In this paper, I analyse the problem of monstrosity as a key point of Lu-cretius's theory through the opposite interpretations of Bergson and Canguilhem. According to Canguilhem, Lucretius's philosophy can be described as follows: before the constitution of the 'pacts of the nature,' forms proliferate in the kingdom of Chaos. Following the pacts, the Kingdom of the form and of the Cosmos is established. Fol-lowing Bergson, on the contrary, Lucretius's pacts of nature represent the 'kingdom of necessity' and the 'eternal law of nature.' Not in the sense that the persistence of forms is ensured, but rather in the sense of the necessity of the combinations of atoms. Hence, the form's constitution is not secured by the pacts of nature, and a monster is not an exception to them. Both interpretations paradigmatically illustrate what is at stake in the concept of monstrosity, namely the meaning of Lucretian determinism and its relation with chance.

Morfino, V. (2016). Lucretius and monsters: Between Bergson and Canguilhem. PHILOSOPHY TODAY, 60(1), 139-151 [10.5840/philtoday2016112101].

Lucretius and monsters: Between Bergson and Canguilhem

MORFINO, VITTORIO
2016

Abstract

In this paper, I analyse the problem of monstrosity as a key point of Lu-cretius's theory through the opposite interpretations of Bergson and Canguilhem. According to Canguilhem, Lucretius's philosophy can be described as follows: before the constitution of the 'pacts of the nature,' forms proliferate in the kingdom of Chaos. Following the pacts, the Kingdom of the form and of the Cosmos is established. Fol-lowing Bergson, on the contrary, Lucretius's pacts of nature represent the 'kingdom of necessity' and the 'eternal law of nature.' Not in the sense that the persistence of forms is ensured, but rather in the sense of the necessity of the combinations of atoms. Hence, the form's constitution is not secured by the pacts of nature, and a monster is not an exception to them. Both interpretations paradigmatically illustrate what is at stake in the concept of monstrosity, namely the meaning of Lucretian determinism and its relation with chance.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
Althusser; Bergson; Canguilhem; Chance; Clinamen; Lucretius; Necessity; Pacts of nature;
Monster, Lucretius, Canguilhem, Bergson, materialism
English
2016
60
1
139
151
none
Morfino, V. (2016). Lucretius and monsters: Between Bergson and Canguilhem. PHILOSOPHY TODAY, 60(1), 139-151 [10.5840/philtoday2016112101].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/129064
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