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By Eudora Olsen

From Atoms to Cosmos: The Genius of Lucretius. By Eudora Olsen. By Eudora Olsen. Meet Lucretius. Birth in 94 BC, death in either 54 or 51* Epicurean poet Wrote in the middle years of the first century BC Member of aristocratic clan, Lucretii or possibly a former slave

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By Eudora Olsen

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  1. From Atoms to Cosmos:The Genius of Lucretius By Eudora Olsen By Eudora Olsen

  2. Meet Lucretius • Birth in 94 BC, death in either 54 or 51* • Epicurean poet • Wrote in the middle years of the first century BC • Member of aristocratic clan, Lucretiior possibly a former slave • Cicero: ‘flashes of genius’ and ‘craftsmanship’characterize Lucretius' poetry • *Little known about exact dates of birth/death (early Christianity branded Lucretius an enemy of religion)

  3. Historical Context • First Century BCE • 91 BC: “Social War” • 88 BC: Lucius Cornelius Sulla starts Civil War and becomes dictator • Rise of Sulla to fall of Catiline • Bloodshed, war, tumult

  4. What’s Epicureanism? • (On Epicurus): O you who out of the vast darkness were the first to raise A shining light, illuminating the blessings of life, O glory of the Grecian race, it is you I follow (Bk 3, 1-3) • Seeks to link Physics, Ethics, and Canonic • The universe consists of matter and void • All matter made of imperishable atoms that are homogenous in substance but differ in shape and size

  5. Epicureanism cont. • The universe is an ongoing cosmic event • Epicurus was a materialist, not an atheist (Gods do not have interest in human affairs) • Objects send off “idols” of themselves to travel through air and thus we have senses

  6. De RerumNatura • “On the Nature of Things” • Epic Poem • 6 Books • “Unfolding of a complex philosophical argument” (utm.edu) • Wide range of themes: philosophy, love, reason, luxuries • Unfinished

  7. The Structure of De RerumNatura Book I: Invocation of Venus, explains Epicureanism Book II: Atomic motion Book III: Proof of materiality, death Book IV: Epicurus’ theory of vision/sensation Book V: Proliferation and extinction of life forms Book VI: Meteorology, geology

  8. Selected Passages “All life is a struggle in the dark.” (Bk II, 54) “Such is the power of reason to overcome inborn vices/That nothing prevents our living a life worthy of gods.” (Bk III, 321-22) “If she stutters or lisps, she speaks ‘musically.’If she’s dumb, she’s ‘modest’; and if she’s hot-temperedAnd a chatterbox, she’s ‘a ball of fire.’ (Bk 4, 1159-71)

  9. The Lucretius Legacy • One of the principal sources for Epicurean thought • Spurred innovative scientific thought in the sixteenth/seventeenth century • Neo-Epicurean philosopher Pierre Gassendi (1592-1655) • Published elaboration of Epicurean science • Milton, Whitman, Wordsworth • Darwin

  10. Bibliography http://www.iep.utm.edu/lucretiu/#SH2c http://classics.mit.edu/Carus/nature_things.html

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