De Rerum Natura – Livro III: um exercício de tradução do texto filosófico

Abstract

Epicurean philosophy needs no justification as to its importance, since the history of philosophy bears witness to its value. Lucretius' work is currently the largest organized source of subjects on Epicurean philosophy available, and is practically complete. In addition, regarding the importance of this work by the Roman epicurean, we have a myriad of materials and reception studies that points to the great role that the work plays in the formation of modernity. In addition, the subject discussed in book III of the work De rerum natura will always be at the center of the philosophical debate, being that of human death and mortality. This is a central subject in Epicurean philosophy and it is also an ever-needed debate about the human condition. There is not a published Brazilian Portuguese translation of Lucretius’ complete work, nor there is any single published Brazilian translation of the third book of his work. Also there is no Portuguese translation that aims to its philosophical content, with an up to date background study in roman epicurean philosophy and a translation method also focused on its philosophy. The purpose of this work is to do a translation exercise focused in De rerum natura’s philosophical subject. An exposition of a few of the subjects dealt with in the book is also part of this work, which allows an outlook within the process of reading and interpreting the text, all of which comprise the translation process. The background study of the philosophical content is therefore part of the reading process of the original text (BERMAN, 2008, p.67-68), studies that are also themselves part of the final translation. Finally, this is a partial translation of the work De rerum natura, book III, with an exposition of some of its philosophical subjects and also of some other subjects of importance for both the translation process and the final translation output.