Achievements and biography of Democritus. Atomistic doctrine of Democritus

Ancient Greek philosopher Democritus was born about 460 BC. E. In Thrace, in the city of Abdera. Before there was a colony of Phoenicians. The ancient Greeks attributed the appearance of the city to Hercules, who erected it in honor of Abder's best friend, torn to pieces by mares of Diomedes.

Biographical information

Unfortunately, the biography of Democritus has many blank spots. It is known that his father was a high-ranking official who was famous for his services to the Persian king Xerxes. For this, the ruler presented to the nobility several magicians and scientists. They were engaged in the formation of Democritus. As a child, he learned astrology and theology. Dying, the father bequeathed the condition to three of his sons. Democritus was the youngest of them and took the smallest share.

The young man was carried away by science and was focused only on his studies, practically ignoring everyday problems or costs. The biography of Democritus entirely consists of various studies and the journeys intended for them. Often he sat all day long in his gazebo, in which he was completely isolated from what was happening outside. Democritus was a long-liver. He died about 370 BC. E. A deep old man. Ancient Greek writer Lucian (also interested in cosmology) wrote that the thinker had lived more than a hundred years.

The Doctrine of Atoms

Most of all, the biography of Democritus is known for the fact that it was this ancient researcher who developed the doctrine of the smallest particle - the atom. This theory was laid by his teacher Leucippus. Democritus continued the exploration of the ancient Greek philosopher and came to the conclusion that the whole world consists of microscopic atoms. These particles do not arise and do not collapse, they have a certain shape and are impenetrable. In addition to atoms, there is also a void, which is completely opposite to them. These two materials were the main objects of study of Democritus. Ancient Greek scientist concluded that all whole things consist of an innumerable number of small particles, which, in addition, also determine the properties of the whole. Depending on the interaction of atoms and their effect on the senses of man, the qualities of objects and things also change. Such concepts as color or taste exist only in our consciousness, in reality there are only tiny particles and emptiness.

Atoms can not touch each other - there is always space between them. And this means that there is emptiness. Atomistic doctrine of Democritus included the notion of repulsion and attraction of particles that approached each other too closely. All these conclusions he made only as assumptions. Later, science confirmed his theses.

Disputes with the Eleatic

The philosopher Democritus became the opponent of the Eleatic school. They declared that the world was motionless. Democritus put forward the opposite thesis. It can be voiced in the form of a question: "If the world is motionless, how can one explain all those changes that occur around?" Atomism had both adversaries and ardent supporters. For example, this teaching was supported in the future by Plato and Epicurus.

Democritus's biography and his theses caused a new wave of interest during the European Renaissance of the 16th century, when numerous scientists tried to explain the world around. Atheism was supported by Galileo, Giordano Bruno, Pierre Gassenly, Isaac Beckmann and other famous thinkers of the era. The doctrine of microscopic particles of all things has become a reliable tool for chemists, for example, for John Dalton.

The principle of inosomy

Atomistic doctrine of Democritus gave philosophy the principle of inosomia. This rule was derived by the ancient researcher himself. It can be formulated as follows: if any phenomenon does not contradict the principles and laws of nature, sooner or later it will happen or has already taken place.

The principle of isonomy made it possible to draw several conclusions, which Democritus adhered to. The main ideas of this theory consist in several theses. First, atoms can have any size and shape. Secondly, there is the Great Void. Third, a great many atoms move along it, differing in speed and direction. This process does not have any rules. Everything is moving in chaos and disorder. It is from this situation that the ancient Greek philosopher Democritus concluded that each phenomenon or object is unique. Already in modern times, the great scientist Galileo formulated the principle of inertia. He was largely based on knowledge about isonium.

The Great Void

The concept of the Great Void had a great influence on the development of cosmology. The biography of the thinker Democritus inspired many philosophers who tried to explain the place of our world in the Cosmos (this term also has Greek roots).

According to the atomic teaching, at the very beginning of time in the Great Void there was an initial chaos. A vortex formed in it, carrying heavy and light bodies, occupying different positions. In the center the Earth was formed. It was composed of heavy bodies that rushed to the core of the vortex. From the remaining substance, a protective film has formed, separating the cosmos from the Great Void.

Theses about the universe

Democritus (physics and natural sciences were laid by him) was a supporter of the theory that there are many different universes and worlds. They are endless and radically different from each other. In other worlds, there are several suns and moons. Somewhere they are not at all, and there is only an analogue of the Earth in a lonely space. Some worlds collide and collapse. Their multiplicity follows from the principle of isonology. All these theses were formulated and laid out by the philosopher Democritus. The thinker's biography includes a variety of research in the natural sciences.

Some of his theses were erroneous. For example, Democritus believed that the Earth is stationary (since it is in the center of the world). In addition, the thinker believed that our planet can not be round. He explained this by the fact that in such a case the sun would have gone differently (along an arc of a circle, and not along a continuous straight line).

Cosmology

Biography (about Democritus written many monographs) contains the astonishing conclusions of the scientist. So, he came to the conclusion that the Milky Way in the sky is nothing more than a colossal cluster of stars. Due to the fact that at a great distance the distance between them merges into one spot, we get an amazing picture over the head of the Greeks. Democritus spent much time studying the centrifugal force. In his works, one can find the thesis that precisely because of this phenomenon, meteorites and other celestial bodies do not fall to Earth.

Reflection in sources

Most of all, the biography of the physicist Democritus is amazing because none of his writings have survived to this day. This can be explained by several reasons. First of all, the fault was negligent attitude to the monuments of antiquity during the early Middle Ages. Treatises and books Democritus were deliberately destroyed with the sanction of the Church or stored in the terrible conditions of the then libraries.

That is why modern science and philosophy can operate only with those facts that were reflected in the writings of other scientists who argued with the ancient Greek thinker. The references to Democritus are found in Aristotle, Cicero, Sextus, Epicurus, Plato, etc.

Most often in the sources appears the name "Great mirostroy." This work of Democritus was devoted to cosmology. In it he tried to sum up the results of his entire scientific activity. In addition, Democritus is known as the creator of one of the first ancient Greek calendars. He did not shy away from geometry, about which he left several works. In particular, he first formulated some theorems and rules for determining the area of figures.