Von der Natur / De rerum natura

Die römische Philosophie kennt kaum einen originelleren Dichter als Lukrez (um 97-55 v. Chr.), der zu den großen Vermittlern und Weiterdenkern griechischen Gedankenguts zählt. Ausgehend von den Lehren Epikurs, entwarf er in seinem Buch "Von der Natur" eine Philosophie, in deren Mittelpunkt die Theorie der Atome steht. Aus ihren Bewegungen leitete er nicht nur die Feinstruktur der Materie, sondern auch den Aufbau des Universums und die Formen der Seele, des Geistes und der Wahrnehmung ab. Es ist ein streng materialistisches System, in dem für die Götter kein Platz mehr ist - die Welt wird von den Naturgesetzen regiert. Lukrez, der sich in scharfer Polemik gegen alle Religion wandte, sah im Glauben an strafende Götter den Hauptgrund der Todesangst, die er für alles Unglück und alle Schlechtigkeit der Menschen verantwortlich machte. Auch in sprachlicher Hinsicht gehört das Buch "Von der Natur" zu den eigenwilligsten und genialsten Leistungen der römischen Literatur. Geleitwort von Albert Einstein (1924). Mit Einführung und Erläuterungen von Ernst Günther Schmidt.

Since 1923 the Sammlung Tusculum has published authoritative editions of Greek and Latin works together with a German translation. The original texts are comprehensively annotated, and feature an introductory chapter. In the new volumes, additional essays delve into specific aspects of the works, illuminating their historical context and reception to the present day. The high academic quality of the new editions together with clearly written essays and annotations make the Sammlung Tusculum essential reading for students who are discovering an ancient author for the first time as well as professional scholars who would like to gain a deeper understanding of specific aspects of a given work. Moreover, the series is ideal for lay readers who would like to engage with antiquity through a reliable German translation.

The series contains over 270 titles, available in print and eBook editions, making previously out-of-print titles and rarities available again for the first time.

In order to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the series, De Gruyter is proud to present Tusculum Online, an eBook package which contains all titles that appeared between 1923 and 2013 – a fitting tribute to an important part of German publishing history.

Since 1923 the Sammlung Tusculum has published authoritative editions of Greek and Latin works together with a German translation. The original texts are comprehensively annotated, and feature an introductory chapter. In the new volumes, additional essays delve into specific aspects of the works, illuminating their historical context and reception to the present day. The high academic quality of the new editions together with clearly written essays and annotations make the Sammlung Tusculum essential reading for students who are discovering an ancient author for the first time as well as professional scholars who would like to gain a deeper understanding of specific aspects of a given work. Moreover, the series is ideal for lay readers who would like to engage with antiquity through a reliable German translation.

The series contains over 270 titles, available in print and eBook editions, making previously out-of-print titles and rarities available again for the first time.

In order to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the series, De Gruyter is proud to present Tusculum Online, an eBook package which contains all titles that appeared between 1923 and 2013 – a fitting tribute to an important part of German publishing history.