19 episodes

Written in the first century b.C., On the Nature of Things (in Latin, De Rerum Natura) is a poem in six books that aims at explaining the Epicurean philosophy to the Roman audience. Among digressions about the importance of philosophy in men's life and praises of Epicurus, Lucretius created a solid treatise on the atomic theory, the falseness of religion and many kinds of natural phenomena. With no harm to his philosophical scope, the author composed a didactic poem of epic flavor, of which the imagery and style are highly praised. (Summary by Leni)

On the Nature of Things (Watson translation) by Titus Lucretius Carus (c. 99 BCE - 55 BCE‪)‬ LibriVox

    • Arts
    • 5.0 • 2 Ratings

Written in the first century b.C., On the Nature of Things (in Latin, De Rerum Natura) is a poem in six books that aims at explaining the Epicurean philosophy to the Roman audience. Among digressions about the importance of philosophy in men's life and praises of Epicurus, Lucretius created a solid treatise on the atomic theory, the falseness of religion and many kinds of natural phenomena. With no harm to his philosophical scope, the author composed a didactic poem of epic flavor, of which the imagery and style are highly praised. (Summary by Leni)

    01 - Book I, pt 1 - Invocation and Dedication of the poem. Praise of Epicurus. The theory of the atom.

    01 - Book I, pt 1 - Invocation and Dedication of the poem. Praise of Epicurus. The theory of the atom.

    • 36 min
    02 - Book I, pt 2 - Time doesn’t have a real existence. Atoms are solid and indivisible. Attack on the theory of Empedocles.

    02 - Book I, pt 2 - Time doesn’t have a real existence. Atoms are solid and indivisible. Attack on the theory of Empedocles.

    • 29 min
    03 - Book 1, pt 3 - Attack on the theory of Anaxagoras. The universe is boundless, limitless and has no center. Praise of philosophy.

    03 - Book 1, pt 3 - Attack on the theory of Anaxagoras. The universe is boundless, limitless and has no center. Praise of philosophy.

    • 21 min
    04 - Book 2, pt 1 - Praise of philosophy. Properties of the atoms: weight, combination, swiftness.

    04 - Book 2, pt 1 - Praise of philosophy. Properties of the atoms: weight, combination, swiftness.

    • 14 min
    05 - Book 2, pt 2 - Attack on those who refuse the theories of Epicurus. Properties of the atoms: atoms are constantly in motion, and tend to move downwards. Figure, flavor, surface of atoms. The different kinds of atoms are many, but not infinite.

    05 - Book 2, pt 2 - Attack on those who refuse the theories of Epicurus. Properties of the atoms: atoms are constantly in motion, and tend to move downwards. Figure, flavor, surface of atoms. The different kinds of atoms are many, but not infinite.

    • 35 min
    06 - Book 2, pt 3 - Compound bodies contain atoms of different figures. The infinite number of atoms moving through infinite space creates an infinite number of bodies.

    06 - Book 2, pt 3 - Compound bodies contain atoms of different figures. The infinite number of atoms moving through infinite space creates an infinite number of bodies.

    • 52 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
2 Ratings

2 Ratings

Yuval.Darda ,

Thank you, thank you

It’s such a rare treat to hear Lucretius’ book. Thank you so much for bring me this wonderful wonderful wonderful audiobook

Top Podcasts In Arts

Fresh Air
NPR
The Moth
The Moth
99% Invisible
Roman Mars
Fashion People
Audacy | Puck
Fantasy Fangirls
Fantasy Fangirls
McCartney: A Life in Lyrics
iHeartPodcasts and Pushkin Industries

You Might Also Like

More by LibriVox

Kybalion, The by The Three Initiates
LibriVox
Pride and Prejudice (version 3) by Jane Austen (1775 - 1817)
LibriVox
Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant by Ulysses S. Grant (1822 - 1885)
LibriVox
Pride and Prejudice (version 4) by Jane Austen (1775 - 1817)
LibriVox
Pursuit of God, The by Aiden Wilson Tozer (1897 - 1963)
LibriVox
History of Julius Caesar by Jacob Abbott (1803 - 1879)
LibriVox