New Work of Historical Fiction With Epicurean Connections by Christian Luchini - "The Posillipo Enigma"

Here is a thread from facebook by Christiano Luchini, the author of this new work.

I haven't read this and can't yet comment on the content or any aspect of it, but I see Elli is reading it and I will report back on her comments.

Epicureanism, one of the most important philosophical currents of antiquity, spread to Rome during the first century B.C., thanks to the work of masters such as Lucretius and Philodemus of Gadara. However, Epicurean philosophy found its most suitable environment in Campania, a southern region of Italy, where the beauty of the Gulf of Naples attracted many intellectuals, artists and men of culture.

I wrote a historical thriller, in English, called "The Posillipo Enigma," set in Naples at the time of the Epicurean School of Naples. Virgil will have to investigate the death of the philosopher Sirone.

Thanks for the attention.

Greetings from Napoli, Italy.

Responses:

Elli:

"The Posillipo Εnigma". It sounds interesting!

The word "Enigma" comes from the greek word "Αίνιγμα" [Aenigma] and means something that is difficult to interpret, something that remains a mystery, uncertain, inexplicable, ambiguous, paradoxical, inscrutable. Something that is not obvious!
IMO the enigma has been solved! It is obvious, and it's given with the one word that is "Posillipo".
"Posillipo" comes from the greek word "Παυσίλυπον" [Pausílypon], that means "which that ceases sorrow/sadness". What ceases sorrow and sadness? Pleasure, of course, the greatest good!

Christiano:

Elli Pensa It is very interesting and passionate reflection, but it is not related to my book. Posillipo is first of all a beautiful hilly and scenic place in Naples, a wonderful city in southern Italy. It was named so by the Greeks precisely because of the beauty to contemplate that ceases all fears and sorrows.

Elli: Cristiano Luchini hello and joy

Yes, I' ve heard for this beautiful place in Naples with the name as Posillipo. However, as an epicurean I got into the point quickly to solve your Enigma. Epicureans like to solve the mysteries and enigmas and whatever is uncertain and foggy. Besides, for epicureans, behind any Enigma only one thing is the obvious: "atoms and the void"

Christiano:

Here is " The Posillipo Enigma." I am considering writing a series. In the meantime, I started with the first book.

https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=ury9EAAAQBAJ

Elli:

Cristiano Luchini In your prologue you wrote: "The school of Posillipo and its founder Sirone – a renowned epicurean philosopher - who meets a sudden and mysterious end, and his friend Virgil begins investigating the enigmatic villa and its secrets".

I will read your book of course, it seems interesting, but in the meantime, I would like to give another probability on who murdered Sirone, the Epicurean philosopher.
Well, the murderer was a furious idealist-platonist, like those furious idealists-platonists that chased after Epicurus in the island of Lesbos in the city of Mytilene. Epicurus with his teachings caused unrest to the platonists, so Epicurus run away from there, and before they lynched him.

There is a recent post at Facebook with comments on Cristiano's interview with Tim OKeefe and a Vedanta advocate.

Thanks very much to those who commented especially the extended remarks by Elli and by Matt.

Here are a couple of highlights:

Matt Jax

Unfortunately, I cannot listen to the podcast right now due to my work browser blocking it. Interestingly enough, Vedanta was one of the original philosophies that I studied (and accepted for many years) when I first began my philosophical journey. A copy of the Upanishads and Prabhupada's sectarian Bhagavad-Gita As It Is....were my first textual introduction to philosophy. I will say that I sought out these Eastern philosophies due to my dissatisfaction with Christianity surrounding the death of a loved one. Vedanta painted a very specific worldview that was in many ways alien and foreign, and in some ways similar to what I was used to. The ideas of maya, moksha, dharma, karma etc. were unknown to me...as was Krishna, the avatara of Maha-Vishnu the Saguna Brahman...but it wasn't too long after spending years engaged with this, I realized there were obvious connections to to Greek philosophy in Neoplatonism and Stoicism. It is even possible that the founder of Neoplatonism, Plotinus, may have been significantly influenced by Indian philosophy and even had a possibly Indian mentor Ammonius Saccas (Sakya) in Alexadrian Egypt.

I do really want to listen to this because I cannot think of two more diametrically different philosophies. Epicurean philosophy would appear to be the antithesis of Vedanata in nearly all ways. From the idea that Epicurus posits the senses are "true" and that the Universe does not operate under the visage of an ordered intelligence and the gods are apathetic to human affairs, Vedanta posits that the universe is under the guidance of providence (and in fact God is the ground of all things) and that reality is an illusion. Epicurus posits that the "soul" dissolves at death, Vedanta posits that it's eternal. Epicurus tells us to trust our senses and hedonic calculus, Vedanta tells us to abandon the senses and embrace bhakti/jnana yoga or discipline. I cannot think of two more different philosophies!

I can't imagine there were too many commonalities.

Cristiano LuchiniAuthor
Matt Jax Try to listen here on Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/episode/1JlnuSzu7XJlvj8B6rkIgo... . Listening to Prof. O'Keefe will help you clarify so many aspects of Epicureanism that escape many people . . Above all the pursuit of pleasure, hedonism, which is something absolutely nonexistent in Epicurus' thought. Pleasure as understood by him is the absence of pain, not the pleasure of the senses. Pleasure is cultivating the virtues so as to be serene and live a pleasant life.

"It is impossible to live well without living sensibly, nobly and justly; and it is impossible to live sensibly, nobly and justly without living pleasantly."

(Epicurus, Letter to Menoeceus)

I am sure that after listening to the podcast, you will have clearer ideas about both Vedanta and Epicureanism. You will listen to those who know better.

Matt JaxOk! I had a chance to listen to the podcast and I am now able to speak on it...

Yes, both philosophies are mutually exclusive.

Someone speaking about Vedanta will surely find a counterpoint in another philosophy, such as Neoplatonism...but as for Epicurean philosophy, it is a very different situation.

τὸ ὑφεστηκὸς δεῖ τέλος ἐπιλογίζεσθαι καὶ πᾶσαν τὴν ἐνάργειαν, ἐφʼ ἣν τὰ δοξαζόμενα ἀνάγομεν· εἰ δὲ μὴ πάντα ἀκρισίας καὶ ταραχῆς ἔσται μεστά.

KD. 22

Epicurus says we must focus on the fundamental goal...that is living a pleasurable life and studying nature... to be able to find that serenity that is sought after. Otherwise we will find nothing but confusion. If our observations and philosophical conclusions are not aligned...we will have significant dissatisfaction. This is why it's important to have a strong understanding of Epicurean Physics, so as to remove any doubts about what Nature is composed of. If for example I accept Vedanta, I accept an idealistic principle that posits that Nature is not quite what it seems and illusory. This type of thinking is VERY helpful for someone positing that God or Brahman is the ground of reality and we are all part of a cosmic play or dance....and even we are Brahman as well. But what good is believing that the world is an illusion? How does that alleviate any fears of the unknown?

Epicurus wants us to study nature for what it is...and having a full understanding of it, helps us make decisions to lead a happy life.