Single Idea 5711

[catalogued under 17. Mind and Body / A. Mind-Body Dualism / 3. Panpsychism]

Full Idea

The earth is and always has been an insentient being.

Gist of Idea

The earth is and always has been an insentient being

Source

Lucretius (On the Nature of the Universe [c.60 BCE], II.658)

Book Reference

Lucretius: 'On the Nature of the Universe', ed/tr. Latham,Ronald [Penguin 1951], p.79


A Reaction

The fact that Epicurus needs to deny this shows that some idea close to panpsychism must still have been around in his time. He is discussing gods at the time, so maybe pantheism was the view being attacked, but that is a subset of panpsychism.