When1: -430
When2: -400
Who: Democritus of Abdera or Laughing Philosopher
What: philosopher
Where: Greece
works\ On numbers [-430 to -400]; On geometry [-430 to -400]; On tangencies [-430 to -400]; On mappings [-430 to -400]; On irrationals [-430 to -400]
Detail: He lived -460 to -370, was materialist, and founded atomism, with Leucippus.
Epistemology
Objects have weight, texture, shape, and size {primary quality, Democritus}, which people can perceive. Objects have distance and identity {secondary quality, Democritus}, which people can understand. Atoms themselves are imperceptible. Qualitative features depend on atom quantitative properties. Perception happens when images, which are infinitely small object copies, travel to body and contact sense fire-atoms. Senses have special fire-atom motions and arrangements. People can only perceive images matching senses. People with different senses perceive different things. Perceptual states are violent, surprising, and unclear. Dreams are weak images. Belief in gods comes from images of gods.
Thoughts are images of sizes and spaces between atoms. Thought images are gentle in motion and hard to know. This gentle motion gives true happiness, because soul is calmest and in harmony with absolute images.
Ethics
Good is soul's pleasures. Happiness is inner peace.
Metaphysics
Atoms are unchanging and indivisible particles that constantly move in empty space under mechanical laws. Infinitely many atom types exist. Objects are groups of atoms in different proportions. Inertia, density, and hardness depend on atom sizes and spacings. All other physical properties depend on atom mixtures, arrangements, and motions. Atoms started with uncaused motions, but now atom motions and collisions determine everything that happens. Collisions are the only atom interactions and result only in motion changes.
Mind
Mind or soul has highest and most active atoms {fire-atom}.
Social Sciences>Philosophy>History>Mind
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Date Modified: 2022.0224