Democritus:The Man, The Myth,

The Philosopher

by: Mike Kurban

The BasicsThe Basics 460 BC-370 BC (Died at the age of ninety)460 BC-370 BC (Died at the age of ninety) Pre-Socratic PhilosopherPre-Socratic Philosopher Main Focus: metaphysics, mathematics, Main Focus: metaphysics, mathematics,

and astronomyand astronomy Noted for: Atomism, Distant Star TheoryNoted for: Atomism, Distant Star Theory Influenced by: LeucippusInfluenced by: Leucippus Influenced: Epicurus, Lucretius, Influenced: Epicurus, Lucretius,

Santayana, NietzscheSantayana, Nietzsche

Background InformationBackground Information Democritus' wealthy father contributed a lot of money to Democritus' wealthy father contributed a lot of money to

the campaign of the Persian Emperor Xerxes. In return, the campaign of the Persian Emperor Xerxes. In return, the conqueror sent wise theologists and astronomers to the conqueror sent wise theologists and astronomers to Democritus' family, where the boy had a very educational Democritus' family, where the boy had a very educational childhood.childhood.

Democritus then traveled around the world, studying at Democritus then traveled around the world, studying at each influential city, learning things from each experience.each influential city, learning things from each experience.

It was through this journey that he met Leucippus, the It was through this journey that he met Leucippus, the scholar who would return with him to Abdera and would scholar who would return with him to Abdera and would be his mentor and partner in many groudbreaking and be his mentor and partner in many groudbreaking and contraversial hypothesescontraversial hypotheses

AtomismAtomism Democritus is most widely known as the co-Democritus is most widely known as the co-

creator of the theory of atomism. Along with creator of the theory of atomism. Along with his tutor Leucippus, Democritus his tutor Leucippus, Democritus hypothesized that every physical object is hypothesized that every physical object is composed of different arrangements of composed of different arrangements of microscopic objects known as “atoms” and microscopic objects known as “atoms” and “void.” “void.”

The void makes up the space in which the atoms arrange themselves in different patterns of organization. The specifics of these packages determine all characteristics of the objects. For example, Democritus stated that something is neither hot nor cold, but rather the arrangements of the atoms causes one to interpret them as being either hot or cold.

Atomism ContinuedAtomism Continued

Along with the idea of atoms and void, the Along with the idea of atoms and void, the philosophers supported the belief that these philosophers supported the belief that these components are neither created nor destroyed.components are neither created nor destroyed.

This created great controversy, as some citizens This created great controversy, as some citizens believed that Democritus was being sacrilegious believed that Democritus was being sacrilegious in saying that man created God, and not the in saying that man created God, and not the other way aroundother way around

Democritus believed that the workings of the Democritus believed that the workings of the universe were mechanical in nature. He called universe were mechanical in nature. He called this the this the vibrationsvibrations of the atoms. of the atoms.

The Soul/SensesThe Soul/Senses

Coinciding with his theory of atoms, Coinciding with his theory of atoms, Democritus believed that certain atoma Democritus believed that certain atoma existed within humans that shaped their existed within humans that shaped their beliefs and personalities. beliefs and personalities.

The same was said for ones senses. He The same was said for ones senses. He believed that when certain atom believed that when certain atom combinations came in contact with the combinations came in contact with the tongue, the mind registers them as being tongue, the mind registers them as being “bitter” or “sweet” etc.“bitter” or “sweet” etc.

MathematicsMathematics

Besides the concept of atoms, one of Besides the concept of atoms, one of Democritus' contributions that is best Democritus' contributions that is best known to students is his discovery and known to students is his discovery and subsequent publication of the idea that a subsequent publication of the idea that a cone or a pyramid has one third of the cone or a pyramid has one third of the volume of a cylinder or prism if the base volume of a cylinder or prism if the base and height are the same.and height are the same.

Plant LifePlant Life

Late in life, Democritus Late in life, Democritus devoted a lot of time to the devoted a lot of time to the study of plants and herbs.study of plants and herbs.

AstronomyAstronomy

Democritus was also a Democritus was also a groundbreaking groundbreaking astronomer. He astronomer. He hypothesized that the hypothesized that the Milky Way is composed of Milky Way is composed of many distant stars. He many distant stars. He also announced his belief also announced his belief that the universe is made that the universe is made of many different worlds, of many different worlds, including other inhabited including other inhabited planets. planets.

The Laughing PhilosopherThe Laughing Philosopher

Democritus is fondly Democritus is fondly known as “The known as “The Laughing Laughing Philosopher” as he Philosopher” as he often preached of often preached of the value of the value of happiness.happiness.

LegacyLegacyDemocritus, perhaps the most famous and prolific of all the Pre-Socratic Democritus, perhaps the most famous and prolific of all the Pre-Socratic

philosophers recieves well deserved respect for his multitude of advancements in philosophers recieves well deserved respect for his multitude of advancements in science, mathematics, and metaphysics. Though his ideas may have been science, mathematics, and metaphysics. Though his ideas may have been controversal at the time they were presented, he is retrospectively recognized as controversal at the time they were presented, he is retrospectively recognized as being brilliant for his unconvential theories that led to new paths and ideas.being brilliant for his unconvential theories that led to new paths and ideas.

The idea of the atom, one Democritus thought of without the aid of any The idea of the atom, one Democritus thought of without the aid of any advanced instrument, still holds a heavy influence in the world of science. advanced instrument, still holds a heavy influence in the world of science. Intellectuals respect him for his hypothesis, and every day, hundreds of students Intellectuals respect him for his hypothesis, and every day, hundreds of students learn of the man who was willing to defy conventional thought and propose the learn of the man who was willing to defy conventional thought and propose the idea that the entire world is composed of small objects that are invisible to the idea that the entire world is composed of small objects that are invisible to the naked eye. At the time, this may have made him look like a fool. We know, naked eye. At the time, this may have made him look like a fool. We know, today, however, that he was a genius. Even Aristotle, a successor to his role as today, however, that he was a genius. Even Aristotle, a successor to his role as world-famous philosopher, praised Democritus for introducing new ideas while world-famous philosopher, praised Democritus for introducing new ideas while “arguing from sound conditions appropriate to natural philosophy.“arguing from sound conditions appropriate to natural philosophy.

The idea of the Atom, though his chief theory, is not the only idea The idea of the Atom, though his chief theory, is not the only idea produced by this prolific thinker. It is astounding to consider the possibility that produced by this prolific thinker. It is astounding to consider the possibility that many of this philosopher's theories are being proven true thousands of years many of this philosopher's theories are being proven true thousands of years later. Perhaps one day extraterrestrial life will be found, and the man who went later. Perhaps one day extraterrestrial life will be found, and the man who went against convential beliefs will be correct again.against convential beliefs will be correct again.