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Full Idea
In studying the workings of nature, our starting-point will be this principle: nothing can ever be created by divine power out of nothing.
Gist of Idea
Nothing can be created by divine power out of nothing
Source
Lucretius (On the Nature of the Universe [c.60 BCE], I.152)
Book Ref
Lucretius: 'On the Nature of the Universe', ed/tr. Latham,Ronald [Penguin 1951], p.31
A Reaction
This claim seems to cry out for a bit of empiricist caution. What observation has convinced Lucretius that creation out of nothing is impossible? The early Christians switched to the view that divine creation is 'ex nihilo' - out of nothing.
| 8154 | Originally there must have been just Existence, which could not come from non-existence [Anon (Upan)] |
| 1746 | The parts of all things are susceptible to change, but the whole is unchangeable [Anaximander, by Diog. Laertius] |
| 420 | The cosmos is eternal not created, and is an ever-living and changing fire [Heraclitus] |
| 456 | Nothing could come out of nothing [Melissus] |
| 16595 | If each thing can cease to be, why hasn't absolutely everything ceased to be long ago? [Aristotle] |
| 5083 | Do things come to be from what is, or from what is not? Both seem problematical. [Aristotle] |
| 20827 | The cosmos is regularly consumed and reorganised by the primary fire [Stoic school, by Aristocles] |
| 5694 | Nothing can be created by divine power out of nothing [Lucretius] |