What was Lucretius philosophy?
Lucretius presents the principles of atomism, the nature of the mind and soul, explanations of sensation and thought, the development of the world and its phenomena, and explains a variety of celestial and terrestrial phenomena.
Who is Lucretius and what did he do?
Lucretius, in full Titus Lucretius Carus, (flourished 1st century bce), Latin poet and philosopher known for his single, long poem, De rerum natura (On the Nature of Things). The poem is the fullest extant statement of the physical theory of the Greek philosopher Epicurus.
What is metaphysical theory?
Metaphysical studies generally seek to explain inherent or universal elements of reality which are not easily discovered or experienced in our everyday life. As such, it is concerned with explaining the features of reality that exist beyond the physical world and our immediate senses.
What is Lucretius view on death?
The fear of death is irrational, according to Lucretius, because once people die they will not be sad, judged by gods or pity their family; they will not be anything at all. “Death is nothing to us,” he says. Not fearing death is easier said than done.
Why are humans afraid of death?
Humans also fear death because they view death as an annihilation of their person, a radical personal transformation, a threat to the meaningfulness of life, and a threat to the completion of life projects.
What does Lucretius say about gods?
The view the philosopher seemed to take is that the gods exist as entirely independent entities, but insofar as gods exist, they must be made of atoms, like everything else. As well as being physical and made of atoms, the gods play no part in the universe’s governance, and they take no interest in human affairs.
Did Lucretius believe in the gods?
Lucretius. Lucretius did not deny the existence of gods either, but he felt that human ideas about gods combined with the fear of death to make human beings unhappy.