more from Lucretius

Single Idea 5715

[catalogued under 27. Natural Reality / E. Cosmology / 1. Cosmology]

Full Idea

It is in the highest degree unlikely that this earth and sky is the only one to have been created.

Gist of Idea

This earth is very unlikely to be the only one created

Source

Lucretius (On the Nature of the Universe [c.60 BCE], II.1057)

Book Reference

Lucretius: 'On the Nature of the Universe', ed/tr. Latham,Ronald [Penguin 1951], p.91


A Reaction

I can only admire the science fiction imagination of this, which roughly agrees with the assessment of modern cosmologists. We think imagination was cramped in the ancient world, and now wanders free - but that is not so.