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Lucretius: De Rerum NaturaBook III

Paperback / softback

Main Details

Title Lucretius: De Rerum NaturaBook III
Authors and Contributors      By (author) Lucretius
Edited by E. J. Kenney
SeriesCambridge Greek and Latin Classics
Physical Properties
Format:Paperback / softback
Pages:268
Dimensions(mm): Height 215,Width 137
Category/GenreLiterary studies - poetry and poets
ISBN/Barcode 9780521173896
ClassificationsDewey:871.01
Audience
Tertiary Education (US: College)
Edition 2nd Revised edition
Illustrations 1 Line drawings, unspecified; 1 Line drawings, unspecified

Publishing Details

Publisher Cambridge University Press
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publication Date 14 August 2014
Publication Country United Kingdom

Description

The third book of Lucretius' great poem on the workings of the universe is devoted entirely to expounding the implications of Epicurus' dictum that death does not matter, 'is nothing to us'. The soul is not immortal: it no more exists after the dissolution of the body than it had done before its birth. Only if this fact is accepted can men rid themselves of irrational fears and achieve the state of ataraxia, freedom from mental disturbance, on which the Epicurean definition of pleasure was based. To present this case Lucretius deploys the full range of poetic and rhetorical registers, soberly prohibitive, artfully decorative or passionately emotive as best suits his argument, reinforcing it with vivid and compelling imagery. This new edition has been completely revised, with a considerably enlarged Commentary and a new supplementary introduction taking account of the great amount of new scholarship of the last forty years.

Author Biography

E. J. Kenney is Professor Emeritus of Latin at the University of Cambridge.