Zepchnąć poezję na margines Dylematy epikurejczyków co do miejsca poezji w świecie (i ich dziewiętnastowieczne pogłosy)
Poetry on the Margins of Society: the Epicureans’ Dilemmas Concerning the Role of Poetry in the Ancient Greek World (and Their Nineteenth-century Echoes)

Summary/Abstract: The article presents Epicurus’ view on poetry and on traditional model of Greek upbringing and education. Te analysis of the philosopher’s words concerning the paideia and the nature of poetry, transmitted by the ancient authors, shows that the Epicurean understanding of poetry as a pure pleasure, which is not necessary to achieve happiness, results in the juxtaposition of poetry with philosophy and moving the former into the outskirts of the civilization. The difficulties concerning the interpretation of the Epicureans’ thought about art and their attitude towards the its role in the human life have been presented and the evolution of the Epicurean views has been outlined. It is explained how Epicurus’ denial of any value of poetry was modified by Philodemus to the endorsement of its aesthetic qualities and later converted by Lucretius into attempts to express philosophical thoughts in the form of a poem.

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