Lucretius on Atomic Motion ― A Commentary on De Rerum Natural 2. 1-332

Lucretius' theory of atomic motion is one of the most difficult and technical parts of De rerum natura, and, for that reason, has hitherto been neglected by commentators. This is the first commentary to take account of the remarkable discoveries and re-evaluations in the field of Hellenistic philosophy over the past fifty-five years, which have been stimulated by the publication of many more Epicurean fragments from Herculaneum. The philosophical aspects of the poem cannot, however, be separated from the literary features. The late Don Fowler possessed rare and unrivalled expertise in both the workings of Latin poetry and the intricacies of Epicurean philosophy. His commentary, therefore, sets new standards for Lucretian studies in its awesome command both of the literary, philological, and philosophical background to the poem, and of the relevant modern scholarship. The detailed notation, the clear interpretations of Greek philosophical terminology, and the systematic contextualization of Lucretius within the entire Graeco-Roman cultural tradition enable the reader to achieve a profound understanding of the great complexity of this text. Lucretius on Atomic Motion makes an exceptional contribution to the history of the Latin poetic language (for which Lucretius is of fundamental and innovative importance), yet, at the same time, manages to be a tool of interpretation of the Graeco-Latin philosophical debate which infuses Lucretius' verse. Don Fowler's commentary will be invaluable not only to Lucretian specialists but also to the whole world of classical scholarship.

Don Fowler was Fellow and Tutor in Classics at Jesus College, Oxford, from 1980 until his death on 15 October 1999.