Lucretius: On the Nature of Things Titus Lucretius Carus (99BCE-55 BCE) Roman poet and philosopher Only known work De Rerum Natura (On the Nature of Things): an epic philosophical poem on Epicurianism

Life of Lucretius Little is known A Roman living near end of Republic On the Nature of Things commented on by both Cicero and Virgil, Jerome (Church Father 4th Century AD) (probably edited by Cicero) Driven mad by a love potion and committed suicide Lucretius and Epicurianism in general dismissed and ridiculed by later Christian thinkers /theologians

On the Nature of Things Purpose: Free people from superstition and fear of death often promoted by religion through reliance on Epicurean materialism Ontology Atomistic materialism: believe in universe made up of indestructible atoms

Epistomology Through observation and logical argument, argued that the events and operation of world were determined by natural phenomena Ethics/Morality Epicureanism Atheistic Happiness found through freedom from fear and limiting desire

Related Philosophies/Concepts Epicurianism Follows in tradition of Epicurus and Democritus Atomism Atheism

Assertions of On the Nature of Things religion teaches fear, while science teaches fact Neither mind nor spirit survive the body Death is neither good not bad for his/our being Fear of death as projection of terrors experienced in life