Clik here to view.
Lucretius, part 1: a poem to explain the entire world around us | Emma Woolerton
The subject of Lucretius's six-book poem De Rerum Natura was not war, love, myth or history – it was atomic physicsLucretius (full name Titus Lucretius Carus) lived in the first half of the century BC,...
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Lucretius, part 2: all things are made of atoms | Emma Woolerton
In Lucretius's universe, there are atoms and there is void – completely empty space. Nothing else can be said to existLucretius's stated aim in his six-book poem, De Rerum Natura, is to free us from...
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Lucretius, part 3: chaos and order | Emma Woolerton
The atomic swerve is a simple idea that explains both the existence of the world and our ability to act freely within itLucretius deduces the existence of atoms and void from the complex world of...
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Lucretius, part 4: things fall apart | Emma Woolerton
A life too long lived is a misery in itself. When the body dies, the soul disperses as it is mortal like the world around usWe need to know the world is made of atoms, Lucretius tells us, to stop us...
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Lucretius, part 6: not designed for life | Emma Woolerton
The final two books of the poem end with a grim picture of plague and war. His challenge to the reader is to look at suffering and be grateful that we are safeThe Earth, according to Lucretius, is an...
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Lucretius, part 5: all perceptions are true | Emma Woolerton
Everything we see is made up of the infinite atoms that swirl about us. These perceptions are the basis of our certain knowledge about the worldHow do we know that we're real? How do we know that we...
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Lucretius, part 7: becoming a god | Emma Woolerton
Lucretius's Epicurean philosophy doesn't deny gods' existence, only that they affect us. Instead, we must aim to be as themLucretius follows a materialist philosophy that denies any purpose to the...
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Lucretius, part 8: teachers and pupils | Emma Woolerton
Lucretius's didactic poetry addresses a single person but cajoles his readers to heed his lesson, as he learned from EpicurusLucretius's poetry is didactic, that is, poetry that aims overtly to teach...
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Lucretius, part 9: the calculating poet | Emma Woolerton
Why did Lucretius choose to write in poetry? The answer lies in his evangelism for both Epicureanism and his own legacyEpicurus didn't like poetry. He thought it was unclear in comparison to prose, and...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Lucretius, part 1: a poem to explain the entire world around us | Emma Woolerton
The subject of Lucretius's six-book poem De Rerum Natura was not war, love, myth or history – it was atomic physicsLucretius (full name Titus Lucretius Carus) lived in the first half of the century BC,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Lucretius, part 2: all things are made of atoms | Emma Woolerton
In Lucretius's universe, there are atoms and there is void – completely empty space. Nothing else can be said to existLucretius's stated aim in his six-book poem, De Rerum Natura, is to free us from...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Lucretius, part 3: chaos and order | Emma Woolerton
The atomic swerve is a simple idea that explains both the existence of the world and our ability to act freely within itLucretius deduces the existence of atoms and void from the complex world of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Lucretius, part 4: things fall apart | Emma Woolerton
A life too long lived is a misery in itself. When the body dies, the soul disperses as it is mortal like the world around usWe need to know the world is made of atoms, Lucretius tells us, to stop us...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Lucretius, part 6: not designed for life | Emma Woolerton
The final two books of the poem end with a grim picture of plague and war. His challenge to the reader is to look at suffering and be grateful that we are safeThe Earth, according to Lucretius, is an...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Lucretius, part 5: all perceptions are true | Emma Woolerton
Everything we see is made up of the infinite atoms that swirl about us. These perceptions are the basis of our certain knowledge about the worldHow do we know that we're real? How do we know that we...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Lucretius, part 7: becoming a god | Emma Woolerton
Lucretius's Epicurean philosophy doesn't deny gods' existence, only that they affect us. Instead, we must aim to be as themLucretius follows a materialist philosophy that denies any purpose to the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Lucretius, part 8: teachers and pupils | Emma Woolerton
Lucretius's didactic poetry addresses a single person but cajoles his readers to heed his lesson, as he learned from EpicurusLucretius's poetry is didactic, that is, poetry that aims overtly to teach...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Lucretius, part 9: the calculating poet | Emma Woolerton
Why did Lucretius choose to write in poetry? The answer lies in his evangelism for both Epicureanism and his own legacyEpicurus didn't like poetry. He thought it was unclear in comparison to prose, and...
View Article
