Lucretius, on the nature of things loeb classical library. On the nature of the universe book 4 throughout the first three books of on the nature of the universe lucretius walks a thin line between philosophy, science and poetry. Lucretius begins by invoking the name of venus as a creative force, appealing to memmius to whom the. All religions are equally sublime to the ignorant, useful to the politician, and ridiculous to the philosopher. Aug 19, 2017 lucretius s on the nature of things is not easy latin. It closes, rather unexpectedly, with a clarification of plague. Lucretius denounced popular beliefs in deities and supernatural creatures. Lucretius only extant work, written in dactylic hexameter, addressed to gaius memmius who became praetor in 58 bc and failed to be converted. Rather than being gratified and fulfilled, people squandered their time on earth complaining about their old age and impending death. In book 4 he sets out to prove once again that the universe is composed only of physical bits of matter called atoms and that gods did not create the cosmos nor.
Lucretius poem on the nature of things combines a scientific and philosophical treatise with some of the greatest poetry ever written. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. The internet classics archive on the nature of things by. On the nature of things book 6 summary freebooksummary. Lucretius himself tripped up these editors, by principio. 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. It is also for people who believe in myths, they, perhaps more than anyone should read lucretius too. And we ourselves indeed to make this book, and still to seek the nature of the world.
The poem is the fullest extant statement of the physical theory of the greek philosopher epicurus. Epicurus taught that the world could be understood by reason and that. Book 3, 866869 lucretius also saw that this fundamental fear of death prevented people from living their lives now. Ovid invites his readers to compare his account of a plague with the accounts created by his predecessors, writers such as thucydides, lucretius, and virgil. On the nature of things is a firstcentury bc didactic poem by the roman poet and philosopher lucretius c. Jerome, a prominent roman clergyman writing four centuries after his death, wrote that a love potion. Titus lucretius carus died mid to late 50s bce was an epicurean poet of the late roman republican era. On the nature of things by lucretius, part of the internet classics archive. Dionysius mus when in the fourth century bc the greek citystates become part of the empire of alexander the great and his successors, the greek ideal of autonomy and self. They allowed death to take them away from living before death ever actually came.
Rather than being gratified and fulfilled, people squandered their time on earth. The remainder of the book is devoted to a full account of epicurean cosmology and sociology, with the poet explaining the stages of life on earth and the origin and. So, if you know a little latin, but youre not really. Lucretius regarded him as the spiritual savior of mankind. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of essay concerning human understanding and what it means. On the nature of things a conversation with margaret graver, professor of classics, dartmouth college. These set the stage for his explanation of the diversity of bodies. Starting with meteorology, lucretius tends to roar, which strikes dread into the. Epicurus taught that the world could be understood by reason and that religion only arouses unnecessary fear.
Lucretius, on the nature of things, book 3 english text. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of. I am amazed that someone who lived more than 2000 years ago could possess such a deep and complete understanding of our universe. In book iii, lucretius outlines the rules governing the mind and spirit, and their relation to the body. The last book of this work centers around different meteorological and geographical marvels. In six books compounded of solid reasoning, brilliant imagination, and noble poetry, he expounds the scientific theories of the greek. Jerome, a prominent roman clergyman writing four centuries after his death, wrote that a love potion had driven him insane and that lucretius had eventually committed suicide. Lucretiuss scientific poem on the nature of things c. Lucretius begins by invoking epicurus, the philosopher who originated this school of philosophy.
It is sweet, when winds trouble the waters on the great sea, to behold from land the distress of others, not because it is a pleasure that any should be afflicted, but because it is sweet to see from what evils you are yourself exempt. On the nature of things work by lucretius britannica. This is an interesting work to read, useful for promoting understanding of classical epicureanism notes mostly extracted from the text. Prepared from the sphere library book, translated martin ferguson smith 1969. Book iii summary book iii focuses on the nature of the mind and spirit, establishing the argument that we should not fear death. Lucretius on the nature of things matter and void, part i. In the first place, the study of lucretius has made considerable advances. Lucretius poem on the nature of the universe combines a scientific and philosophical treatise with some of the greatest poetry ever written. So, if you know a little latin, but youre not really great at it, this compact volume with the latin on the lefthand page and the english on the right, is the book for you. Brief summary of physics and philosophy the epicurean poet, lucretius, writes a lengthy poem which explains the nature of the universe, its origins, causes, and its essence. Lucretius begins by invoking the name of venus as a creative force, appealing to memmius to whom the work is addressed, and then praising his master epicurus. Lucretius begins this book with another tribute to the genius of epicurus, whose heroic intellectual achievements, it is argued, exceed even the twelve labors of hercules.
The title of lucretius s work translates that of the chief work of epicurus, peri physeos on nature. On the nature of things summary and study guide supersummary. 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. This 45page guide for on the nature of things by lucretius includes. Lucretius sets the stage for the following arguments by reminding us that epicureans believe that fear of death is. I was in the midst of reading yet another book that referenced lucretius on the nature of things and thought i should stop and read lucretius words for myself. This study guide consists of approximately 68 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of on the nature of things. The section in the middle of the first book,5 in which lucretius criticizes rival theories of the world, shows us how epicurus applied his principle. It is sweet, when winds trouble the waters on the great sea, to behold from land the distress of others, not because it is a pleasure that any should be afflicted, but because it is sweet to see from. The title of lucretiuss work translates that of the chief work of epicurus, peri physeos on nature. Books iii and iv deal with the mind, the spirit, and the senses. Itmight indeed be thought that with so fine a model in existence it is unnecessary and unprofitable to undertake the task again. For, it is amazing to learn that the secular, nonreligious intellectual opinions of people from around 500 bc were actually quite accurate and concurrent. Scholars have noted the seeming inconsistency in lucretius invoking venus at the beginning of a work that disclaims the gods involvement with human life.
Epicureanism was a missionary philospohy, aiming to give man happiness by making him selfsufficient. If livy is easy and horace is hard, then lucretius is much closer to horace in difficulty. In six books compounded of solid reasoning, brilliant imagination, and. It also alludes to his ethical and logical doctrines.
Book iii in the third book, he describes the nature of the mind and the soul, commencing with a eulogy on epicurus, who taught that the world. The title of lucretiuss work translates that of the. Study science in order to rid yourself of unneccesary fears, especially of the gods and death. He begins again by praising epicurus for revealing the truth about the nature of things and discusses some key aspects of epicurean ethical doctrine. The poem is divided into six books or sections and. This is a must have book for any humanist, freethinker, scientifically oriented person. Lucretiuss on the nature of things is not easy latin. Knowledge of the nature of things in john lockes essay concerning human understanding. Lucretius begins by invoking epicurus, the philosopher who originated this. Brief summary of physics and philosophy the epicurean poet, lucretius, writes a lengthy poem which explains the nature of the universe, its. On the nature of things book iii great books of the. Book iii demonstrates the atomic structure and mortality of the soul and ends with a triumphant sermon on the theme death is nothing to us.
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