Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Leucippus
- The Greeks regarded Leucippus as the creator of atomism
- Little is known about the life of Leucippus, his views are hard to distinguish from Plato
- Credited with the theory that the universe consists of two different elements, the solid and the empty. The atoms within these elements were thought to be infinite, with the elements of everything in between these elements.
- Believed that 'what is' must be unified and unchanging, because any difference or change within 'what is' involves claim of 'what is not,' an incoherent view.
- Leucippus thought that atoms are always in motion
Aristotle
Aristotle and Conflicting Views of the Atom
- A renowned Greek philosopher, Aristotle was known for his many discoveries in philosophy and science.
- Known for his urge to ask “What If”, Aristotle rejected many thoughts of earlier influential figures such as Democritus and Leucippus.
- Believed that things remain as whole, rather than split into smaller particles.
- In his book Metaphysics VIII, Aristotle makes it clear that different substances were made up of proportions of fire, air, earth, and water.
- Due to Aristotle’s miasmatic thoughts on life and purpose in general,
- his theory on matter and structure was automatically accepted by the scientific world as a valid theory.
- His reasoning lingered until the 1800’s, when scientists began making innovative discoveries on the structure of matter.
Democritius
Biography Of Democritus
- Democritus was a Greek philosopher who was known as one of the most famous proponents of the theory of atomism. (States that everything in the universe is made up of tiny, indivisible parts.)
- Born in 460BCE in Abdera in Thrace. Died 370 BCE. Was believed to be very wealthy.
- Details about his life are uncertain due to the fact that many authors have interpreted his life in different ways.
- He was a student of Leucippus, a philosopher.
- Was said to have studied in many other places such as: Egypt, Persia, Ethiopia, and India.
- Has written more than 70 works, however little of them remain. His books were grouped into the following topics: ethics, physics, mathmatics, music, literature, and language.
- Aristotle wrote a whole book on Democritus’ theories.
Major Discovery About the Atom
- Democritus composed several theories on the atomic origin of the universe and how it was created. And contributed to the atomic theory by supporting the claim that empty space can exist.
- Atomic Theory of the Universe:
All things originate form a vortex of tiny invisible particles, which he called atoms. And differ according to the shape and arrangement of the atoms.
Example 1 (Figure 1): Atoms whose shapes include hooks cling together and form substances that are hard to break. Atoms whose shapes are smooth, are more likely to glide past each other as in oil. And atoms whose structure include sharp points can form substances with many points.
- Democritus’ Theory:
1. Atoms cannot be destroyed. (supports the modern day theory of the conservation of mass and energy.)
2. Atoms exist in a vacuum or void, and corresponds with the space between the atoms.
3. Atoms only differ in shape, position, and arrangement.
- He also proposed that sensations are produced by changes in the soul, which are produced by atoms emitted by other objects. And the atoms from the soul can only be affected by the contact of other atoms. One type of sensation would be taste, which he believed was based on the size and shape of an atom.
- Democritus was also the first to attempt to explain color. He thought it was due to the position (based on shape) of the constituent atoms of compounds.
Example 2: The color white is caused by atoms that are smooth and flat, therefore they do not cast a shadow. Whereas the color black is caused by rough uneven atoms.
- Democritus was a Greek philosopher who was known as one of the most famous proponents of the theory of atomism. (States that everything in the universe is made up of tiny, indivisible parts.)
- Born in 460BCE in Abdera in Thrace. Died 370 BCE. Was believed to be very wealthy.
- Details about his life are uncertain due to the fact that many authors have interpreted his life in different ways.
- He was a student of Leucippus, a philosopher.
- Was said to have studied in many other places such as: Egypt, Persia, Ethiopia, and India.
- Has written more than 70 works, however little of them remain. His books were grouped into the following topics: ethics, physics, mathmatics, music, literature, and language.
- Aristotle wrote a whole book on Democritus’ theories.
Major Discovery About the Atom
- Democritus composed several theories on the atomic origin of the universe and how it was created. And contributed to the atomic theory by supporting the claim that empty space can exist.
- Atomic Theory of the Universe:
All things originate form a vortex of tiny invisible particles, which he called atoms. And differ according to the shape and arrangement of the atoms.
Example 1 (Figure 1): Atoms whose shapes include hooks cling together and form substances that are hard to break. Atoms whose shapes are smooth, are more likely to glide past each other as in oil. And atoms whose structure include sharp points can form substances with many points.
- Democritus’ Theory:
1. Atoms cannot be destroyed. (supports the modern day theory of the conservation of mass and energy.)
2. Atoms exist in a vacuum or void, and corresponds with the space between the atoms.
3. Atoms only differ in shape, position, and arrangement.
- He also proposed that sensations are produced by changes in the soul, which are produced by atoms emitted by other objects. And the atoms from the soul can only be affected by the contact of other atoms. One type of sensation would be taste, which he believed was based on the size and shape of an atom.
- Democritus was also the first to attempt to explain color. He thought it was due to the position (based on shape) of the constituent atoms of compounds.
Example 2: The color white is caused by atoms that are smooth and flat, therefore they do not cast a shadow. Whereas the color black is caused by rough uneven atoms.
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