Lucretius Essay

LucretiusOnDeath

Socrates'speechintheApologybyPlatosettingin399BCEandDeRerumNaturabyTitusLucretius300years later.TitusLucretius,anatheistoragnosticRomanpoetandphilosopherinspiredbytheworksofEpicurus. Lucretiusbelievedinthetheoryofatomismwhichleadtomaterialisticthinkingandhowatomismaffectshowone shouldviewthepurposeoflifeespeciallyattheendofone'slife.Lucretiushaswrittenhisthoughtsondeathat BookIIIofDeRerumNatura–thetranslationusedis...

LucretiusSummarySparknotes

DOCUMENTANALYSIS–LUCRETIUS:EPICUREANPHILOSPHYATROMEWithinLucretius'dialectic andpoeticwritingsinRobertLatham'stranslationofLucretius:OntheNatureoftheUniverse,threemajortopics arediscussed:philosophy,religion,andscienceLucretiuswasdevotedtotheworksofhisteacherandrenowned philosopherEpicurus,praisinghimasapropheticorgod-likefigure.Hispoeticproseusesahostofconcrete examplestoshowvalidityinhisbeliefsLucretiuseffectivelysupportsthe

TheTextualRelationshipBetweenVirgilAndLucretius

researchhasshownthetextualrelationshipbetweenVirgilandLucretius.Manyhavenoticedtheuniqueuseof gliscitbyVirgilin12.9todescribeTurnus'reactiontoseeingtheLatinsretreatandhavesubsequentlyconnectedit toLucretius,specificallypassage1474:"ignisAlexandriPhrygiosubpectoregliscensclaraaccendissetsaevi certaminabelli".AlthoughVirgilcouldhavehadthispassageinmind,thereisanotheruseinLucretiuswhichcan bringnewcontextandunderstandingtoVirgil's

ThispaperwillanalyzeLucretius'symmetryargumentinDeRerumNatura,anddrawevidenceinitsconclusion thatsupportstheEpicureannotion,ofthenatureofnothingnessindeathInEpicurus'"LettertoMenoeceus",he arguesthatdeathisnothingtousandthusshouldnotbefeared.Epicurus'viewsondeathfollowfromhis metaphysicalandethicalviewsHebelievedthatthegoodnessorbadnessofsomethingwasdirectlycorrelatedto itstendencytoproducepleasureorpain.Deathwassimply...

Lucretius'SoulTheoryEssay

EpicureanauthorTitusLucretiusCaruswritesofthesoulasbeinginseparablefromthecorporealbodyThisview, althoughcontroversialinitsoppositiontothetraditionalconceptofadiscrete,immortalsoul,isneverthelessmore thanamerenovelty.TheargumentthatLucretiusmakesforthesoulbeinganemergentpropertyofinteractions betweenphysicalparticlesisinfactmorecompellingandwell-supportednowthanLucretiushimselfwouldhave everimagined.Lucretiusbeginshisargumentby...

TheTextualRelationshipBetweenVirgilAndLucretius

beendoneshowingthetextualrelationshipbetweenVirgilandLucretiusManyhavenoticedtheuniqueuseof gliscitbyVirgilin12.9todescribeTurnus'reactiontoseeingtheLatinsretreatandhavesubsequentlyconnectedit toLucretius,specificallypassage1474:"ignisAlexandriPhrygiosubpectoregliscensclaraaccendissetsaevi certaminabelli"AlthoughVirgilcouldhavehadthispassageinmind,thereisanotheruseinLucretiuswhichcan bringnewcontextandunderstandingtoVirgil's...

Beforethescientificrevolution,controversy,alienation,andevenimprisonmentwaswhatmanynewdeveloping thinkersfaced.Proposedideasthatchallengedtheteachingsofthechurchessparkedcontroversy.Theirearly negativeresponsehassincethenledmanytobelievereligionclasheswithscienceandobstructstheunderstanding ofthenaturalworld.However,faithandknowledgehavebeenwronglyseparatedintotwodifferentgroupsand theircohesivenesshasbeenoverlookedThiswillbeexamined

TheEpicureansByTheirWritingsHaveSeizedTheWholeOfItaly

noticed."Still,thereareafewwhoholdpublicofficedespitetheirEpicureanbeliefs,orperhapsmore appropriately,continuetoholdEpicureanbeliefsdespitethesocialexpectationtoaspiretopublicofficeFromthe writingsandofCiceroandLucretius,wecancometounderstandtheimmenseimpactEpicureanismhadon Romanculture.ThefirstchronicledRomanwhowasclassicallytrainedinEpicureanismisTitusAlbucius,a memberoftheupperclasslivingaround100BCEwhospenthisyouthstudying

EpicurusAndEpicureanism(Pghc11181)

B099785EpicurusandEpicureanism(PGHC11181)EpicurusontheGods:RealismorIdealism?Conflictbetween twointerpretativepartiesItiscommonlyacceptedthatinantiquitypeoplealwaysbelievedingodsregardlessof theirstature.Takingintoconsiderationthedifferentperiodsofhistory,therehavebeenobservedcasesof incredulityandskepticismasfarastheexistenceofGodswasconcernedThedisbeliefovergodsandgenerally divergencesonthetraditionalwayoftreatinggodsdeveloped...

TheOnTheNatureOfThings

Things,knownalsobyitsoriginalLatintitleDeRerumNatura,isa1stcenturyBCpoemwrittenbytheRoman poetandphilosopherTitusLucretiusCarus.Thepoemwaswrittenwiththepurposeofexplainingthephilosophy oftheancientGreekphilosopher,Epicurus,tothecommonRomanaudienceofthetimeLucretiuswasbornc99 B.C.anddiedaround55B.C.LucretiuswasafollowerofEpicureanism.Thisphilosophysoughttorefutemyth andlegendsthatgodswereresponsiblefortheworkingsandnature...

WhatIsTheReflectionOfLucretius'sOnTheNatureOfThings

Natura),Lucretiussoughttoaddress"superstitiousfearsandunscientificnotions"thatwereembeddedinhisstate's (Rome)religion(450).HerecallsthestoryofKingAgamemnonhavingtosacrificehisdaughtertoappease ArtemisUponthisrecollection,hemakestheclaimthatreligioniswickedHowever,unlikeLucretius'sbelief, truereligiousfaithfulness,asitrelatestotheBiblicalGod,doesnotleadtowickedness,butratheroffers redemptionfromthewickedTitusLucretiusCarus(ca

LucretiusBeliefs

expressedbypeopleeveniftheirpreconceptionsreflectedtheirownnaturalgoals.Lucretiusprotestedagainst voiceswhopresentedgodsashavingevilintentsandaspronetopartialityandfury:"Unhappyhumanrace,to attributesuchbehavior,andbitterwrathtoo,tothegods!Whatlamentationsdidtheylayupforthemselvesin thosedays,whatwoundsforus,whattearsforourdescendants''?Moreover,Lucretiusstated:''Unlessyouexpel theseideasfromyourmindanddrivefarawaybeliefsunworthy

LucretiusCreation

Things,byLucretius,hedeniedtheideathatGodwasthecreator...

LucretiusBeliefs

Lucretius'beliefsandPhilosophicalRemedyInLucretius'poem,OntheNatureofThings,Lucretiusmakeshis famousclaimthatreligion"subvertsallreasonedthought/andturnsyourlifetoterrorandconfusion"(1.106-107). SinceLucretiusisagainsttheidea,hisentirepoemiscompletelybasedonprovidingfactsandhelpingpeoplecope withtheideaofdeath.SinceLucretiuswasamanthatbelievedinscience,physicsandlogicalreasoning,hisclaim againstreligionhadalottodowith

LucretiusAndAquinas

'Somethingratherthannothingrefersto'thecosmologicalargumentfortheexistenceofGodclaimingthatall thingsinnature;'something'aredependentonsomethingelsefortheirexistence.AsLucretiusputsitinhisfirst bookDeRerumNatura,"byobservingnatureandherlaws…herfirstprinciple:thatnothing'sbroughtforthbyany supernaturalpoweroutofnaught"hencewearriveatnihilfitexnihilo'nothingcomesfromnothing'Therefore, thissomethingmusthavecausedItwouldhowever

notingthatbothAeschylusandLucretiusdidawonderfuljobatportrayingthedeathofIphigeniaandexpanding ontheemotionsofallpersonsinvolved.However,Ibelievethetwodidthisinalmostverydifferentyetsimilar wayAeschylushasaverypassionateandpoeticfeeltohiswriting,conveyingthesorrowandintensityinavery dramaticway;usingawonderfularrayofdescriptiveandemotionalwordstosetthescene.Ontheotherhand,you haveLucretius,whowasverydetailedandstraightforward

Religion:LucretiusAndReligion

Lucretiusarguesthatnatureandherlawssolvetheunknownstowhichhumansseekanswers,notreligion.He seeksoutsignsthattheworldhastooffer,provinghispointandattackingthefallaciesReligionbestowsupon manHeusesthisanalogytomakehispoint:"Thisterroranddarknessofthemind,notbythesunsraysnorthe brightshaftofday,mustbedispersed,asismostnecessary,butthefaceofnatureandherlaws."Onefinds answers,bylookingattheworldcarefully,ratherthanfrom

EpicurusAndLucretiusEssay

Thecircumstanceofone'sdeathdeterminesthestatureoftheexperience.ThesharedaccountofEpicurusand Lucretiusunravelthemeritofdeath,inthePhilosophyandDeathTheresharedviewiscontrastedbythepieceby Nagel.Itisimportanttonotethatallthreeaccountsareassumingthesoulceasestoexistwhenthebodyperishes. Epicurus'explanationiscenteredarounddeathbeingnothingtohumans,sincethesenseexperienceisdeprived throughdeathThisconcedes,thereisnothingin

EpicurusVsLucretius

Thatissomethingthatnobodycanknowwithoutadoubttheanswerto,buttwophilosophers,Epicurusand Lucretius,havebuilttheirownargumentsonthecommonassumptionthatdeathisthetotalannihilationoftheself. Therefore,ifthereisnolifeafterdeath,weshouldn'tfeardeathitselfEpicuruscreateshisnoharmargumenton thefactthatafterwediewenolongerexist.Lucretiustakesanotherapproachwherehemakesacomparisonusing non-existencebeforelifeIfwedon'tconsider

Augustine,LucretiusandtheDisputeofFreeWill

AugustineandLucretiusandtheDisputeofFreeWillAugustine:HelloLucretius.Lucretius:HelloAugustine. Augustine:Whatbringsyoutotheseparts?Lucretius:Ijustwantedtoupdatemyfindingsonthephilosophyof EpicureanismandalsothetheoryoffreewillAugustine:Freewill,yousay?Lucretius:YesfreewillDoyou haveanyideaofwhatfreewillis?Augustine:WhyyesIdo,foritisawillbywhichweseektoliveagoodand uprightlifeandtoattainuntoperfectwisdomLucretius:Exactly

LucretiusandPlatoontheMortalityoftheSoul

PatrickMcCleeryEssayI:LucretiusandPlatoontheMortalityoftheSoulInthisessayitwillbearguedthatthe soulismortalanddoesnotsurvivethedeathofthebodyAssupport,thefollowingargumentsfromLucretiuswill beexamined:the"prooffromtheatomicstructureofthesoul,"the"prooffromparallelismofmindandbody,"the "prooffromthesympatheiaofmindandbody,"andthe"prooffromthestructuralconnectionbetweenmindand body"ThefollowingargumentsfromPlatowill

Incontrast,theEpicurean,Lucretius,establishestheideaoforderasarisingfromchaos,manifestedthroughatoms andtheirmotionsinspaceAsopposedtoPlato,Lucretiusprovidesanaturalisticexplanationofuniversal phenomenabyreconcilingParmenideanreasoningwithexperiencewheretheworldiseternalandhasunity, consistingofmanyatomsandemptyspaceor'thegreatinane'"Ineffect,Lucretiusillustratesthecreationofthe materialuniverseasaresultoftheunionofelementary...

WhatIsTheReflectionIn'TheNatureOfThings'ByLucretius?

Lucretiusin"TheNatureofThings"explainsthatthereareonlytwoentitiesthatmakeupbodiesintheuniverse: matterandvoid.Matterisever-presentanddoesnotdecaywhilethevoidisanothingnessthatallowsformotion andchangeMarcusAureliusin"Meditations"explainsthatmatterandthesoularethecomponentsofthe universe,withthesoulinsomesensefillingthevoidLucretius'"void"hasacorrelationtoAurelius'"soul"Both philosophersexplainhowtheconceptofthevoid...

Lucretius'OnTheNatureOfThings'ByWalterEnglert

OnTheNatureofThings(Lucretius)byWalterEnglertOntheNatureofThingsisafirst-centuryBCdidactic poembytheRomanpoetandphilosopherLucretius(c.99BC–c.55BC)withthegoalofexplainingEpicurean philosophytoaRomanaudienceWeknowpracticallynothing;beyondwhatlittlecanbegatheredfromthepoem itself,ofLucretius'biography.Lucretiusinsistshumanhappinessisincompatiblewithbeliefingodsthatcontrol nature,followtheirownagendas(openorhidden),and...

Lucretius,aRomanphilosopher,wasgreatlyinspiredbytheteachingsofEpicurus.InLucretius'sbook,Onthe NatureofThings,heexpandsonmanyEpicureanprinciplesandattimesevenaltersthem"Nothingcomesfrom nothing",thefirstprinciplethatLucretiusendorses,isessentialtohisargumentfortheoriginoftheworld.Using thisprinciple,LucretiusagainsttheacceptedRomanreligionbyaddingtheconceptthat"divineintervention"is nottherootofcreation,insteadhegivescredit

Lucretius'WritingontheFearofDeathEssay

InOntheNatureofThings,Lucretiusarguesthatnotonlyisthewholeofthehumanbody(bothtangibleparts, likeorgans,andintangibleconcepts,likethesoul)createdfromdistincttypesofatoms,butthatthisisthebasis uponwhichanafterlifemaybedisproved.Oneoftheprincipletenetsofatomismisthattheatomspeopleare comprisedofprovidethebasisforphysicalsensationswemightexperience,suchasheat,touch,smell,etcetera Lucretiusprovidesthecorollarytothis...

AnalysisOfLucretius'TheMindAndTheSpiritWillDie'

belief,heldbyLucretiusinhisessay"TheMindandtheSpiritWillDie",isthatdeathisnotbadfortheonewhois deadbecausethespiritiscomposedofmatterincapableofsurvivingwithoutthebody,andtherefore,whenone diestheycannolongersuffer.Therefore,youngJohnDoe'sdeathofbeingrunoverbyatrolleyanddyingisnot badforhimThemindisphysicalandcomposedofmatterLucretiusarguesinapassagefromhis"TheMindand TheSpiritWillDie"several...

death,whichheclaimsisadistractiontoourdesiresandthereforeitisabadthingforusandthatanimmortallife willmakesurewefulfillourdesires.BernardWilliamsapproachedLucretius'sclaimwithhiscounterargumentin whichheopposesLucretiustheoryofdeathbyskepticallyclaimingthatdeathisnotalwaysabadthingbecauseit canalsoendbadthingssuchassuffering,asamatteroffactheopposesimmortalityinthatitshouldnotbeyour optiontofulfillallyourdesiresbecause

AliensByAsTheRomanEpicureanPoetLucretius

EssayWritingAliensareoneverybody'smindthinkingaretheyrealoraretheyfake,thisquestionhasstarted makingpeoplethink,thepersonwhostartedthinkingaboutthisquestionfirst,wasabout1,400yearsagobyAs theRomanEpicureanpoetLucretiusputit:Nothingintheuniverseisuniqueandaloneandthereforeinother regionstheremustbeotherearthsinhabitedbydifferenttribesofmenandbreedsofbeasts.Aliensareonmostof people'smindstheycanbeusefulforbothwaysbutmaybe

EnslavingNatureofLoveExposedinLucretiusEssay

EnslavingNatureofLoveExposedinLucretius   InDryden'sLucretius,thespeakerargues that(1)Loveisasickness,(2)Love'ssicknessenslaves,and(3)allattemptstoremedyLove'ssicknessarevain andwillonlyfrustratethelover.JustasMilton'sAdamandEvebecomeenslavedtosinbydisobeyingGod,so mankindbecomesenslavedtoLovewhenpiercedwithCupid's"wingedarrow".InMilton,thereisredemptionand freedomthroughChrist,butinDryden,nosalvationfrom

warhasonthesoldiersIn"OntheNatureofThings,"Lucretiusarguesthatnotasinglethingcanbecreatedfrom nothingGenerally,Lucretiusexplainsthatthegodsarenotresponsibleforcreationandthateverythingoriginally camefromafixedseed.Inthispaper,IwillarguethatLucretius'argumentbecomesineffectivebecausenoliving organismcamefromadesignatedsubstance,butthroughtheprocessofevolutionLucretiusbeginsbyarguingthat notonethingwasmadefromnothing...

FearOfReligion

avoidance,andsodoesthefearofdeath,butinadifferentfashionLucretiusassertsthatifweareawarethat somethingislikelytokillus,wewouldavoidthatthing.Lucretiusexplainthatthefearofdeathcanpolluteand destroyaperson'swholelife–asheputsit,fear"allowsnopleasuretoremainuncloudedandpure,"(3.40-41).For example,onewhofearsdeathcanbecomegreedyandpower-hungry;andaccordingtolucretius,itisinaneffortto secureprotectionfromtheattacksofnature...

ConsequencesOfTheLazyArgument

Lucretiusdescribesatomicswervingasthemechanismbywhichvolition"reigns[fate]backinthroughthelimbs (Long&Sedley106)."Thisdepictsatomicswervingasallowingthemindtoreorienttheeffectsoffatesuchthatit insomefinitesensecanimpose

BothSocratesandLucretiushavesimilaroutlooksondeath,butthereasoningastowhytheybelievedeathshould notbefearedarecompletelydifferent.Socratesstatesthatdeathisnotdreadfulbecausewedonotknowwhatis aheadofusandthroughthisconceptarisesatermcalledreincarnationLucretius,ontheotherhand,saysthatthe souldoesnotgoanywherewhenwedieandthateverythingismaterialistic.Hegoesontosaythatdeathdoes nothingtousbecauseweoncestartedwithnothing

StoicismandEpicureanismEssay

ThisledLucretiustowrite'wherespaceexists,orwhatwecallthevoid,/mattercannotbefound;whatsubstance holds/voidcannotoccupy...thereforeatomsaresolidandvoidless...andifthereisavoid,ithastobe surroundedbysolidmaterial';(Lucretius458)ThiswasoneoftheessentialtheoriesofEpicureanbeliefWiththis fundamentalbackgroundoftheuniverse,LucretiuscouldthenconvincetheRomanpeoplethatgodsdidnotcreate

HowDoesFalseCreateUnnecessaryFearOfDeath

unnecessarypainandfear;particularlysuperstitiousofgod'spunishmentandunnecessaryfearofdeath.Spirtand bodyarebirthlessanddeathless,deathisthedestructionofouridentityonlyandthecreationofnewlifecomes fromourdeath.Lucretiuswasaepicureanpoetattheendofthelateromanrepubliceraandwrote'OnTheNature ofThings',the...

consequencesoftheplague;apersonalaccountontheexperienceshelivedthroughAnywhereduring99-55BCE, poetLucretiushadhiswork,"OntheNatureoftheUniverse,"endwithanaccountoftheAthenianplague. Lucretius'saccountwasnearlyanexacttranslationofThucydides'account,butwhereasThucydideswrote historicallyandgenuinelyonhisexperiencesontheplague,Lucretiusleftcertainthingsoutandelaboratedon othersashewroteitaspartofnaturalphenomenonandlaidouthiswriting

TwainPlatoAndLucretius'sPerceptionsOfLifeAfterDeath

FromTwain,Plato,andLucretius'sperceptionsofanafterlife,whichonedoIfavormost?Lucretius,translatedby JohnDryden,appealstomeonahigherlevelinit'stellingofanafterlifethanTwainandPlato's.RobertHertz onceclaimed"eachsocietyconstructsinitsownimage"anafterlifeforit'speoplessoulstodwellinThewayin whichIwasraisedandthesocietiesIgrewuparoundinfluencedmetounderstandthetruthsaboutdeath.Itis trivialtospendtimethinkingofwhatwaits

ArgumentAgainstTakingDeathAsAGenuineEvil

IntheLucretius'argumentagainsttakingdeathasagenuineevil,onecanunderstandhishisconclusionthatdeath shouldnotbefearedbecauseonewasnonexistentaswellbeforebirthHisfirstpremiseintroducesthatonewould nothavefeelingsbeforeourbirthbecausewearenonexistent,sowewouldnothaveanyfearafterdeathaswell becauseonewillbenonexistent.Beforebirthwedonotexperiencefear,soweshouldnotexperiencefearbefore deathaswellInLucretiusargumentonecan

thereforeoneshouldnotfeardeathThatistheSuperSparknotesversionofBookIIIofLucretius'OntheNature ofThings.Itlookssotidyonthepagelaidoutlikethat,butwhenbrokendownandconsideredwithrespectto humannatureandexistence,itbecomesfarmorecomplex,asmanythingsoftendowhentakenoutofthecontext ofacademictheoryandappliedto,forlackofabetterterm,reallife.Lucretiusintroduceshisargumentwithan explanationastowhydeathevokessuchfearwhileat

Ovid'sUseOfSatireInArsAmatoria

mentionedbefore,itisimportanttomakethecomparisonsbetweenaphilosophicaldidacticpoemasLucretius, whocondemnslove,andOvid'ssensualistpoem.EspeciallysinceArsAmatoriacontainsmanyexamplesofthis cynicalandmanipulativeloveThisparodyillustratesOvid'shisunreliabilityasthepraeceptoramorisThis parodyillustratesclearlywhencomparedtoaspecificpassageinLucretius.Lucretius'scondemnsromanticpoetry bythewaytheypurposefullytrytocoverupwomen'sdefects

EpistemologyAndEpicurusResearchPaper

EpicurusalsobelievedthatGodswerenotinterestedintheongoingofEarthandtheytendednottodivinely intervene•ThisparagraphperfectlycapturesthebeliefthatGodsdidnotcreatetheworldnordidtheygovern it,rathertheatomsdidso.Lucretiustalksalotaboutthedifferentwaysheprovesdivineinterventionisnotthefact oflifeeventhoughGodscreatedtheworld.Hewantstomakesurethatpeoplegivenature,notGods,creditfor their"misfortunes"•Heusesobservationsandarguments

ExposingtheFalsenessofTruthinOntheNatureoftheUniverseÂÂÂÂÂÂÂTruthisintheeyeofthe beholderOrisit?Questionsregardingthenatureoftruthhavealwaysbeencentraltonotonlyphilosophers,but allmen(andwomen,ofcourse)whopossessanydesireforknowledge.Forwhiletruthitselfisanelusiveconcept, itisalsotheunderlyingthemeofallscience--whichisthebasisofknowledge--andsotheseekeroflearning mustfirstdiscoverhisowntruthabouttheworld;...

DefinitionOfTheGoodLifeInTheEpicOfGilgamesh

PlatoandAristotlecontinuedtothinkaboutwhatthegoodlifelookslike;althoughPlatobelievedhumansshould aimtobejustandAristotlearguedforhappiness,theybothagreedontheimportanceofeducationtoimprove one'slifeFurthermore,LucretiusdiscussesthegoodlifeinTheNatureofThings,andheassertsthatpeople shouldstrivetobehappyandshouldaimtoleadsimplelivesVirgilalsoaddressestheissueofthegoodlifevia Aeneas'journeytofoundRome.Aeneas'sperilsreflect...

TheFourArgumentsOfSocratesPreparingForDeath

Socrates,preparingfordeath,explainstohisfriendsthatheisnotafraidbecausehehasachievedatrue philosopher'sgoal.Truephilosophers,hesays,lookforwardtodeathbecauseitisthemomentwhenthesoul separatesfromtheneedsofthebodyHebelievesthesearchforthetruthwillcometoanendandhewillbe welcomedbyGodsandfriendsintheafterlife.Thisisbecausethesoulisimmortal.Hisfriendsbecomeskeptical, anddon'tbelievethatthisistrue.Socratesgoesontoprovide...

AnalysisOfTheMovieHeavenIsForReal

attentiontowhatexactlyaheavenlookslikeandwhathappenstothepersonwhoisenteringintothisheaven. ThesetwothemesrelatetoreadingsthathavebeendiscussedinclassrecentlyTheyincludeThomasMores, Utopia,andthethoughtsofLucretius.Theybothhavetheirideasaboutwhatheavenwouldbelikeandhowthe soulandbodychangeordoesn'tchangewhentransitioningthere.Withthesereadings,anunderstandingofhuman natureandlifeafterdeathareanticipated,correspondingwith

FilmAnalysis:TheMatrix

TheMatrixisafilmabouttheenslavementofhumankindbyartificialintelligence,sentientbeings,with mechanicalbodies,createdbypeopletoservicehumanity,andthediscoveryofaperson,Neo,thatpossesses abilitiesthatcandefeattheArtificialIntelligenceandmanumithumanity.Themajorityofhumanbeingshavetheir consciousness/mindstrappedwithintheMatrix,acomputersimulatedworldinwhichtheirmindsareborn,livein, anddie,whiletheirbodiesareconnectedtoitviacerebral...

ThucydidesOnThePeloponnesianWar

Thucydideswrotehistakeonit.Inhiswork"TheHistoryofthePeloponnesianWar"Thucydidestalksaboutthe socialandpoliticalconsequencesoftheplague,apersonalaccountontheexperienceshelivedthroughAnywhere during99-55BCEpoetLucretiushadhiswork"OntheNatureoftheUniverse"endwithanaccountofthe AthenianplagueLucretius'saccountwasnearlyanexacttranslationofThucydides'descriptionoftheplagueBut whereasThucydideswrotehistoricallyandrealonhisexperiences...

changedthewaytheoldworldwasandbroughtforthwhatthenewworldisThisnovelfocuseson3scholars, Poggio,LucretiusandGreenblatt.PoggiowasresponsibleforrecoveringahugenumberofolderLatin manuscripts,whichhefoundinancient

TheSwerveAnalysis

InthebookTheSwerve,StephenGreenblattbringsusbacktothepasttothetimeofthediscoveryofOnthe NatureofThingsbyLucretiusandexhibitshowithasshapedourworldGoingintothisbookIdidnotknowwhat toexpectandthefirstchapterdidnothelpmefigureouthowitwasgoingtobebecauseIfeltyouhadtoread fartherinthebooktobeabletogetintothetopic.Specifically,whenitstartsoffbydescribingPoggioIdidnot knowhowitwasgoingtorelateorhowitwasgoing

ComparingAncientVs.AncientPhilosophers

IncomparingancientskepticsTitusLucretiusCarcusandWangCh'ungtheycomefromtwodifferent backgroundsoneofhighereducationanotherthathadnoformerlearningortrainingyethavegreattheoriesof mythologyandphilosophyofwhatwastobeorcouldbeinapersonlife.Specialfearsthatshapedtheirlivesand causedthemtobesuperstitiousandevenskepticalinthewaytheylivedtheirownlivesSkepticismisconsidered "isanattitudeofdoubtingthetruthofsomething,suchasa...

ofmyfavoritetimeperiodsforartandliteraturebyCosimoanartistfromFlorence,ItalyAccordingtothe descriptionofthepainting,"thispaintingisinspiredby,thefifthbookoftheDeRerumNaturabytheEpicurean poetandphilosopherLucretius"ButalsobyVitruvius'sDeArchitecturalibridecem

ReincarnationInTheUpanishads

Insteadofbeingregardedastheend,deathisseenasthestartofanewbeginninginmanycultures.InThe Upanishads,thereweretwopathsafterdeath:unificationwithBrahmanorreincarnation(p20)Reincarnation wastheseparationofthetrueself,Atman,fromtheapparentorphysicalself(Bhagavad-Gita,p.37).TheAtman willthenacquireanotherselfandliveagaininanewbody,butitisstillthesamesoul(Bhagavad-Gita,p.37). UnificationwithBrahman,ontheotherhand,requires

EarlyAmericanEducationResearchPaper

TheFirstPunicWarforRome,TheMeijiRestorationforJapan,NaziRuleinGermany,andMaoTse-tung's SocialistEducationMovementinChinaAllofthesearetimesofgreatpoliticalchangeinhistorythathaveseena dramaticshiftineducation,whetheritbeofthesystemorofthecurriculum.Thiscorrelationbetweenpolitical upheavalandthetransformationofeducationcouldalsobeseenduringtheformationoftheearlyAmerican republic.InanefforttobreakawayfromBritishsubjugation...

Women'sRoleInAncientRome

outcomeInLivy'sTheHistoryofRome,threeinstancesinvolvingwomenhadasignificantimpactonthe developmentoftheRomangovernment.InLivy'sfirstbookofTheHistoryofRome,henarratestheeventsthat occuraroundLucretia,daughterofLucretiusLucretiabecame

WhatMakesAGoodLife?

Weashumansfindourselvesinaconstantpursuitofalifestableenoughtoprovideacertaindegreeofcontroland self-sufficiencywhilealsoremainingopentothepossibilityofcircumstanceswhicharenotentirelyunderour control,suchaslove.Torecognizethebeautyofthemysteriousnessanduniquenessassociatedwithlove,aforce wecannotcontrol,whilealsomaintainingacertaindegreeofself-sufficiencymaypossiblyallowustoliveagood lifewithaloveimmunetotragedyTheidea

CompareAndContrastOedipusAndRomanPoets

becomesoreadytomanipulatethemforentertainmentdespitewhetherornototherpeoplesufferintheprocess. ThetwoGreekpoetsthatIhavechosentowriteaboutwillbeAeschylusandSophoclesThetwoRomanpoets thatIIhavechosenareLucretiusandAeschyluswritesatrilogyrelatingtoOedipusandhisfamily.Inthevery beginningofOedipus'lifestory,hisparentssoughttofindoutwhathisfatewouldbeandforadviceAnoracleis someonewhogetstheiradviceorprophecyfrom...

ReligionInAncientCivilization

inSWT,p98)Epicuruspresentstheargumentthatpleasingthegodsisunnecessaryandawasteofaperson's timeandenergy.ThisGreekthinkingwasreceivedwellinearlyRomancivilization.Lucretius,aRoman philosopher,agreedEpicurusandconsidersreligiontobeaburdentomankind(Lucretius,Denunciationof Religion,inSWT,p.112).GreekandRomancivilizationbegantobecomemoresecularandreligionwas consideredtobeacustomorformalityThisdevelopmentwasuniquebecauseearly

BestExplanationsInAristotle'sDebate

LucretiusassistsDemocritusinmakinghispointandclarifyinghissideofthedebatedirectedatAristotle. DemocritusobtainsanopportunitytorespondbackanddebatewithAristotleoversomeclaimsandexplanations; hedoesjustthisandchallenges

HowImportantAreIntentions?

makesitimpossibleforcriticaljudgement.Apaintingisnotassessedwhenitisincomplete;withoutthefull picture,acanvasisstilljustcotton,wood,andpaint,daysawayfrombeingdeclaredartInthebookOntheNature oftheUniverse,Lucretiusdescribesmenasfruitlessseekers,travelingtheworldforsomethinggreater,an imaginedhappiness,whenallheneedsisathome,inhis