The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.
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The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
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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 fragments of his writings survived, and many of them concerned ethics. Most of the knowledge of Democritus's scientific ideas came from his stud ents, especially Nausiphanes, the teacher of Epicurus.
According to Democritus, the physical universe was composed of atoms and void. An infinite number of atoms were in perpetual motion throughout the void. An atom was an eternal, unchangeable, solid body without pores or voids, so small it could not be seen or div ided (the word atomon means indivisible). Atoms only differed from each other in shape, size, arrangement, and position, which explained the properties of different substances. For example, water atoms were smooth and round so water flowed easily and had no permanent shape. Contrarily, atoms of fire, which were thorny, cau sed pain, and atoms of earth, which were jagged and rough, held together in a definite form. A substance's feel and taste depended upon the observer's sense organs and convention while color was a result of the position of the atoms of compounds. A substance's change of nature, such as water turning into steam, was the res ult of atoms separating and rejoining in a new pattern.
Democritus was one of the earliest mechanists who believed that the eternal, unbreakable laws of nature, not the whims of gods or demons, determined the creation and operation of the universe, and even the human mind and soul.