Axioms of lucretius atomic theory of the universe nature resolves everything into its component atoms and never reduces anything to nothing there is vacuity in things material objects are of two kinds. On the nature of things unabridged on the nature of things unabridged audiobook, by lucretius. Poetic models and natural philosophy in the consolation to marcia. On the nature of things is a firstcentury bc didactic poem by the roman poet and philosopher lucretius c. The tendency to see it as an isolated purple passage has concealed its crucial significance. Lucretius poem on the nature of things combines a scientific and philosophical treatise with some of the greatest poetry ever written. On the nature of things unabridged naxos audiobooks. In his new book, author and harvard literature professor stephen greenblatt explores.
Lucretius is a really difficult text and you need a translation that will point out his sources and what hes doing with them. Lucretius poem on the nature of the universe combines a scientific and philosophical treatise with some of the greatest poetry ever written. Project gutenberg offers 62,091 free ebooks to download. The poem is divided into six books or sections and. In a fresh interpretation of lucretius s on the nature of things, charles segal reveals this great poetical account of epicurean philosophy as an important and profound document for the history of western attitudes toward death. Of the nature of things paperback february 4, 2010 by lucretius author 4. The turners oak is a hybrid of the european oak quercus robur and the mediterranean.
On the nature of things a conversation with margaret graver, professor of classics, dartmouth college. With intense moral fervour lucretius demonstrates to humanity that in death there is nothing to fear since the soul is mortal, and the world and everything in it is governed not by the gods, but by the. He overlapped chronologically with the political titan cicero who had read and. Certainly, the contemplation of death, as the wages of sin and passage to another world, is holy and religious. This is a new verse translation of lucretiuss only known work, a didactic poem written in six books of hexameters. Oct 09, 2008 lucretius poem on the nature of the universe combines a scientific and philosophical treatise with some of the greatest poetry ever written.
In contrast to modern thought on the subject, he did. On the nature of things hardcover january 1, 1970 by lucretius author 4. The epicurean view of the world is that it is composed entirely of atoms moving about in infinite space. Lucretiuss work enabled a radical critique of religion, because his notion. In this historical piece, lucretius made some very wild claims for the time in which he lived.
In a fresh interpretation of lucretiuss on the nature of things, charles segal reveals this great poetical account of epicurean philosophy as an important and profound document for the history of western attitudes toward death. Jun 26, 2011 lucretius is a really difficult text and you need a translation that will point out his sources and what hes doing with them. Lucretius was born in 99 bc, and on the nature of things is his only surviving work. Only we must be careful not to interpret the past by the present. Melvilles particularly literal translation of the use of metaphor is especially helpful to those looking at the text from a scientific or philosophical point of view. For the documentary television series, see the nature of things. His aim was to free the roman world from its two great terrors. Namely, lucretius explores the principles of atomism. Also the building blocks for his ethical theory the universe is one large stable system. The poem explores lucretius belief about the gods, humanity, the senses, the world, and the universe, all through the philosophical framework of epicurus. With intense moral fervour he demonstrates to humanity that in death there is nothing to fear since the soul is mortal, and the world and everything in it is governed by the mechanical laws of nature and not by gods. Have a look at what they say of his concluding passage, the one where hes translating thucydides as a test. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature.
Thus the sum of things is ever being renewed, and mortal. He shows that this poem, aimed at promoting spiritual tranquillity, confronts two anxieties about death not addressed. On the nature of things by titus lucretius carus free ebook. In his new book, author and harvard literature professor stephen greenblatt explores the 2,000 yearold writings of lucretius and his. Living organisms survived because of their strength, speed, or intellect. Page 91 men fear death as children fear to go in the dark. On the nature of things summary and study guide supersummary. Brieger and still more to the late professor giussani,l the philosophy of epicurus is far better understood than it was. To each generation its problems present themselves in their own peculiar manner, and we must endeavour to understand lucretius not as a.
Many comments have been posted about on the nature of things. Lucretius denounced popular beliefs in deities and supernatural creatures. Lucretius poem on the nature of things combines a scientific and philosophical treatise with some of. On the nature of things work by lucretius britannica. Epicurus taught that the world could be understood by reason and that religion only arouses unnecessary fear. To each generation its problems present themselves in their own peculiar manner, and we must endeavour to understand lucretius not as a contempo. Lucretius on the nature of things matter and void, part i. On the nature of things by lucretius, part of the internet. Proem mother of rome, delight of gods and men, dear venus that beneath the gliding stars makest to teem the manyvoyaged main and fruitful lands for all of living things through thee alone are evermore conceived, through thee are risen to visit the great sunbefore thee, goddess, and thy coming on, flee stormy wind and massy cloud away, for thee the daedal earth bears scented flowers, for. On the nature of things is sweeping in scope and detail, but in the end it is essentially a presentation of the epicurean method for answering the most common and troubling questions about the nature of life and of the universe. Smith outlines in a highly accessible manner what little is known of lucretius life and times, the poems position and status in the epic and didactic tradition, and the philosophy of epicurus that lucretius puts forward, but also manages to include some of the most up to date research, including recent scholarship on the herculaneum papyri. Introduction to lucretius on the nature of things cyril baley o f the three great latin poets lucretius seems to make the most peculiar appeal to our own age. L ucretius full name titus lucretius carus lived in the first half of the century bc, probably from 99 to 55 bc.
This 45page guide for on the nature of things by lucretius includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 6 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. For over 100 years oxford worlds classics has made available the broadest spectrum of. Titus lucretius carus died mid to late 50s bce was an epicurean poet of the late roman republican era. Lucretius argues that the gods are not actively involved in life, so need not be appeased. Librivox recording of on the nature of things, by titus lucretius carus c.
1235 403 844 1014 625 196 734 1094 1403 1254 577 66 248 1032 589 571 1235 644 647 1107 411 1446 299 557 789 1567 1308 1157 121 1312 1490 113 847 1014 896 1490 1004 1178 1202 455 1314 121 211 751 1421