De Rerum Natura, the great didactic poem by philosopher and poet Lucretius, is presented here complete in the author's original Latin.
Drawing on the atomism theory of Democritus, dating over 400 years prior to his masterwork, Lucretius main aim with his poem is to explain the various theories on why the world is as it is. Designed to be read publicly and by solitary readers, the wide ranging and lengthy poem examines the nature of the world, of sensation, of human consciousness, and of celestial bodies such as the moon and stars.
A great admirer of Epicurus as a thinker, Lucretius bases much of his explanations off of Epicurean thought. Among the first thinkers to posit comprehensive philosophy of the world that was not rooted in religious belief, Epicurus - and therefore De Rerum Natura - stood in direct opposition to the idea that the classical pantheon of Roman Gods controlled the Earth. For this the work was controversial from the moment it appeared in 56 B.C. .
Conversations on matter, space and reality were unusual in ancient times, with many ordinary citizens encouraged to lay the responsibility for such with the Gods. Lucretius was strongly motivated to educate the wider citizenry with Epicurean philosophy; De Rerum Natura aimed to popularize the theories and explanations of individual physicists and thinkers, over those of the temple priests.
Lucretius himself held logic and reason in high regard, championing the philosophers who sought to make discoveries and thereby refine their view of the world. He was praised by the Roman statesman Cicero who thought the poem both brilliantly inspired and a work of art. Verses of other poets such as Ovid also praise Lucretius and his poetic ability.
