Atomism: Democritus And Epicurus

Atomism: Democritus and Epicurus

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.

Both Democritus and Epicurus agreed that the “qualitative world of sense

perception arises from the motion of qualitatively neutral atoms. They believe

that the immense qualitative variety results from the ‘jostling' of atoms...as

they collide and bounce apart, and so, constantly form new groupings” (Jones 84).

They believe it to be a mechanical process occurring completely by chance.

Furthermore, although new groupings are constantly being formed, only the few

that can survive are considered the “right” combinations. These are the

combinations we recognize through our senses as being “real”, although they are

not. However, the way in which this complex motion begins is a source of

controversy and disagreement amongst the Atomists.

Democritus assumes that the atoms' motion is perpetual. The atoms are

never at rest. He presumes that their nature is to move, thereby avoiding “the

problem of explaining the origin of the complex motion of atoms by simply

affirming that it is in their nature to move so” (Jones 85). He believes that

atoms are born along with the whole universe in a vortex. The vortex is not an

outside influence, but rather the motion of the atoms themselves. He never

accounts for the initiation of this motion. He simply states that it is an

inherent quality of the atoms themselves.

Epicurus, on the other hand, wanted to find a reasoning behind the

initial movement of the atoms; to find the cause of the initial collisions

which start the creation process of the universe.

Through observation of objects falling “down” within our limited

perceptual space, Epicurus concluded ...

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...ualities? Epicurus ambiguously calls these qualities “accompaniments” yet

never explains how they can exist outside of reality and still be considered

real.

Epicurus changed the doctrine of Democritus in many ways in an attempt

to clarify some of the more questionable postulations. Epicurus' theory is not

necessarily superior, but certainly progressive. There is room for discourse on

a variety of the Atomists' theories. Since they are the first school of thought

from which we have so much written record, there is bound to be divergence of

opinion. The areas I have discussed relate only the area of physics. Epicurus

attempts to resolve some of the dilemmas Democritus leaves unresolved in ethical

and psychological dilemmas as well.

Of course, lingual and interpretive constraints play a part in all

philosophical theory of the classical period. Yet in our "modern" world, we

rely heavily on the ideas set forth by these great thinkers. It would be

foolish to take one concept as superior over another because the scope of ideas

given to us by these thinkers is too great a wealth to judge subjectively.