卢克莱修②

　　卢克莱修(约前99～前55)
　　Lucretius，Carus
　　古罗马哲学家。他继承古代原子学说，特别是阐述并发展了伊壁鸠鲁的哲学观点。认为物质的存在是永恒的，提出了“无物能由无中生，无物能归于无”的唯物主义观点。反对神创论，认为宇宙是无限的，有其自然发展的过程，人们只要懂得了自然现象发生的真正原因，宗教偏见便可消失。承认世界的可知性，认为感觉是事物流射出来的影像作用于人的感官的结果，是一切认识的基础和来源，驳斥了怀疑论。认为幸福在于摆脱对神和死亡的恐惧，得到精神的安宁和心情的恬静。著有哲学长诗《物性论》。
　　Born c. 94 B.C.E. Died c. 54 B.C.E.
　　Little is known of Lucretius’s life, apart from his authorship of the poem De rerum natura (On the Nature of Things, 6 books).
　　Influenced by Greek philosopher Epicurus (341-270 B.C.E.) who was concerned with how to lead a happy life and achieve ataraxia (‘absence of disturbance’)
　　This concern ultimately derives from his ‘atomic theory’ (the basis of life). Epicurus gives Lucretius a materialist philosophy in which knowledge is based on sense perception NOT on a belief in the Gods
　　Lucretius does not see the world as having a divine plan and urges that we should not fear death. For him, the Gods exist but have no interest in or influence over human affairs. Instead, the Gods represent ataraxia itself, living an undisturbed and harmonious life.
　　Lucretius calls atoms ‘the ultimate law’. In other words, the matter of the universe creates the conditions in which we live and die NOT the Gods or a divine plan
　　For him, religions are out of balance with the universe. In fact, Lucretius often attacked religion as a form of blindness and a cause of evil: ‘Too often Religion / Herself gives birth to evil and blasphemous deeds’
　　Lucretius thinks about the universe: whether it has a limit or not. He argues: ‘All things limit something else […] but nothing / Exists beyond this All to close it in’
　　He wonders about what will make us happy and says that ‘luxury […] is useless for our bodies’ and that Nature supplies all that we need
　　Lucretius sees death as the necessary consequence of change in the universe and argues that it is not something to fear. Our atoms will simply disperse and become part of matter again.
　　He does not believe in Hell or an Underworld of punishment and says instead: ‘This life of fools […] this is the true Hell’. In other words, humankind creates its own torture and unhappiness, NOT the Gods.