SOURCE: “Democritus—Scientific Wizard of the 5^th Century b.c.,” in Speculations in Science and Technology, Vol. 21, No. 1, March, 1998, pp. 37-44.

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.

Laughter in the Garden

An elderly man sat in a beautiful garden on the outskirts of Abdera, Greece, staring fixedly at various parts of his natural surroundings. He often chuckled to himself and occasionally burst out laughing to the heavens. At first his neighbours just winked at each other and smiled, but as this odd behaviour persisted they became concerned for the old man's well-being. Eventually the authorities were summoned and the man in the garden was politely questioned about his eccentricities. The report of the investigation concluded that the man had some very strange ideas, including more than a...