"All religions are equally sublime to the ignorant, useful to the politician, and ridiculous to the philosopher."-Titus Lucretius Carus, (99 BC-55 BC: "On The Nature Of Things," "Roman poet and the author of the philosophical epic De Rerum Natura (On the Nature of the Universe), a comprehensive exposition of the Epicurean world-view. Very little is known of the poet’s life, though a sense of his character and personality emerges vividly from his poem. The stress and tumult of his times stands in the background of his work and partly explains his personal attraction and commitment to Epicureanism, with its elevation of intellectual pleasure and tranquility of mind and its dim view of the world of social strife and political violence. His epic is presented in six books and undertakes a full and completely naturalistic explanation of the physical origin, structure, and destiny of the universe. Included in this presentation are theories of the atomic structure of matter and the emergence and evolution of life forms – ideas that would eventually form a crucial foundation and background for the development of western science.
In addition to his literary and scientific influence, Lucretius has been a major source of inspiration for a wide range of modern philosophers, including Gassendi, Bergson, Spencer, Whitehead, and Teilhard de Chardin." -Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Image: -Pieter Bruegel,"The Fall Of The Rebel Angels," Oil on Oak, Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts, Brussels, 1562).
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