Page 15

 

So it was that the works of Greek and Roman Philosophers disappeared except for rare survivors and the book we discuss today was one such a rare survivor and the only example of Lucretius’s work to survive.

All material things are made of atoms. We know this because of the work of many 19th and 20th century scientists. But incredibly that idea of atoms actually goes back two and a half thousand years as detailed in Lucretius’ book called On the Nature of Things (De Rerum Natura). Titus Lucretius Carus, was a Roman poet and philosopher. The Charlecote copy dates from 1675 but he was writing in 50BC.

There are not many jokes in this talk but here is one.

Children, in their innocence – or out of a malicious sense of humour – ask very simple questions that often confound their parents