According to the Wikipedia page for the aforementioned Metrodorus, "Metrodorus died in 278/7 BC, in the 53rd year of his age, seven years before Epicurus, who would have appointed him his successor had he survived him."
While I wonder about the accuracy of this statement, it did bring forth a thought - assuming this is correct, what were to have happened had Metrodorus of Lampsacus not passed away on 278/7 BC, and in fact, had not only survived him but lived as long as the man known as Epicurus' successor, Hermarchus (apparently living into his 70s)?
What kind of impact would this have made on the development of the school of thought known as Epicureanism? How would this influence Hermarchus' own influence and legacy? Would those missionaries speaking of Boutta somehow get mixed up? How does this impact the other schools of thought of the period, such as Stoicism?
While I wonder about the accuracy of this statement, it did bring forth a thought - assuming this is correct, what were to have happened had Metrodorus of Lampsacus not passed away on 278/7 BC, and in fact, had not only survived him but lived as long as the man known as Epicurus' successor, Hermarchus (apparently living into his 70s)?
What kind of impact would this have made on the development of the school of thought known as Epicureanism? How would this influence Hermarchus' own influence and legacy? Would those missionaries speaking of Boutta somehow get mixed up? How does this impact the other schools of thought of the period, such as Stoicism?