Updates: Excerpts from De Rerum Natura, and an Annotated version of the Principal Doctrines

Today brings two significant revisions to the website:  (1)  a presentation of excerpts from De Rerum Natura, and (2) a revised presentation of the Principle Doctrines organized with relevant references from Cicero, Lucretius, and Diogenes Laertius.

With these additions to the site, my current recommended order of reading for new students of Epicurus is:

  1. Epicurus’ Letter to Menoeceus
  2. Cicero’s “Defense of Epicurus”
  3. An Introduction to Epicurus’ Canon of Truth
  4. Lucretius’ De Rerum Natura
  5. The Crucial Doctrines

Of course the Crucial Doctrines can be referenced in any order, but simply glancing through the list is likely to be confusing unless one is familiar with the manner in which they were derived.

As always, my work consists of paraphrases and not of original translations, and I am solely to blame for all errors.  I welcome corrections and criticisms and I will attempt to incorporate them into the website as promptly as possible.

Cassius Amicus

Note: Please submit all comments on the Comment Page.

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