Democritus Summary

Democritus c. 460-c. 370 B.C. Greek philosopher, best known for his atomic theory, who also contributed to the study of geometry. It was Democritus who first stated that the volume of a cone is one-th... Read more

The Greek natural philosopher Democritus (460-370 BC) promulgated the atomic theory, which asserted that the universe is composed of two elements: the atoms and the void in which they exist and move.D... Read more

Democritus's background is uncertain. Many stories of his life are tradition or later inventions. Among the few undisputed facts are his birthplace (Abdera, Thrace) and his teacher (Leucippus). Only f... Read more

Democritus's background is uncertain. Many stories of his life are tradition or later inventions. Among the few undisputed facts are his birthplace (Abdera, Thrace) and his teacher (Leucippus). Only f... Read more

In the following excerpt, Havelock examines Democritus's political statements and concludes that he was satisfied to leave some problems unsolved. The political theory of Democritus has been pr... Read more

In the following essay, Oldershaw explains the methodology that enabled Democritus to achieve extraordinary results considering the unavailability of all but the most rudimentary form of mathematics. ... Read more

In the following excerpt, Taylor examines Democritus's ideas on the gods and religion. Theology Democritus' theology is naturalistic, in its accounts both of the nature of the gods and o... Read more

In the following excerpt, Hussey summarizes the atomistic theory and explains in what ways it was revolutionary. The Atomists: Leucippus and Democritus Of the life of Leucippus we know next to nothing... Read more

In the following essay, Kahn explores Democritus's texts as a source for moral psychology and ethics in the time of Socrates. The fragments of Democritus constitute the most important body of m... Read more

In the following essay, Godfrey explains a modern argument concerning the mathematical indivisibility of atoms and compares it to Greek thought on the subject. The Abderite philosophers Leucippus and ... Read more

In the following excerpt, McKirahan explicates passages concerning atomic theory by Democritus and ancient Greek commentators. The third and most ambitious response to the Eleatic challenge was the at... Read more