What Is Lucretius Argument Against Religion
Lucretius, a Roman philosopher, was greatly inspired by the teachings of Epicurus. In Lucretius s
book, On the Nature of Things, he expands on many Epicurean principles and at times even alters
them. Nothing comes from nothing , the first principle that Lucretius endorses, is essential to his
argument for the origin of the world. Using this principle, Lucretius against the accepted Roman
religion by adding the concept that divine intervention is not the root of creation, instead he gives
credit to atoms. These atoms, or beginnings of things, he reasoned, came together to form masses
called bodies. The earth was one such body, and it yielded many bodies within it. This entire process,
governed by nature, is what Lucretius believes created the world and everything in it. However,
Lucretius falls short in his argument against religion by indirectly asserting that nature is in fact a
God. Although Lucretius explicitly states in Book 5 of On the Nature of Things, that the true being
behind the world s beginning, Mother Nature, is not a divine being, the characteristics he assigns her
prove otherwise. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Instead, he passionately asserts that the earth herself and Nature [is] the artificer of things . (Lucretius
5. 243 244). Explaining his theory, he articulates that atoms, an integral part of nature, operate under
circumstances in which they swerve a little (2. 219) causing collisions. These collisions led to the
formation of things, both animate and inanimate. In other words, these atoms successfully created the
earth and all the creatures living upon it. In essence, rather than deny the creation of the world by an
unknown force or even by chance, Lucretius simply substitutes the role of the Roman gods with
Nature. Nature, thus, well deserves the name of mother , well deserves the title creator, and well
deserves the title
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