myrmidex reviewed On the Nature of Things by Titus Lucretius Carus
Review of 'On the Nature of Things' on 'Storygraph'
3 stars
Lucretius lends us an eye into the scientific knowledge and reasoning of the Romans, or at least one of them as I believe his views were rather radical at that time. I was surprised to find a mention of survival of the fittest, and his deductions about space, weather and the building blocks in nature are quite spot on. This book made it even more amazing how over a 1000 years of the ruling catholic religion has wiped out most of this knowledge, only to be rediscovered in the renaissance.
The only downside to this book, which is not really a downside, was that I assumed this would also touch upon the teachings of Epicurus as Lucretius was one of his most well-known Roman followers. Aside from a few mentions, and the epicurean spirit throughout the verses, little true epicurean wisdom was found.