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Lucretius and the Transformation of Greek Wisdom

by David N. Sedley

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1911,135,847 (4.75)None
This book is designed to appeal both to those interested in Roman poetry and to specialists in ancient philosophy. In it David Sedley explores Lucretius' complex relationship with Greek culture, in particular with Empedocles, whose poetry was the model for his own, with Epicurus, the source of his philosophical inspiration, and with the Greek language itself. He includes a detailed reconstruction of Epicurus' great treatise On Nature, and seeks to show how Lucretius worked with this as his sole philosophical source, but gradually emancipated himself from its structure, transforming its raw contents into something radically new. By pursuing these themes, the book uncovers many unrecognised aspects of Lucretius' methods and achievements as a poetic craftsman.… (more)
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David Sedley posits a brilliantly argued thesis: Lucretius sought to inherit the mantle of Empedocles fame in communicating Epicurus' On Nature, the "dark wisdom of the Greeks" to his fellow Romans. Writing in hexameter verse, Sedley argues how Lucretius was imitating the style of Empedocles. Yet Lucretius completely ignores the innovations of other contemporary Epicureans like Philodemus, and this Sedley argues with success. But traces of Empedoclean imagery remain.

"By a great store of heroes, none renowned
More than Empedocles, and nothing there,
More holy, more remarkable, more dear.
His poems are godlike, and they cry aloud,
Announce such glorious findings that he seems
Scarcely a mortal being.

But he was wrong"

Take it from Lucretius directly in Book I.734. Lucretius loved the way Empedocles wrote poetry, but he vehemently disagreed with his message. Regarding the proem of Lucretius - all you need to do is read the fragments from Empedocles On Nature - its evident from physical evidence who Lucretius was imitating. ( )
  hypatiaa | Oct 27, 2009 |
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This book is designed to appeal both to those interested in Roman poetry and to specialists in ancient philosophy. In it David Sedley explores Lucretius' complex relationship with Greek culture, in particular with Empedocles, whose poetry was the model for his own, with Epicurus, the source of his philosophical inspiration, and with the Greek language itself. He includes a detailed reconstruction of Epicurus' great treatise On Nature, and seeks to show how Lucretius worked with this as his sole philosophical source, but gradually emancipated himself from its structure, transforming its raw contents into something radically new. By pursuing these themes, the book uncovers many unrecognised aspects of Lucretius' methods and achievements as a poetic craftsman.

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