Titi Lvcreti Cari De Rervm Natura: (Liber I)

Abstract

The present edition of Book I of Lucretius's De rerum natura by Serafín Bodelón García is based on the Hispanic codices Valentianus and Caesaraugustanus. It amends the text as fixed by Bailey (1926, 1947) and takes note of the various corrections proposed by prominent philologists of Lucretius's work and reproduced in the edition: Lucretius, Über die Natur der Dinge. Lateinisch und Deutsch. Schriften und Quellen der Alten Welt (ed. Josef Martin). Berlin, Akademie-Verlag (DDR), 1972.

The entire book I can be considered an introduction to the work. From the model of invocation to the muses (hymn to Venus) the intention of the work is exposed: to eliminate the fear of the gods. The basic principles of the atomistic doctrine, the operators (atoms and vacuum) and the operations (nothing comes from nothing) are exposed. A critique is made of alternative theories to atomism and those with which it can be confused, atoms and the void are justified as principles of things.