Prepared from the sphere library book, translated martin ferguson smith 1969. It explores the world from an epistemological perspectivepossibly the earliest form of scientific inquiry that attempts to divorce itself from. It is distinguished as well by features that encourage readers to. The book summarizes and explains the principles of epicureanism, a philosophy founded by the greek philosopher epicurus around 300 bc. The poem, written in some 7,400 dactylic hexameters, is divided into six untitled books, and explores epicurean physics through poetic language. Reissued to accompany stephen greenblatts the swerve. On the nature of things work by lucretius britannica.
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. 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 work is distinguished by the fervour and poetry of the author. And know, these all thus rise from out the earth many lifegiving which be. In six books compounded of solid reasoning, brilliant imagination, and noble poetry, he expounds the scientific theories of the greek.
On the nature of things is a firstcentury bc didactic poem by the roman poet and philosopher lucretius c. Home collectionstexts perseus catalog research grants open source about help. In book 6 the poet explains various atmospheric and terrestrial phenomena, including thunder, lightning, earthquakes, volcanoes, the magnet, and plagues. The way things are by lucretius goodreads share book. The title of lucretiuss work translates that of the chief work of epicurus, peri physeos on nature. Click anywhere in the line to jump to another position. Book i book ii book iii book iv book v book vi card. Gilliatt is ecologically produced in france from soft french and european merino wool. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. Like if the world is the product of nothing but natural forces and natural law, divine. Hide browse bar your current position in the text is marked in blue. Due to the health crisis we are going through and to ensure that we all get out of it as quickly as possible, we regret to inform you that the shipments are currently suspended.
Don fowler 2007 lucretius on creation and evolution. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. It presents a remarkably lucid and mature explanation of the epicurean system of. On the nature of things by lucretius, part of the internet classics archive. Athens bestowed on them a new life and established laws. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Project gutenberg offers 61,799 free ebooks to download. Athens first gave the sweet and laws, consolations of life, when she brought forth a man b but epicurus the discoverer of truth, endowed with such wisdom, who. Lucretius begins by invoking the name of venus as a creative force, appealing to memmius to whom the. The poem is divided into six books or sections and. This book is the 449th greatest fiction book of all time as determined by. I have translated from my own text published in the bibliotheca oxoniensi. The mind perceives mental pictures that do not always exist.