LVCRETIVS De Rerum Natura

Vita c no biographical information reference in Cicero ad fam dated 54 –“flashes of genius” “craftsmanship” accd to St. Jerome –he was driven mad by a love philtre –wrote poetry in his lucid intervals – died by his own hand, leaving his poem to be edited posthumously by Cicero

De Rerum Natura 6 books Didactic poem –dactylic hexamter –Epicureanism Dedicated to Memmius –Roman aristocrat –Governor of Bithynia –Patron or equal?

De Rerum Natura 1.The permanent constituents of the universe: atoms and void 2.How atoms explain phenomena 3.The nature and mortality of the soul 4.Phenomena of the soul 5.The cosmos and its mortality 6.Cosmic phenomena

De Rerum Natura Physics Atomism Nihil ex nihilo Void & atom per se Swerve Finite number of atoms Infinite Universe Nature of the soul Anima/animus

De Rerum Natura Ethics Tetrapharmakos fourfold cure God holds no fears, death no worries. fear of the divine eliminated through physical understanding the fear of death must be countered Good is easily attainable, evil easily endurable. the rational management of pleasures and pains life of detached tranquility maintain modest and easily satisfied appetites shun lofty ambitions and the disquiet these inevitably bring in their wake

De Rerum Natura Religion Existence of the gods simulacra live a supremely tranquil life, never disquieted by either favor or anger towards us we should not fear the gods because they do not, and never would, intervene in our world

De Rerum Natura Proem –Invocation to Venus Personification Metaphor –universal life force –ancestress of the Romans –bringer of peace »make love not war