Roman Epics V: De Rerum Natura Book 5, or Darwin Didn’t Get There First

Posted byTriumvir ClioPosted inRoman Epics, The Romans

Lucretius gives a logical explanation for why chimeras can’t exist in Book 5 of De Rerum Natura.

Discussion Prompts
  1. What’s your favorite mythological creature that combines two different animals?
  2. Can religion and science coexist? Be polite.
  3. AP Credit: What are some modern equivalents of this epic? Discuss.
  4. What does Lucretius (and/or Epicurus) get right about evolution? What does he get wrong?
  5. What did I not talk about that you want to talk about?

Published by Triumvir Clio

I have a BA in History and Classical Civilization from Loyola University Chicago and an MPH from Western Michigan University. I've been a geometry teacher, a religion teacher, a writing tutor. I'm a writer, a knitter, a dancer, a singer, an actor. And, yes, for fun I like to reread everything that was assigned while getting my classics degree.

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