The End of the World... In Ancient Greek and Roman Philosophy

There have been and there will be a great many destructions of humans, the greatest by fire and water, and the smaller ones by various other means. - Plato, Timaeus

Everything in existence will quickly be changed: either it will be turned into vapor, if the nature of the universe is one, or it will be scattered. - Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

The end of the world, and what form it might take, was a central and much-debated topic in ancient Greek and Roman philosophy.

From the Pre-socratic philosophers and Plato who thought that flood, fires, disease and earthquakes would decimated life on earth to the atomists Democritus and Epicurus who argued that the earth, along with all the other worlds in the cosmos, would eventually be completely destroyed... it has often been an important concept to consider.

Indeed, philosophers as diverse as Lucretius, Cicero, Seneca, and Marcus Aurelius all offered various end of the world scenarios as a means to bring together physics, the understanding of the nature of the universe, with ethics, how to live the good life.

The goal was to contemplate, and possibly witness, the final event with understanding, acceptance, and resilience.

By thinking about the end of the world, we gain the ultimate perspective of our place in the nature of the universe.

Join Christopher Star, Professor of Classics at Middlebury College, and author of “Apocalypse and Golden Age: The End of the World in Greek and Roman Thought” in this special end of the year, end of the world talk.

We'll delve into the ancient philosophy, what it meant then... and what it means for us now.

This Discussion will take place on TUESDAY, December 13th, at Noon EST (NY time)

*Can't Make it Live? If you register in advance, we will send you the recording.*

About the Speaker:

Christopher Star is professor of classics at Middlebury College. His current research focuses on the relationship between ancient and modern visions of the future. His most recent book is Apocalypse and Golden Age: The End of the World in Greek and Roman Thought.

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