Cover of On the Nature of Things by Lucretius Ebook On the Nature of Things
Ebook · Adelphi Press

On the Nature of Things

Author
Lucretius
Series
World Classics
Language
English
Length
266 pages
ISBN
9781787240117
Published
7 December 2016
Imprint
Adelphi Press
  • Lucretius
  • Epicurus
  • Epicurean
  • philosophy
  • peace
  • freedom
  • pain
  • fear
  • nature
  • ethics

Description

"On the Nature of Things" by Lucretius is a profound exploration of Epicurean philosophy, blending poetry and science to explain the universe. Lucretius argues that everything is composed of atoms, governed by natural laws rather than divine intervention. He explores themes of existence, free will, and the pursuit of happiness, advocating for a life free from fear of death and superstition. Through vivid imagery and logical reasoning, he dismantles myths, emphasizing the importance of reason and sensory experience. This seminal work critiques materialism and highlights the beauty of the natural world. A cornerstone of classical thought, it invites readers to embrace a rational, tranquil existence rooted in understanding the cosmos and humanity's place within it.

Author

Lucretius (c. 99–c. 55 BC) was a Roman poet and philosopher whose single surviving work, De Rerum Natura (On the Nature of Things), set out the atomist philosophy of Epicurus in luminous hexameter verse. The poem argues that the universe operates by natural laws, not divine will — an idea that rattled orthodoxy for two millennia.

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