Pedetemptim progrediens. Tempo e conoscenza, tra Carneade e Lucrezio

Based on a study by Anna Maria Ioppolo, Carneade e il terzo libro delle Tusculanae, published in the first volume of «Elenchos» (1980), this article focuses on the formulation pedetemptim progrediens, which is used in Cic. Tusc. III 22, 54. On the one hand, by supporting Ioppolo’s hypothesis that Carneades and not the Cyrenaics are behind the pedetemptim progrediens, the expression is discussed in the context of the epistemology of Carneades (and his disciples), whereby the connection between time and the criterion of persuasiveness becomes clear. On the other hand, Carneades’ pedetemptim progrediens is compared with the occurrences of the same image in Lucretius’ Book Five (verses 533 and 1453). Although time plays an essential role in the process of knowledge for both Lucretius (and the Epicureans) and Carneades (albeit from two incommensurable perspectives), it is suggested that the occurrence in the meteorological context (v 533) cannot take on the “gradualist” meaning with which Carneades (possibly) used it. Instead, it should rather be understood as a “methodological” advice.