In specula speculorum. Enkele aspecten van de idee-historische ondergrond en achtergrond van Lucretius’ De rerum natura IV 311-317

Abstract

Some aspects of the historical background of Lucretius' De Rerum Natura IV 311-317 The present article deals with Lucretius' explanation of the formation of images in latuscula speculorum (the expression latuscula speculorum probably refers to noncomposite, concave mirrors with a curvature that resembles our flank). The first part contains a solution to one of the problems of interpretation in Lucretius' latuscula speculorum-passage. The second part presents a discussion of a hitherto neglected aspect of this passage: its place in the history of science.