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The Impact of Science

A Late Disciple of Lucretius

Colin Bennett on the eternally surprising Charles Fort.

The Roman poet and philosopher Titus Lucretius Carus (c.99-55BC) was among the founders of modern scientific methodology. It may therefore to appear odd to name Charles Fort (1874-1932) as a disciple of Lucretius because Fort dedicated his entire life to opposing the scientific method. But like Lucretius, Fort pointed out the frequently underrated and misunderstood role of the imagination in the production of almost all major systems of philosophy. The overlap between the systems of thinking of Fort and Lucretius might be illustrated by two quotations.

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