What is the importance of the poem De rerum natura On the Nature of Things written by Lucretius?
According to Lucretius’s frequent statements in his poem, the main purpose of the work was to free Gaius Memmius’s mind of the supernatural and the fear of death—and to induct him into a state of ataraxia by expounding the philosophical system of Epicurus, whom Lucretius glorifies as the hero of his epic poem.
Who discovered Lucretius De rerum natura?
One of Poggio’s manuscript finds that has become especially famous is Lucretius’s De rerum natura. In January 1417, in a German monastery (never named by Poggio, but probably Fulda), Poggio discovered the only manuscript of Lucretius’s De rerum natura known at the time.
What was the problem with Lucretius theory?
Lucretius fails to perceive that definite physical laws are consistent with the work of God and the difficulty of reconciling the two ideas, unreal as it seems to us, has been felt by able men even now-a- days, when the conception of divine power is very different from any present to the mind of Lucretius.
What did Lucretius say about the universe?
Over 2,000 years ago, the Roman poet Titus Lucretius Carus (c. 99 BC- c. 55 BC) declared in verse that the universe was made of an infinite number of atoms.
What do we learn about Lucretius from his poem What did he think was important in life?
Lucretius shows us the existence of invisible particles via the visible reality of the world around us, bombarding his reader with arguments and examples, to bring us what he believes is the truth of the universe and the key to contentment.
Who was Lucretius Carus?
Titus Lucretius Carus (/ˈtaɪtəs luːˈkriːʃəs/ TY-təs loo-KREE-shəs, Latin: [ˈtɪtʊs lʊˈkreːtɪ. ʊs ˈkaːrʊs]; c. 99 – c. 55 BC) was a Roman poet and philosopher.
What was Lucretius known for?
Lucretius, in full Titus Lucretius Carus, (flourished 1st century bce), Latin poet and philosopher known for his single, long poem, De rerum natura (On the Nature of Things). The poem is the fullest extant statement of the physical theory of the Greek philosopher Epicurus.