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Democritus from Abdera, Greek Democritus, 460-371 B. C., philosopher and one of the main representatives of the antique atomic studies
His teacher Leukippos von Miletus, a pupil of Elea's great Zenon, founded a famous school of philosophy in Abdera and taught Democritus there. Leukippos share in the development of atomistic theory has probably been great, but its application to the various natural and social doctrines was, however, the merit of Democritus.
Democritus travelled widely, leaving behind a wealth of philosophical and scientific writings and encyclopedic scholarship.
Only fragments of his works are preserved.
According to Democritus, the world consists of atoms (atom Greek "the indivisible") and the equally real existing void, which is a prerequisite for them to be able to exist in isolation (without the void there would be no gaps), to move, to connect and separate from each other, and to occupy a certain position with each other. Their connections and separations are the actual cause of the emergence and the passing of the individual phenomena of the material world. The atoms of the Greek atomists do not correspond to the atoms of modern physics, but to the elementary particles.
According to Democritus, biological phenomena and even thinking can also be explained materially and from certain atoms, atomic compounds and atomic movements. Soul e. g. consists of fine, smooth and round atoms like those of fire. Being the most mobile atoms, they can penetrate the whole body and thus effect life processes.
Democritus philosophy is a milestone in the history of atheism. He stood up against the popular religion. The gods were for him only the embodiment of natural phenomena or human traits - so Zeus one of the sun and Athena of human reason.
Famous representatives of the antique atomic studies were Leukippos, Democritus, Epicurus and the Roman Lucretius Carus (Lukrez, 96-55 BC).
Atomic physics has had a strong effect on the formation of theory in physics and has had a lasting influence on thought processes (genetic dialects, Galileo, Descartes, Newton, Leibniz, Lomonosov, etc.).
Marx's dissertation of 1841 dealt with the difference between the democritical and epicurean philosophy of nature.
An apercu of Democritus:"Courage stands at the beginning of action, happiness at the end."
Demokritos bronze bust exhibit of the National Archaeological Museum in Naples. Replica reduction in marble finish.
