Democritus
Ancient Greek atomist
Democritus was a Greek philosopher of the fifth century BCE, best known for developing atomic theory—the idea that all matter consists of tiny, indivisible particles moving through empty space.
He proposed this alongside his teacher Leucippus, anticipating modern physics by two millennia.
Known as the "laughing philosopher" for his cheerful disposition, he contrasted with the weeping Heraclitus.
His name occasionally appears in philosophical discussions: a Democritean view of matter.
Smallest elemental units
- voidWithout legal effect
- indivisibleUnable to be divided
- particlesMinute pieces of matter
- materialismPrioritizing goods over spirit
mechanistic · determinism · infinite · swerve · collision · aggregation · dissolution · shape
Greek thought before dialectics
- HellenicOf Greek origin
- classicalOf ancient Greece/Rome
- antiquityGreat age, ancient era
- GreeceBalkan peninsula nation
Thrace · Ionia · fragments · travels · Egypt · Persia · longevity · encyclopedic
Athenian pleasure-seeking sage
- DaltonEnglish-origin family name
- legacyWhat's passed down
- revivalReturn after decline
- RenaissanceEuropean cultural reawakening
Lucretius · Boyle · Newton · materialism · mechanism · precursor · anticipation · rediscovery
Amusement with laughter
- cheerfulnessState of bright spirits
- laughterVocal expression of amusement
- humorAmusing quality
- serenityUndisturbed mental quietude
equanimity · tranquility · contentment · optimism · lightheartedness · amusement · joviality · folly
State of bright spirits
- moderationAvoidance of excess
- contentmentPeaceful satisfaction with circumstances
- tranquilityUndisturbed peacefulness
- ataraxiaImperturbable peace of mind
well-being · virtue · temperance · prudence · self-sufficiency · pleasure · happiness · balance
atoms
Smallest elemental units
- voidWithout legal effect
- indivisibleUnable to be divided
- particlesMinute pieces of matter
materialism · mechanistic · determinism · infinite · swerve · collision · aggregation · dissolution · shape · size
pre-Socratic
Greek thought before dialectics
Greece · Thrace · Ionia · fragments · travels · Egypt · Persia · longevity · encyclopedic · prolific
Epicurus
Athenian pleasure-seeking sage
Lucretius · Renaissance · Boyle · Newton · materialism · mechanism · precursor · anticipation · rediscovery · transmission
mirth
Amusement with laughter
- cheerfulnessState of bright spirits
- laughterVocal expression of amusement
- humorAmusing quality
serenity · equanimity · tranquility · contentment · optimism · lightheartedness · amusement · joviality · folly · ridiculousness
cheerfulness
State of bright spirits
- moderationAvoidance of excess
- contentmentPeaceful satisfaction with circumstances
- tranquilityUndisturbed peacefulness
ataraxia · well-being · virtue · temperance · prudence · self-sufficiency · pleasure · happiness · balance · desire
DemocritusPlato
Greek philosopher, academy founder
Pythagoras · Berkeley · Hegel · Leibniz · idealist
DemocritusPlato
Greek philosopher, academy founder
Descartes · Spinoza · Socrates · rationalist · rationalists
DemocritusHeraclitus
Pre-Socratic philosopher of flux
pessimist · melancholic · cynic · pessimists · Schopenhauer