La forme des traités de Philodème et la mise à jour de la doctrine épicurienne

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to examine the relationship between the formal aspect structure, composition, type of text and contents of the extant writings of the Epicurean philosopher Philodemus of Gadara. This can be achieved only by putting his oeuvre in the context of its own time, 1st century bC, and its primary audience, Roman upper class. Our hypothesis is that the hypomnémata written by Philodemus adapt the form of the philological Hellenistic commentaries to the needs of a polemical stance aimed at updating and accommodating Epicurean philosophy to a new environment.