On the Nature of the UniverseOUP Oxford, 9. okt. 2008 - 320 sider `Therefore this terror and darkness of the mind Not by the sun's rays, nor the bright shafts of day, Must be dispersed, as is most necessary, But by the face of nature and her laws.' Lucretius' poem On the Nature of the Universe combines a scientific and philosophical treatise with some of the greatest poetry ever written. With intense moral fervour Lucretius demonstrates to humanity that in death there is nothing to fear since the soul is mortal, and the world and everything in it is governed not by the gods, but by the mechanical laws of nature. By believing this, men can live in peace of mind and happiness. Lucretius bases his argument on the atomic theory expounded by the Greek philosopher Epicurus. His poem explores sensation, sex, cosmology, meteorology, and geology through acute observation of the beauties of the natural world and with moving sympathy for man's place in it. Sir Ronald Melville's accessible and accurate verse translation is complemented by an introduction and notes situating Lucretius' scientific theories within the thought of 1st century BCE Rome and discussing the Epicurean philosophy that was his inspiration and why the issues Lucretius' poem raisies about the scientific and poetical views of the world continue to be important. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more. |
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Aeneid ancient animals argument Aristotle believe blow body Book born cause Cicero clouds cold colour comes dark death deep Democritus Diodorus Siculus Diogenes Laertius Diogenes of Oenoanda disease divine earth elements Empedocles Ennius Epicurean Epicurus everywhere exist eyes fall fear feel fire fixed flame flow force gods Greek grow heat heaven here’s Hesiod human images infinite iron kind Letter to Herodotus Letter to Pythocles light limbs living Lucretius matter Memmius men’s mighty mind and spirit mortal motion move movements Natural Questions nature’s once pain particles perish Philodemus philosophers plague Plato pleasure Plutarch poem primal atoms Pythocles reason rivers Roman seeds Seneca senses Sextus Empiricus shapes shining sleep soul spring Stoics stone sun’s sweet Theophrastus thin things Thucydides thunderbolts turn Tusculan Disputations universe Venus voice void whole wild beasts wind wonder words