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400 BCE
Democritus 460-370 BC
Democritus was a philosopher of science born sometime around 460 BC. He is most known for his Atomic hypothesis around 400 BC. In his theory he believed everything was composed of “atoms” which were indivisible and surrounded by just space. He also believed there was an infinite number of atoms of all different shapes and size and all were indestructible and always in motion. This is his theory though others were credited as being the first “atmoists”.
Https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/democritus -
400 BCE
Democritus: Void
Democritus believed along with his atomic theory that with atoms comes void, atoms can’t exist without void. Without void he believed that atoms cannot move and if they cannot move then nothing can move, therefore void or nothingness is needed in order for atoms to move around and arrange themselves. Many disputed this fact, but he compared it to space and the rotation of planets in orbit, without space or a void it wouldn’t be possible. -
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Democritus: Necessity cont. 1
...I believe this is extremely important as this theory makes it seem as though we do not make our own choices and that the atoms that we are made of make our choices for us based on our lives necessity and not because we choose to, kind of like our lives are scripted by nature and we are predestined to live our life a certain way. This also causes concerns for life after death, though Democritus believed that there is a place for our souls after life and it is... -
446
Democritus: Necessity cont 2
...“possible such a soul would survive bodily death”. While religious beliefs fall into another category I believe that religion has a place in the philosophy of science even though certain beliefs may be impossible to prove.
https://www.ancient.eu/Democritus/ -
446
Democritus: Perception cont 2
...from his followers and peers or fragments of those works that survived, but the vast majority is gone. He was so dedicated to his work that he took no wife, had no children and was completely exclusive to his work. https://www.lifepersona.com/7-contributions-of-democritus-to-philosophy-and-science -
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Democritus: Theory of Perception
Democritus had a theory that the human perception was closely related to his atomic theory and that it all was connected. For example, he believed images perceived by the human eye were just layers of atoms and the brain perceived the layered atoms as an object. Related to this theory was philosophy that all human senses and the characteristics of these senses such as taste and color were the result of atoms being formed in a different manner, such as... -
446
Democritus: Perception cont 1
...a soft smooth texture of an atom may produce a sweet taste or feeling and other formations may produce a bitter taste or feeling due to a rougher jagged texture of atoms. There is one major problem with Democritus’s works and philosophies, his predeceasing philosophers had his works and studies destroyed upon his death due to jealousy or hate for him, so many of his studies on all forms of science, mathematics, philosophy, astrology are gone forever and all that is left is word mouth ... -
446
Democritus: Philosophy of necessity
Democritus claimed in his own writings that “Everything happens according to necessity”, meaning atoms operate only in certain ways in that everything in life happens out of necessity and not happenstance. This philosophy caused concerns that this theory denies the possibility of free will for people, though he denied this and later wrote within his ethic views that all people still maintain the ability to make free will choices “within the parameters of atomic determinism”...
