The Nature of Things is the ancient Roman philosopher Lucretius's attempt to explain the nature of Epicurean philosophy to the everyday audience.
Otherwise known by its Latin title, De rerum natura, this scientific work takes the form of a lengthy didactic poem. The Nature of Things is in many ways an early form of popular science - seeks to clarify and make readily understandable the principles of philosophy pioneered by Democritus and supported by Epicurus: Atomism - whereby two forms of reality are possible; nature and void.
The poem is wide ranging, explaining the classical theories then in vogue regarding the creation of the planet Earth, the composition of the human mind and soul, and how human beings feel the sensations and think the thoughts that they do. The celestial bodies, a source of curiosity for many in antiquity, are explained together with phenomena such as comets.
Markedly opposed to the Roman state religion, whereby a pantheon of Gods held sway over specific parts of the world, Lucretius poem vaunts the rudimentary scientific approach of antiquity based on observations, recordings and logical, theoretical posits. Lucretius himself had a withering attitude to religion, believing that humanity would be better off without the 'dread' felt from entertaining the various deities.
A philosophical classic over two millennia since its initial publication, this edition presents the Nature of Things unabridged and properly formatted.
