Democritus of Abdera
Published: December 21, 2006, 4:36 pm
Updated: December 21, 2006, 4:36 pm
This article has been reviewed by the following Topic Editor:
Tom Lawrence
Democritus of Abdera (c. 460-370 BC) was a Greek philosopher and early proponent of atomic theory. He proposed that matter was made of discrete indivisible particles, after contemplating an observation made by a teacher that a beach looks smooth from afar, but is really made of discrete grains of sand. He called his particles atomos, meaning "cannot be cut." He believed these particles to be eternal, indestructible, and unchanging. Democritus helped resolve the question of how a world evidently in a state of flux could be founded upon an underlying nature that was eternal and unchanging; however, his ideas were largely ignored until the scientific revolution leading from the Renaissance. He also pursued studies in physics, astronomy, zoology, botany, and medicine. In an impressive observation for his time, Democritus maintained that the Milky Way galaxy was a conglomeration of stars.
Further Reading
Democritus (460-370 BCE.) (Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy)
Democritus of Abdera - Biography (University of St. Andrews, Scotland, School of Mathematics and Statistics)
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Citation
Cutler J. Cleveland (Lead Author);Tom Lawrence (Topic Editor) "Democritus of Abdera". In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth December 21, 2006; Last revised Date December 21, 2006; Retrieved June 19, 2013 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Democritus_of_Abdera>
The Author
Cutler J. Cleveland is Professor of Earth and Environment at Boston University, where he also is on the faculty of the Center for Energy and Environmental Studies. Professor Cleveland is Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopedia of Energy (Elsevier, 2004), winner of an American Library Association award, the Dictionary of Energy (Elsevier, 2005), Handbook of Energy (Elsevier, forthcoming), and is the Founding Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopedia of Earth. He is the recipient of the Adelma ... (Full Bio)
Democritus of Abdera (c. 460-370 BC) was a Greek philosopher and early proponent of atomic theory. He proposed that matter was made of discrete indivisible particles, after contemplating an observation made by a teacher that a beach looks smooth from afar, but is really made of discrete grains of sand. He called his particles atomos, meaning "cannot be cut." He believed these particles to be eternal, indestructible, and unchanging. Democritus helped resolve the question of how a world evidently in a state of flux could be founded upon an underlying nature that was eternal and unchanging; however, his ideas were largely ignored until the scientific revolution leading from the Renaissance. He also pursued studies in physics, astronomy, zoology, botany, and medicine. In an impressive observation for his time, Democritus maintained that the Milky Way galaxy was a conglomeration of stars.
Further Reading
Democritus (460-370 BCE.) (Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy)
Democritus of Abdera - Biography (University of St. Andrews, Scotland, School of Mathematics and Statistics)
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