Lucretius: Poet and EpicureanAn exciting series that provides students with direct access to the ancient world by offering new translations of extracts from its key texts. What is the world made of? How can we be happy? What happens after death? Drawing on the philosophical teachings of Epicurus, Lucretius seeks to answer these and other big questions in his masterful poem 'On the nature of things'. This book offers a selection of key passages from the poem. In addition it gives students insight into its artistic inventiveness, provides a cultural and historical frame of reference, and offers access to the Epicurean philosophy underlying the poem. |
Contents
Atomic motion shape and properties | 29 |
The nature of the spirit and mind | 54 |
The processes of sensation and thought | 85 |
The origins of our world and of life and civilization | 109 |
Phenomena of our world explained | 134 |
Recommended reading | 150 |
Common terms and phrases
Acheron Aeneid Anaxagoras ancient world animals argument ataraxia Athens Atomists atoms believe body Book born Callimachus Catullus cause century BC Cicero clouds colour creatures Cybele death Democritus didactic Diogenes Laertius divine earth Empedocles Ennius epic Epicureanism Epicurus everything example exist experience sensation eyes fear fire force Gaius Memmius give goddess gods Greek happens held Hesiod Homer human immortal infinite Iphianassa Italy Jupiter land Latin Leucippus light limbs lines living Livy look Lucretius explains mankind matter Memmius mind mirror modern moon mortal mother motion move movement Muses nature nowadays objects observe one’s pain Parmenides particles passage philosophical physical pleasure poem poet poetry political Pythagoras readers religion rerum natura Roman Rome seed senses shape smell species spirit subject-matter suggested sweet swerve theory things think Lucretius Thucydides thunderbolt tradition underworld universe Venus void wind words worship writing