On the Nature of the Universe

'Therefore this terror and darkness of the mind Not by the sun's rays, nor the bright shafts of day, Must be dispersed, as is most necessary, But by the face of nature and her laws.' Lucretius' poem On the Nature of the Universe combines a scientific and philosophical treatise with some of the greatest poetry ever written. With intense moral fervour Lucretius demonstrates to humanity that in death there is nothing to fear since the soul is mortal, and the world and everything in it is governed not by the gods, but by the mechanical laws of nature. By believing this, men can live in peace of mind and happiness. Lucretius bases his argument on the atomic theory expounded by the Greek philosopher Epicurus. His poem explores sensation, sex, cosmology, meteorology, and geology through acute observation of the beauties of the natural world and with moving sympathy for man's place in it.Sir Ronald Melville's accessible and accurate verse translation is complemented by an introduction and notes situating Lucretius' scientific theories within the thought of 1st century BCE Rome and discussing the Epicurean philosophy that was his inspiration and why the issues Lucretius' poem raisies about the scientific and poetical views of the world continue to be important.

ISBN 0199555141   Pages 320 ISBN13 9780199555147 (What's this?)   Volumes 1 Publisher Oxford University Press   Weight (grammes) 239 Imprint Oxford University Press   Published in Oxford Format Paperback   Series title Oxford World's Classics Publication date 09 Oct 2008   Previous ISBN 9780192817617 Translator Ronald Melville   Height (mm) 196 Writer of introduction Fowler, Don   Width (mm) 129 DEWEY 871.01   Spine width (mm) 19 DEWEY edition DC22   Academic level A / AS level

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