1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

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

6. 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