Essay about Atomism Democritus And Epicurus - 1299 Words

Atomism: Democritus and Epicurus nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;In the Atomists, we see pluralism taken as far as it could possibly go. We see Democritus and Epicurus divide all the world, as well as the universe, into two categories; atoms and empty space. Everything else is merely thought to exist. The atoms are eternal, infinite in size and number and they are moving through the empty space. There is no motion without empty space. Both Democritus and Epicurus agreed that motion was impossible in a plenum, but it is here that their theories diverge. In the cause of the motion, we begin to see a variety of opinions. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Both Democritus and Epicurus agreed that the â€Å"qualitative world of sense†¦show more content†¦Since an objects natural state seemed to be rest, Epicurus decided that it was not motion, but lack thereof, that is in a things true nature. Therefore it is motion which requires an explanation (Jones 85). nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Since it is agreed that the atoms must collide in order to form â€Å"objects† that possess different qualities, the frequency of these collisions must be infinitely large. How else can one account for the variety of objects recognized as â€Å"normal†? The space in which the atoms are traveling is large beyond our every conception of size, and the atoms are small on the very same scale. The probability of even two of these atoms colliding while they fall through the void is minute, if not non-existent. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Epicurus attempts to explain these collisions with his â€Å"swerve† theory. In this, he holds there is an arbitrary, imperceptible swerve in the straight â€Å" falling† path of the atoms. Rather than contribute the collisions to the nature of the atoms themselves, he is attempting to account for the frequency of collisions, and in effect increase the probability of two atoms colliding in infinite space. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;There are many problems with this postulation. In effect, it is no better an argument than Democritus nature theory. If we begin to assume that events simply â€Å"happen† arbitrarily, we do not gain any deeper insightShow MoreRelatedPhilosophy And Science Of The Same Breath2132 Words   |  9 PagesThe philosophers Leucippus and Democritus are constantly mentioned in the same breath. Since the bulk of their works did not survive the middle ages, we have only fragments and the writings of their peers and successors to tell us about their accomplishments and ideas. It is difficult to separate these two men because they are praised or critiqued as a unit by contemporaries and followers, but their exact relationship is unclear. 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