Humanitext Reader

Epicurus · Letter to Herodotus §62-67

Motion in Compounds and the Corporeal Nature of the Soul

Passage 6 of 9 · Greek

Summary

In this section, following the explanation of the speed differences of atoms in compounds, Epicurus discusses the nature of the soul as a material body of fine particles, its relation of mutual sympathy with the body, its divisibility and mortality, and the impossibility of the soul being incorporeal.

§62Ἀλλὰ μὴν καὶ κατὰ τὰς συγκρίσεις θάττων ἑτέρα ἑτέρας ῥηθήσεται τῶν ἀτόμων ἰσοταχῶν οὐσῶν, τῷ ἐφ’ ἕνα τόπον φέρεσθαι τὰς ἐν τοῖς ἀθροίσμασιν ἀτόμους [καὶ] κατὰ τὸν ἐλάχιστον συνεχῆ χρόνον, εἰ 〈καὶ〉 μὴ ἐφ’ ἕνα κατὰ τοὺς λόγῳ θεωρητοὺς χρόνους·
Moreover, even in compounds, one atom will be said to move faster than another, although they are all equal in speed, because the atoms in the aggregates are carried toward a single place in the minimum continuous time, even if they are not carried toward a single place in the times conceived by reason.
ἀλλὰ πυκνὸν ἀντικόπτουσιν, ἕως ἂν ὑπὸ τὴν αἴσθησιν τὸ συνεχὲς τῆς φορᾶς γίνηται.
But they collide frequently, until the continuity of their motion becomes an object of sensation.
τὸ γὰρ προσδοξαζόμενον περὶ τοῦ ἀοράτου, ὡς ἄρα καὶ οἱ διὰ λόγου θεωρητοὶ χρόνοι τὸ συνεχὲς τῆς φορᾶς ἕξουσιν, οὐκ ἀληθές ἐστιν ἐπὶ τῶν τοιούτων· ἐπεὶ τό γε θεωρούμενον πᾶν ἢ κατ’ ἐπιβολὴν λαμβανόμενον τῇ διανοίᾳ ἀληθές ἐστι.
For the additional opinion concerning the invisible, namely that the times conceived by reason will also have the continuity of motion, is not true in such cases; since everything observed or grasped by the mind by direct intuition is true.
§63Μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα δεῖ συνορᾶν ἀναφέροντα ἐπὶ τὰς αἰσθήσεις καὶ τὰ πάθη — οὕτω γὰρ ἡ βεβαιοτάτη πίστις ἔσται —, ὅτι ἡ ψυχὴ σῶμά ἐστι λεπτομερὲς παρ’ ὅλον τὸ ἄθροισμα παρεσπαρμένον, προσεμφερέστατον δὲ πνεύματι θερμοῦ τινα κρᾶσιν ἔχοντι καὶ πῇ μὲν τούτῳ προσεμφερές, πῇ δὲ τούτῳ ἔστι δέ τι μέρος πολλὴν παραλλαγὴν εἰληφὸς τῇ λεπτομερείᾳ καὶ αὐτῶν τούτων, συμπαθὲς δὲ τούτῳ μᾶλλον καὶ τῷ λοιπῷ ἀθροίσματι·
After this, one must understand, by referring to sensation and feelings—for thus we shall have the most secure conviction—that the soul is a body composed of fine particles, scattered throughout the whole aggregate, most resembling wind with a certain mixture of heat, and in one way resembling this, in another way resembling that. There is, however, a certain part that has received a great difference in the fineness of its particles even from these, and is therefore more sympathetic with this and with the rest of the aggregate.
τοῦτο δὲ πᾶν αἱ δυνάμεις τῆς ψυχῆς δηλοῦσι καὶ τὰ πάθη καὶ αἱ εὐκινησίαι καὶ αἱ διανοήσεις καὶ ὧν στερόμενοι θνήσκομεν.
All this is shown by the faculties of the soul, its feelings, its ease of motion, its thoughts, and those things of which we are deprived when we die.
Καὶ μὴν καὶ ὅτι ἔχει ἡ ψυχὴ τῆς αἰσθήσεως τὴν πλείστην αἰτίαν δεῖ κατέχειν·
Moreover, one must hold fast to the fact that the soul has the primary cause of sensation.
§64οὐ μὴν εἰλήφει ἂν ταύτην, εἰ μὴ ὑπὸ τοῦ λοιποῦ ἀθροίσματος ἐστεγάζετό πως.
Yet it would not have acquired this sensation, if it had not been somehow sheltered by the rest of the aggregate.
τὸ δὲ λοιπὸν ἄθροισμα παρασκευάσαν ἐκείνῃ τὴν αἰτίαν ταύτην μετείληφε καὶ αὐτὸ τοιούτου συμπτώματος παρ’ ἐκείνης, οὐ μέντοι πάντων ὧν ἐκείνη κέκτηται· διὸ ἀπαλλαγείσης τῆς ψυχῆς οὐκ ἔχει τὴν αἴσθησιν.
And the rest of the aggregate, having provided this cause to the soul, has itself also received from the soul a share in such an accident, though not indeed of all that the soul possesses; wherefore, when the soul is departed, the body does not have sensation.
οὐ γὰρ αὐτὸ ἐν ἑαυτῷ ταύτην ἐκέκτητο τὴν δύναμιν, ἀλλ’ ἑτέρῳ ἅμα συγγεγενημένῳ αὐτῷ παρεσκεύαζεν, ὃ διὰ τῆς συντελεσθείσης περὶ αὐτὸ δυνάμεως κατὰ τὴν κίνησιν σύμπτωμα αἰσθητικὸν εὐθὺς ἀποτελοῦν ἑαυτῷ ἀπεδίδου κατὰ τὴν ὁμούρησιν καὶ συμπάθειαν καὶ ἐκείνῳ, καθάπερ εἶπον.
For it did not possess this power in itself, but provided it for another that was born together with it, which, through the power accomplished around itself in its motion, immediately producing for itself the accident of sensation, gave it back also to the body because of their proximity and sympathy, as I said.
§65Διὸ δὴ καὶ ἐνυπάρχουσα ἡ ψυχὴ οὐδέποτε ἄλλου τινὸς μέρους ἀπηλλαγμένου ἀναισθητεῖ·
Wherefore, as long as the soul is present in the body, it never lacks sensation even if some other part of the body is departed.
ἀλλ’ ἃ ἂν καὶ ταύτης ξυναπόληται τοῦ στεγάζοντος λυθέντος εἴθ’ ὅλου εἴτε καὶ μέρους τινός, ἐάν περ διαμένῃ, σῴζει τὴν αἴσθησιν.
Rather, whatever part of the soul perishes along with the body when the sheltering frame is dissolved, whether the whole or some part, as long as the soul remains, it preserves sensation.
τὸ δὲ λοιπὸν ἄθροισμα διαμένον καὶ ὅλον καὶ κατὰ μέρος οὐκ ἔχει τὴν αἴσθησιν ἐκείνου ἀπηλλαγμένου, ὅσον ποτέ ἐστι τὸ συντεῖνον τῶν ἀτόμων πλῆθος εἰς τὴν τῆς ψυχῆς φύσιν.
But the rest of the aggregate, whether remaining as a whole or in part, does not have sensation once that soul is departed, however great the number of atoms is that contributes to the nature of the soul.
Καὶ μὴν καὶ λυομένου τοῦ ὅλου ἀθροίσματος ἡ ψυχὴ διασπείρεται καὶ οὐκέτι ἔχει τὰς αὐτὰς δυνάμεις οὐδὲ κινεῖται, ὥστε οὐδ’ αἴσθησιν κέκτηται.
Moreover, when the whole aggregate is dissolved, the soul is dispersed and no longer has the same powers, nor does it move, so that it does not possess sensation either.
§66οὐ γὰρ οἷόν τε νοεῖν αὐτὸ αἰσθανόμενον μὴ ἐν τούτῳ τῷ συστήματι καὶ ταῖς κινήσεσι ταύταις χρώμενον, ὅταν τὰ στεγάζοντα καὶ περιέχοντα μὴ τοιαῦτα ᾖ, ἐν οἷς νῦν οὖσα ἔχει ταύτας τὰς κινήσεις. Ἀλλὰ μὴν καὶ τόδε (λέγει ἐν ἄλλοις καὶ ἐξ ἀτόμων αὐτὴν συγκεῖσθαι λειοτάτων καὶ στρογγυλωτάτων, πολλῷ τινε διαφερουσῶν τῶν τοῦ πυρός· καὶ τὸ μέν τι ἄλογον αὐτῆς, ὃ τῷ λοιπῷ παρεσπάρθαι σώματι· τὸ δὲ λογικὸν ἐν τῷ θώρακι, ὡς δῆλον ἔκ τε τῶν φόβων καὶ τῆς χαρᾶς. ὕπνον τε γίνεσθαι τῶν τῆς ψυχῆς μερῶν τῶν παρ’ ὅλην τὴν σύγκρισιν παρεσπαρμένων ἐγκατεχομένων ἢ διαφορουμένων, εἶτα συμπιπτόντων τοῖς † ποργμοῖς. τό τε σπέρμα ἀφ’ ὅλων τῶν σωμάτων φέρεσθαι. ) §67γε δεῖ προσκατανοεῖν, ὅτι τὸ ἀσώματον λέγομεν κατὰ τὴν πλείστην ὁμιλίαν τοῦ ὀνόματος ἐπὶ τοῦ καθ’ ἑαυτὸ νοηθέντος ἄν·
For it is impossible to conceive the soul as having sensation if it is not in this system and employing these motions, when the sheltering and surrounding parts are no longer such as those in which it now has these motions. (Moreover, he says elsewhere that the soul is composed of the smoothest and roundest atoms, differing greatly from those of fire; and that there is an irrational part of it, which is scattered throughout the rest of the body, and a rational part in the breast, as is clear from fears and joy; and that sleep occurs when the parts of the soul scattered throughout the whole compound are held back or dispersed, and then collide with the passages; and that semen is carried from all parts of the bodies.) Furthermore, one must understand that we call "the incorporeal" in the most common usage of the term only that which would be conceived as existing by itself; but it is impossible to conceive the incorporeal by itself except for the void.
καθ’ ἑαυτὸ δὲ οὐκ ἔστι νοῆσαι τὸ ἀσώματον πλὴν τοῦ κενοῦ. τὸ δὲ κενὸν οὔτε ποιῆσαι οὔτε παθεῖν δύναται, ἀλλὰ κίνησιν μόνον δι’ ἑαυτοῦ τοῖς σώμασι παρέχεται.
And the void can neither act nor be acted upon, but only provides motion through itself for bodies.
ὥστ’ οἱ λέγοντες ἀσώματον εἶναι τὴν ψυχὴν ματαιΐζουσιν.
Therefore, those who say that the soul is incorporeal talk idly.
οὐθὲν γὰρ ἂν ἐδύνατο ποιεῖν οὔτε πάσχειν, εἰ ἦν τοιαύτη· νῦν δ’ ἐναργῶς ἀμφότερα ταῦτα διαλαμβάνομεν περὶ τὴν ψυχὴν τὰ συμπτώματα.
For it would be unable to act or to be acted upon if it were of such a nature; but as it is, we clearly perceive both of these accidents in the case of the soul.

Notes

  1. §62τῷ ἐφ’ ἕνα τόπον φέρεσθαι — Dative of cause (articular infinitive). Even without a preposition like `διά`, the phrase `τῷ` + infinitive functions to indicate the cause or reason: "by being carried..." or "because they are carried...".
  2. §63ἔστι δέ τι μέρος πολλὴν παραλλαγὴν εἰληφὸς τῇ λεπτομερείᾳ καὶ αὐτῶν τούτων — Refers to the component of the soul that "has received a great difference in the fineness of its particles even from these (wind and heat)", which later Epicurean tradition identified as the "fourth, nameless part" responsible for sensation. `τῇ λεπτομερείᾳ` is a dative of respect ("in fineness"), and `καὶ αὐτῶν τούτων` is a genitive of comparison modifying `παραλλαγήν`.
  3. §64οὐ μὴν εἰλήφει ἂν ταύτην, εἰ μὴ ὑπὸ τοῦ λοιποῦ ἀθροίσματος ἐστεγάζετό πως — Contrary-to-fact conditional sentence referring to the past. The apodosis features `ἄν` with the pluperfect indicative (or imperfective `εἰλήφει`), and the protasis uses `εἰ` with the imperfect indicative (`ἐστεγάζετο`), meaning "it would not have acquired this [sensation] if it had not been sheltered by the rest of the aggregate."
  4. §66Ἀλλὰ μὴν καὶ τόδε (λέγει ἐν ἄλλοις... — The parenthesized passage represents an insertion or summary by Diogenes Laertius compiling doctrines on the physical composition of the soul, sleep, and reproduction from other works of Epicurus. Syntactically, the abrupt appearance of `λέγει` ("he says") in the third person singular indicates that this is a reporter's summary rather than Epicurus's direct address.
  5. §67καθ’ ἑαυτὸ δὲ οὐκ ἔστι νοῆσαι τὸ ἀσώματον πλὴν τοῦ κενοῦ — A core proposition of Epicureanism identifying "the void" (`τὸ κενόν`) as the only instance of "the incorporeal" (`τὸ ἀσώματον`). `πλὴν τοῦ κενοῦ` uses `πλήν` ("except") with the genitive case, laying the ground for the argument that the soul cannot be incorporeal and must therefore be physical.

Cite this passage

Epicurus, Letter to Herodotus §62-67. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0537.tlg010.humanitext-grc1:62-67

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