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Classical Reference Library

Ancient Philosophy

Explore the ideas and arguments of the ancient world’s most influential thinkers, from questions of ethics and human nature to knowledge, happiness, society, and our place in the natural world.

CRITICAL ESSAY

Some Observations on Lucretius

Ian Johnston examines Lucretius’ On the Nature of Things, considering its scientific claims, its Epicurean vision of nature, and its enduring influence on Western thought. He argues that the poem’s greatest importance lies not in its science but in its powerful attempt to reshape how we understand nature and our place within it.

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