Greece & Rome · c. 460–370 BCE
Democritus
The “laughing philosopher” of Abdera, who developed atomism
Developed atomism into a full account of nature, perception and the soul: sense qualities exist “by convention”, while only atoms and void exist “in reality”. In ethics he prized cheerfulness (euthymia), a calm and well-ordered soul.
Life and thought
Democritus of Abdera, in northern Greece, was a younger contemporary of Socrates and reportedly lived to a great age. Ancient lists credit him with some seventy works on physics, mathematics, music, ethics and more, making him one of antiquity’s most prolific writers; only fragments and reports survive, many of them ethical maxims. Later legend called him the “laughing philosopher”, amused by human folly.
He took over Leucippus’ atoms and void and built them into a complete account of the world, including perception and the soul. Atoms differ only in shape, arrangement and position; colours, tastes and warmth are the ways atoms affect us: “by convention sweet, by convention bitter… in reality atoms and void.” This made him an early sceptic about the senses, though he still trusted reason. In ethics he prized euthymia, cheerfulness, a calm soul that avoids excess. Epicurus revived his physics, and early modern scientists such as Gassendi and Boyle revived it again.