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Lucretius' Methods of Argument (3.417–614)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 February 2009

David West
Affiliation:
University of Newcastle upon Tyne

Extract

A states the phenomenon that requires to be explained. B explains it. C justifies B. D is the furthest reach of the argument and explains C. E. begins the way back, stating the consequence of D and therefore balancing C. F is the inference from E and corresponds to B, and G brings us back to A. The logic is closely knit. And it is pointed by repeats and correspondences. In A the fire is liquidus; in E profundant, in F profundunt. In B the clouds must contain permulta seeds of fire; in D they must conceive multa from the light of the sun, and the repeat of necessest, necessust hammers home the argument.

Information

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Classical Association 1975

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