceptionally a few cases which are seemingly affirmative, however they are in close scrutiny not wholehearted but reluctant ones adopted conveniently for the furtherance of Christian doctrines. In contrast to this convenient attitude, Eusebius (c. 263 - 339 AD), bishop of Caesarea, made, in the above mentioned book, such a remark as “ Epicureans, in whom what I most admire ”(iv.2. 13), which might be taken as a more candid affirmation. Actually this is not the only reference to Epicurus, his philosophy and the Epicureans. There are a lot more references to them, although not in the form of his own words but of the quotations from various writers through whose words he intimates his opinions. The analysis of these quotations is the main task of this article. The writers dealt with are the followings: Diogenianus, a Greek grammarian from Heraclea in Pontus (or in Caria) (fl.117AD - 138 AD) Diodorus Siculus, a Greek historian of the 1st century AD Plutarch (c. 46AD - 120AD) Dionysius of Alexandria (c. 200AD - c. 265 AD), bishop of Alexandria and disciple of Origen Atticus (110 BC - 32 BC), a devotee to the philosophy of Epicurus Clemens of Alexandria (c.150AD - 215AD） Oenomaus of Gadara (fl. 2nd century AD), a pagan Cynic philosopher Numenius of Apamea, a Greek philosopher, who lived in Apamea in Syria and flourished during the latter half of the 2nd century AD The conclusion drawn from our analysis is that Eusebius’ affirmation is minimal and is restricted to the rejection of superstitious oracles, the moral character and honorable poverty of Epicurus and the fraternal unity of his followers. Otherwise Eusebius is in the large degree negative to the philosophy of Epicurus, especially to his atomic explanation of nature, his atomic view of gods and his rejection of the divine providence.

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