Leucippus and the Atom theory

[Lakonian]

Hey guys, thought id add this given that it jolts my very brain trying to come to a rational answere as to how a human being was able to conclude such a monstrous theory ...was it the food they ate? was it the air they breathed? Did they ave alot of time on there hands? Amazing....and after 2000 years his theory in the science field has been accepted as practical.....makes you feel small realy.

Following info from Wiki:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8a/Leucippus.jpg


Leucippus was a contemporary of Zeno, Empedocles and Anaxagoras of the Ionian school of philosophy. Leucippus was most influenced by Zeno, who possessed a great interest in the problems and paradoxes of space. He studied at the school in Elea, but it is not certain whether this was before or after the death of Parmenides. Around 440 B.C. or 430 B.C. Leucippus founded a school at Abdera, which his pupil, Democritus, was closely associated with.[2] His fame was so completely overshadowed by that of Democritus, who systematized his views on atoms, that Epicurus doubted his very existence, according to Diogenes Laertius x. 7.



However Aristotle and Theophrastus explicitly credit Leucippus with the invention of Atomism. Leucippus agreed with the Eleatic argument that true being does not admit of vacuum. And there can be no movement in the absence of vacuum. Leucippus contended that since movement exists, there has to be vacuum. However, he concludes that vacuum is identified with non-being, since it cannot really be. Leucippus differed from the Eleatics in not being encumbered by the conceptual intermingling of being and non-being. Plato made the necessary distinction between grades of being and types of negation.[2]

The most famous among Leucippus' lost works were titled Megas Diakosmos (The Great Order of the Universe or The great world-system[3]) and Peri Nou (On mind).

[Andrew]

What caused the genesis of the Atomic Theory

Passing the middle classical period the Greek philosophy was at a dilemma caused by the GIGANTOMACHY between two colossal theories. It is the gigantomachy between EINAI (BEING) and ΓΙΓΝΕΣΘΑΙ (BECOMING).

1) ΓΙΓΝΕΣΘΑΙ With Herakletus postulate "you can't pass twice from the same river , because the waters that you have passed the first time are already to the sea" we have a theory of variation and motion that later has beeing packed in the famous "everything mooves". Continuus variation ,there is no constance and what seems constant is an equilibrium among opposite forces , an equilibrium caused by the coexistance of non visible opposite processes. Example is the bow . The curved wood wants to re-deploy , but the sting maintains it curved . On the same time ,the string wants to relax , but the curved wood maintains it tensed. What Heraklitus theory made clear whas that due to continuus variation EVERY MOMENT OF LIFE IS UNIQUE.
2) EINAI With Parmenides we have the opposite theory. The beeing is one,immobile,immutable . So , every variation that we perceive is fake , because senses lie !!

These two theories striked one another causing the whole greek philosophy in a dead-end. What was needed to proceed was a compromize among the two theories , a "bridging".
So the next step of the Greek philosophy was the so called "synthetic phase". The first attempt was made by Empedokles . He invented the 4 elements that share the characteristics of the Parmenidian beeing , in constand quantity and quality , but inserted them in a cyclic variation that causes changes . Although a brilliant approach , Empedokles was basicaly an heretic pythagorean and so Mystic . He inserted his theory in a context of recarnation, mortal animals panished by gods etc. So his theory , rationaly didn't walk much ,although original.
Indipendently , we have the Atomists . Leucippus , first consieved the first plan and later hia student Demokritus perfectioned it. Leucippus main theory was that "nothing becames without nessecity and without a cause" and that is a pure "mechanistic" theory that saves itself fron empedoklean mysticism.He proceed to his bridging of variation and constance in the same way of Empedokles. We attributed the Constance to elementary immutable units and attributed the Variation to their movements. Beeing that unit elemental , it was named "atomo" , non further divided. Demokritus took hia masters idea and perfectioned it. He said that there were infinite atoms of different shape and size. They are in constant movement and by crassing among them form complexes. Maters density depends from the vacuum spaces formed from the atom link.So the DENSITY of theatoms is constant and what changes is the number of atoms,forming complexes and the manner they are linked. Also the surface of an atom , smooth or rough , causes the senses. He postulated that acid thinks have a spiculated surface that sting the tongue and we have ..the sense of Acidity.Another briliant postulation was the disposition ..Demokritus said that "NA" is different from "AN" . With the theory of the Atomists . Democritus said that matters property depend from :
-number of atoms forming the "molecule" complex
-kind of atoms
-disposition
-link mode , gap leaving among atoms

Each atom is a Parmenidian Beeing of immutable quality and quantity , but the atoms movement , that Demokritus inserted in a big cosmic vortex is what causes Herakletian variation.
Summarizing , with the Atomists we abbandon sences and move to the microkosm and we obtain the variation-constance bridging with a meccanestic theory of atoms that obbey the cause-effect rule.
NOT BAD FOR 450-370 BC , NO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Promethean Fire]

Good add on Andrew. And to add a little more, Greece in 600 B.C to 300 B.C produced the most pioneering geniuses in any single era known to man!Phenomenal considering the constant wars that broke out.

[Andrew]

Good add on Andrew. And to add a little more, Greece in 600 B.C to 300 B.C produced the most pioneering geniuses in any single era known to man!Phenomenal considering the constant wars that broke out.

«Τσαμπουκάδες κάναμε και ναυμαχίες Σαλαμίνας ...
Βγάλαμε Αριστοτέλη ..και κρασί απ'το βαρέλι !!!»

"Απαράδεκτοι" , Επεισόδιο Eurovision