O clinamen de epicuro como problema da filosofia ocidental : da antiguidade grega à primeira geração da Escola de Frankfurt

Abstract

This paper addresses the conflict between determinist and indeterminist perspectives on history, with a focus on the Western Marxist tradition. The central objective is to analyze the clinamen of Epicurus - taken up by Marx in his doctoral thesis - as a relevant philosophical theme throughout Western history, from Greek Antiquity to the first generation of the Frankfurt School. To this end, the question of the possibility of freedom is revisited throughout the history of Western philosophy, culminating in some reflections on the subject by the Frankfurt School. Considering that this theme was also important in 20th century physics, the dissertation incorporates an analysis of the question of determinism in contemporary physics as a continuation of the physical question raised by ancient philosophy. Finally, it is also one of the aims of this dissertation to reflect on the complexity inherent in determining the true nature of freedom, which, although lacking certainty, suggests the importance of a pragmatic and ethical conception of freedom as a possibility.