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Μερικές σύγχρονες θεωρήσεις στο De Rerum Natura του Λουκρητίου
Φίλη, Χριστίνα
In Lucretius΄ unique for its time didactic poem De rerum natura (On the Nature of things) the philosopher΄s penetrating insight and the poet΄s inspiration coexist in an extraordinary creation. The prevailing idea in the poem with which he interprets the cosmological phenomenays the concept of the infinite multitude and the infinite magnitude, which concept is based on three propositions: 1. Space is an area of infinite extension. 2. Matter in the universe consists of an infinite number of absolute solids. 3. Time has infinite duration. Lucretius is deeply influenced by Greek philosophy. He accepts as an axiom the existence of infinite atoms, homogeneous as to substance but different in shape, magnitude and weight, and it is to these, as well as to the differences of the movements of the positions and their combinations that he attributes the variety of the forms. He further maintains that the Universe is infinite as well as the number of worlds, positions which are today accepted. For the poet an infinite multitude of elements is a multitude which cannot be exhausted by periodically removing from it an element but it can be regarded as an endless succession of elements which today is called «countable infinite multitude». The consideration of Lucretius΄ concept of the infinite constitutes the distant forerunner of Cantor΄s concept, except that in the theory of sets different concepts enter, such as «points» or «numbers» whereas the infinite of the multitude of atoms in Lucretius refers to particles of matter which are real and specific. Lucretius gives the following correlation to the void, bodies and events which he examines: Void No Bodies —> Yes Events —» Possibility This correlation is closely connected to the Aristotelian Logic which in our time was advanced by Lucasiewics. The prophetic consideration of the concept of the infinite De rerum natura, once again confirms Descartes΄ dictum: «Science fundamentally constitutes a unity because it is the human thought in action».
Academy of Athens
