French Literature Reviews - 2026
B. Roche, Epicurean Enlightenment in the 17th Century: La Mothe Le Vayer, Molière, and La Fontaine as Readers and Successors of Lucretius
Philosophy, Anthropology and Ideas
Bruno Roche,
Epicurean Enlightenment in the 17th Century:
La Mothe Le Vayer, Molière, and La Fontaine as Readers and Successors of Lucretius,
Honoré Champion, collection "Libre pensée et littérature clandestine", 2020.
EAN13: 9782745352521.
- 446 pages
- 65 euros
- published on February 26, 2020
From La Mothe Le Vayer to Molière and La Fontaine, a diffuse Epicureanism spread throughout the Republic of Letters, forming the backdrop of the 17th-century literary landscape. What is the function of Epicurean philosophemes in the works of these three authors? Are they merely decorative elements? Epicurean doctrine puts forward ideas regarding the definition of pleasure, the mortality of the soul, and the negation of Providence that directly clash with Christian dogma. How do these authors adopt Epicurus and Lucretius's therapy for fear and ethics of pleasure? How do they embrace heterodox ideas and values within their Christian world? The libertine coherence of their discourse seems to be constructed, quietly yet surely, under the aegis of Lucretius.
An associate researcher at IHRIM-Saint-Étienne (UMR 5317), Bruno Roche focuses on representations of laughter in classical literature. His research explores the revival of ancient philosophies in early modern Europe, and he has published his doctoral thesis with Honoré Champion, titled Le Rire des libertins dans la première moitié du xviie siècle (2011), as well as an edition of Dialogues faits à l’imitation des Anciens de La Mothe Le Vayer (2015).
During the seventeenth century, the reception of classical antiquity involved complex engagements with ancient philosophical systems that often challenged orthodox religious doctrines. The revival of Hellenistic thought, particularly the atomism and ethics associated with Epicurus and his Roman interpreter Lucretius, played a significant role in shaping early modern intellectual debates across Europe. Writers operating within the Republic of Letters frequently engaged with heterodox concepts such as the mortality of the soul and the rejection of divine Providence, negotiating the tension between classical philosophy and the dominant Christian framework of their era.
Bruno Roche explores the presence of Epicurean ideas in the works of La Mothe Le Vayer, Molière, and La Fontaine, examining how these authors read and adapted Lucretius. The study investigates how Epicurean doctrine puts forward ideas regarding the definition of pleasure, the mortality of the soul, and the negation of Providence that directly clash with Christian dogma. Readers interested in early modern philosophy and seventeenth-century literary history may find this volume relevant.