By Democritus was one of the first thinkers to develop a theory about atoms. Philosophy has reflected on various topics. Let’s delve deeper into the postulates of this Greek, which were novel for his time.
The figure of Democritus of Abdera was very important for the beginnings of philosophy. Born in the 5th century BC, this intellectual left a great mark on the discipline, in particular, through his doctrine of atomism. With it, he challenged traditional conceptions about the nature of the world.
From there, during this reading, we will explore the life and contributions of this thinker, highlighting his atomism as a solution to the discussions about the essence of the cosmos.
Life of Democritus of Abdera
Originally from Thrace, an island near the Aegean Sea, Democritus of Abdera (460 BC – 370 BC) was a philosopher of ancient Greece . He is known for his contributions to atomistic philosophy and for the large volume of works produced for the time. In this sense, his focus of interest varied, covering mathematics, ethics, astronomy and botany, among other branches.
Democritus’s serene, humorous and strong character led him to be labeled as the “laughing philosopher” or “the laughing one.” His insatiable curiosity, combined with a love of travel, took him to many places around the world.
He broadened his horizons, especially with his visits to Egypt, Persia, Babylon, Ethiopia and India. Despite his great wisdom, he gained recognition thanks to his atomistic theory, formulated by his teacher Leucippus.
Works of Democritus of Abdera
The writings of this author had an encyclopedic character, anticipating the format of the texts of his successors, such as Aristotle . According to Diogenes Laertius, historian of philosophy, the thinker from Abdera had written 70 works.
Of these, only 297 fragments have survived, which provide insight into his thoughts. This means that the vast majority of his books have been lost. His texts are divided into five sections, in which the following works stand out:
- Philology or music: this section includes Rhythm and Harmony and Poetry.
- Mathematics: There are twelve writings on this discipline, including On Geometry and On the Variety of the Rule.
- Physics: sixteen works relating to nature stand out, such as, for example: The Great Diacosmos and On Nature.
- Ethics : There are eight books referring to ethical issues, among the best known are On the Tranquility of Mind and Moral Commentaries.
- Technique : This category includes eight treatises, some of which are related to the medical field, such as On Diet or On Medical Rules and On Agriculture.
As we said, his interests were diverse, which is why he had treatises on cosmology, astronomy, geography, medicine, epistemology, sensation, among others. His thought was so influential that in the Greco-Roman era his contributions to natural medicine were taken up again for their practical effects.
Relationship between Leucippus and Democritus
Greek atomism was a theory developed jointly by Leucippus and Democritus. However, the former was relegated to a secondary plane, above all, by the great written production of Democritus, who followed his teacher in the essentials, but also introduced his own contributions.
His approach was more empirical and less deductive. Another issue to consider is his deep interest in ethical questions, something that Leucippus did not have. Furthermore, during the Hellenistic period, Democritus enjoyed more recognition than his mentor. This situation resulted in Leucippus being made invisible to the point of almost falling into oblivion.
What was the philosophy of Democritus?
Through philosophical atomism, he represented a response to the problem posed by Parmenides . According to his postulates, reconciliation between being and non-being was impossible. Instead, the intellectual from Abdera proposed a point of union between both through the concepts of atom and void.
While emptiness represents non-being, the atom is identified with being. In the first instance, atoms are characterized by being indivisible and infinite in quantity and form. Their small size means that we cannot see or touch them, therefore, they are not accessible to our senses.
According to the Greek, all of our reality is formed by the union of atoms. These small units move in the void and, from the perspective of the Abdera thinker, they are eternal. This is where their character of being comes from. That is, everything that exists must be eternal and generate everything else. The destruction and changes of the things that surround us are due to the separation of atoms.
Famous quotes from Democritus of Abdera
Some of this philosopher’s reflections stand the test of time and clearly summarise his thought. They relate to his vision of the world, his atomistic theory and his ethical conception. Below are ten of his famous quotes:
- “Nothing exists except atoms and the void.”
- “It is necessary either to be good or to imitate the one who is good.”
- “Greatness of soul is to calmly endure error.”
- “Do not long to know everything, lest you become ignorant of everything.”
- “He who is entirely dominated by wealth can never be just.”
- “The whole earth is within the reach of the wise, since the homeland of an elevated soul is the universe.”
- “To those who have a well-ordered way of being, life is also well-ordered.”
- “An object does not result from the plurality of atoms, but from the combination of atoms each object becomes.”
- «Tritogenia: wisdom; and there are three consequences that derive from having good judgment: calculating well, speaking well and acting properly.»
- “All men blame nature and fate, but their fate is above all the echo of their character and their passions, their errors and weaknesses.”
Contributions to ethics
The ethics of this philosopher is very innovative for his time, as it focuses on the development of inner morality. This means that it is the subject himself who gives himself the rules of conduct to act in society and with others.
Thus, he considered that ethics begins at the moment when the human being recognizes himself as responsible for his freedom . What does this mean? That one is free as long as the subject is the creator of his own morality. In this way, one is responsible for one’s actions towards oneself and towards others.
At this point, Democritus states that happiness is reflected in the physical and mental well-being of people who have achieved moral fulfillment. Thus, life aims to achieve happiness for the soul through moral autonomy. The harmony of life and the moderation of pleasures is a result of the triumph of freedom and inner responsibility.
Democritus left revolutionary traces
The theories of each philosopher can always be interpreted as a break or a continuation of what others postulated before him. In the case of Democritus of Abdera, we find a revolutionary thinker who introduced rational explanations that are undoubtedly important for modern and contemporary science.
It is noteworthy that he challenged Parmenides’ doctrine of the One as the only existing reality. Instead, the intellectual from Abdera proposed that atoms, infinite in number, constitute the universe. Furthermore, his ethical doctrine urges us to seek tranquility of soul and moderation of pleasures within ourselves.