De rerum natura

On the Nature of Things ( De Rerum Natura Latin ) is a from the 1st century BC, derived didactic poem by the Roman poet, philosopher Lucretius Carus Titus and Epicurean, Lucretius called. The tribute to Epicurus is about the location of people in a universe without the influence of the gods.

Survey

The six-volume, written in dactylic hexameter form of didactic poetry are the natural philosophy of Epicurus again. Lucretius wanted to convey a philosophy that gives people peace of mind and serenity and it takes the fear of death and the gods, which springs from the ignorance of the people about his position in the world, about the nature and essence, and thus through education must be overcome. It is dominated by the materialistic atomism of ancient Greece and assumes that the gods neither are able nor willing to interfere in people's lives.

According to reports of Jerome 's work is emended from the famous Roman orator Cicero and have been 50 published after the death of Lucretius ' BC. As a source Lucretius is likely to now only preserved in some cases writings have used Epicurus himself.

Construction

The work consists of six books, each about 1000 verses length, which can be divided into three book couples:

Content

The work presents the physics, psychology and cultural theory of Epicurus represents the ethics is treated only in passing.

Lucretius attempts to explain the origin of society and culture in a purely natural way. Accordingly, the people lived first in a animal-like state, without language, cognition and social cohesion that developed through the experience later. The state arises as a result on the basis of contract theory. Social development is driven by human reason.