What fears did Lucretius hope to free readers from in De rerum natura?

In his didactic poem De rerum natura (On the Nature of Things), the Roman poet and philosopher Lucretius sought to liberate humanity from the debilitating anxieties caused by ignorance and superstition. By presenting the physical theories of Epicurus, he aimed to help readers achieve ataraxia, or a state of tranquility untroubled by mental or emotional disquiet.12

Specifically, Lucretius hoped to free readers from two primary fears:

• The fear of death: Through his demonstration of the atomic structure and mortality of the soul, he argued that death is merely the dissipation of atoms and therefore nothing to be feared.13
• The fear of the gods: He sought to dispel the terror instilled by religious seers and false philosophers who threatened eternal punishment or claimed that divine forces manipulated human affairs. Lucretius maintained that while gods exist, they live remotely and are entirely unconcerned with human life.1

By understanding the natural, atomic causes of phenomena—such as thunder and lightning—Lucretius believed individuals could overcome these irrational fears and live a life of maximum pleasure and minimum pain.1