The Nature of Things
Published on 1. March 2013
220 pages
978-1-62558-211-9 (ISBN)
Description
De rerum natura (On the Nature of Things) is a 1st century BC didactic poem by the Roman poet and philosopher Lucretius with the goal of explaining Epicurean philosophy to a Roman audience. Lucretius presents the principles of atomism; the nature of the mind and soul; explanations of sensation and thought; the development of the world and its phenomena; and explains a variety of celestial and terrestrial phenomena. The universe described in the poem operates according to these physical principles, guided by fortuna, "chance," and not the divine intervention of the traditional Roman deities.
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Content
- Cover
- The Nature of Things
- Copyright Page
- Book I
- Proem
- Substance Is Eternal
- The Void
- Nothing Exists per Se Except Atoms and the Void
- Character of the Atoms
- Confutation of Other Philosophers
- The Infinity of the Universe
- Book II
- Proem
- Atomic Motions
- Atomic Forms and Their Combinations
- Infinite Worlds
- Book III
- Proem
- Nature and Composition of the Mind
- The Soul Is Mortal
- Folly of the Fear of Death
- Book IV
- Proem
- Existence and Character of the Images
- The Senses and Mental Pictures
- Some Vital Functions
- The Passion of Love
- Book V
- Proem
- The World Is Not Eternal
- Origins of Vegetable and Animal Life
- Origins and Savage Period of Mankind
- Beginnings of Civilization
- Book VI
- Proem
- Great Meteorological Phenomena, Etc.
- The Plague Athens
