Although nowadays the theories of Plato and Democritus seem closer to the truth, Aristotle’s account proved to be the more widely accepted account in the centuries that followed the Ancient Greek period.Įpicurus in the Early Hellenistic period Statue of Epicurus, via the BBC. In Aristotle’s philosophy, change was not explained by a rearrangement of atoms but by the transformation of matter from its potential to its actuality. He also denied that a ‘void’ between atoms could exist. Aristotle argued that the four elements were not composed of atoms but were continuous forms of matter. Although it was Aristotle who first pointed out the similarities between Plato’s theories and those of Democritus and Leucippus, he criticized atomist natural philosophy. Much like modern-day scientific theories around atoms, Plato argues that the atoms themselves are indivisible, not the solid matter they join together to create.Īristotle was not a huge fan of Plato’s atomism. This also explains how (as many Greeks at the time believed) earth can transform into fire etc. He believes triangles must be the correct form because they can join together to make very different kinds of shapes. Plato theorizes that these solid forms of matter are composed of indivisible elements shaped like triangles (contrary to the popular conception of atoms as spheres). The Timaeus is Plato’s most comprehensive elaboration of a natural philosophy, and in it he identifies the four basic forms of matter: earth, air, fire and water. At least, that was how Aristotle interpreted it. In fact, Plato arguably presents an atomist physical theory in the Timaeus. These views of the world remained influential centuries later, particularly in the Renaissance among philosophers such as Giordano Bruno.Ītomism in Platonism and Aristotle’s Response Bust of Plato, via Encyclopedia Britannica.Ītomist theories weren’t restricted to pre-Socratic philosophers like Leucippus and Democritus. Trees lose their leaves, walls gradually erode, rivers flow and change the shape of riverbanks. Nothing is ever truly stable and permanent, even if it appears so at first glance. It naturally follows from this idea that the world around us is constantly in flux, always subject to change. The idea of indivisible and unchanging atoms endlessly bouncing off one another is key to understanding the atomist view of change. However, this article will focus on the development of atomism as a natural philosophy. Well-known thinkers like Epicurus and Lucretius linked their atomistic beliefs to other areas of philosophy such as ethics and morality. Their natural philosophy which generally holds that everything exists and changes due to the interactions of tiny, indivisible atoms has come to be referred to as atomism. Although Atomism is not technically an official ‘school’ like movements such as Stoicism and Platonism, many influential ancient philosophers developed atomist views of the universe. The idea that the physical world is composed of microscopic atoms is thousands of years old. During science class, children learn that atoms are the building blocks of all matter on earth: the smallest units of matter that, until fairly recently, were thought to be indivisible or “uncuttable”. Today the atomic theory is generally taught within a scientific context. The word ‘atom’ has its roots in the Greek adjective “ atomos”, which translates literally to “uncuttable”.
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