Democritus, whose atomism and biography we will consider, is a well-known Greek philosopher from the time of antiquity. The years of his life - 460-371 BC. e. It was he who first realized that the world has no end and that it is a cluster of atoms - the smallest particles that make up every grain of sand on our planet and every star in the sky.
Homeland of Democritus, personal qualities of a philosopher
Democritus was born in Thrace, in the ancient Greek city of Abdera. This place in Greece was considered not just a remote province, but even a city of fools. However, the common noun “abderit”, which means “fool”, “simp”, “simpleton”, has become the proper name of one of the most outstanding minds of antiquity, Democritus. From many legends and testimonies we learn that Aberdeen was a "laughing philosopher."
Everything that was done seriously seemed to him frivolous. The surviving stories about him indicate that Democritus was characterized by deep worldly wisdom, extensive knowledge, and observation.
Acquaintance with the achievements of philosophers
Damasippus, his father, was one of the richest citizens. Therefore, Democritus received a good education for his time. The teachers of the future philosopher were the Persian sages who lived in Abdera when Xerxes, the Persian king, stayed there. However, the real teacher of Democritus is Leucippus, the head of the local school of philosophy. It was thanks to him that he became acquainted with the works of the Greek philosophers Democritus. Its atomism is based on a thorough study of the achievements of its predecessors. The study of the work of Greek philosophers, his education was not limited. Democritus, whose atomism will be discussed below, wanted to get acquainted with the achievements of world thought, so he went on a journey.
The first journey of Democritus
After some time, his father died. He left a significant inheritance to his son, and Democritus decided to go on a trip. The philosopher went to Babylon, and then to Egypt. Everywhere he met with thinkers, and also met with Babylonian magicians and Egyptian priests. From this it follows that his worldview was formed under the influence of many cultures of both the ancient and the new world. Democritus took some elements from each of them and created his own philosophical system.
Teaching, major essays
Returning to Abdera, he began to teach philosophy, as well as create his own compositions. Diogenes of Laertes later compiled a catalog of the works of Democritus. It includes the titles of more than 70 works. Among them, the following works occupy the main place: “On Logic, or Meryl”, “Small Diakosmos”, “The Great Diakosmos”. The wide range of interests of this philosopher is simply amazing. There was no field of knowledge that he would ignore.
The philosopher Democritus, as you know, enjoyed great fame in his city during his lifetime. In gratitude for his services, the inhabitants of Abdera put him a bronze statue. In addition, they said that he was one of the most famous speakers of his time. It is known that Democritus was engaged in philology, created a guide to eloquence.
Second journey
After some time, he decided to make another trip, this time to Athens. At that time, the most famous philosophers of Greece worked here. Diogenes said that Democritus met with Socrates and Anaxagoras. However, they did not share his views. After all, the existence of the gods was categorically denied by Democritus. Its atomism is completely inconsistent with the deities in the generally accepted sense.
The Great Diakosmos
Returning to his native city, the philosopher created the work "The Great Diakosmos." This work outlines the concept of the world. Democritus believed that all objects are composed of atoms, the smallest particles. While they were few, they moved freely. Gradually, the atoms began to attract each other, like birds gather in flocks - cranes with cranes, pigeons with doves. So the Earth appeared.
The Atomism of Democritus: Fundamentals
Two types of properties of phenomena were distinguished by Democritus. Some - "things in themselves" - the image, size, hardness, movement, mass. Other properties of phenomena are associated with various human senses - smell, sound, brightness, color. According to the philosopher, the movements of atoms can explain everything that happens in our world. The atomism of Democritus is built on this assertion. Briefly describe the main ideas of the philosopher that follow from this thought.
Democritus believed that atoms are in constant motion, constantly disconnecting or connecting them. The process of separation and connection leads to the disappearance and appearance of individual objects. As a result of their interaction, the entire diversity of the existing is obtained. Fixed earth is the center of the universe. In shape, it is a flat cylinder that is surrounded by air. Various celestial bodies move in this air. The philosopher considered these bodies to be masses of matter that are in a red-hot state and are carried away in height by rapid circular motion. They consist of a substance similar to earthly. Atoms of fire penetrate all parts of the universe. They are smooth, round and very small. These atoms play an important role - they revive the universe. In man, there are especially many of them.
Of course, we briefly described the atomism of Democritus. You can talk about him for a long time, but we need to tell about the other achievements of this philosopher.
Man in the writings of Democritus
It should be noted that it is man who is the main subject of research of the ancient Greek philosopher. He argued that the structure of our body is very advisable. The receptacle of thinking is the brain; the receptacle of passions is the heart. However, the body, according to Democritus, is only a "vessel of the soul." The philosopher considered the most important duty of every person to take care of his spiritual development.
Democritus argued that the changing world of phenomena is a ghostly world. Studying his phenomena cannot lead people to true knowledge. Democritus, recognizing the ghostly sensual world, believed, like Heraclitus, that a person should maintain peace of mind, whatever the circumstances. One who can distinguish between the essential from the accidental, the genuine from the ghostly, seeks happiness not in sensual pleasures, but primarily in giving the right course to his spiritual life.
According to Democritus, the goal of our existence is happiness. However, it does not consist in pleasures and external benefits, but in the invariable peace of mind, in contentment. This is achieved by purity of deeds and thoughts, restraint, mental education. According to Democritus, the happiness of each of us depends on how he behaves. The gods give us only the good, only through his own recklessness does man turn him into evil. The application of these thoughts to matters of private and public life forms the basis of the moral philosophy of Democritus.
Divine powers in the teachings of Democritus
Naturally, there was no place for the gods in the world, as this thinker imagined him. The atomism of Deomkrit rejects the possibility of their existence. The philosopher believed that people themselves invented them, that they are the embodiment of human properties and natural phenomena. Zeus, for example, was identified by Democritus with the Sun, and Athena, as he believed, was the personification of reason.
According to his teachings, divine powers are the powers of the human mind and nature. And deities created by religion, or ghosts, personifying people's ideas about the forces of nature, or spirits ("demons"), are mortal beings.
Math work
This philosopher, as ancient sources testify, wrote many mathematical works. Unfortunately, only a few fragments have survived. They contain formulas for the volume of a number of figures, for example, the pyramids and cones, derived by him.
Social issues dealt with by Democritus
I thought a lot about the social problems of Democritus. And the philosophy of atomism, summarized above, and his other ideas were subsequently adopted by many thinkers. For example, the best form of state structure, according to this philosopher, is the state-policy. Democritus saw the goal of a person’s life in achieving eutumia - a special state in which people do not experience passions and are not afraid of anything.
Versatile interests of Democritus
By the sequence of conclusions, insight of the mind, vast knowledge, Democritus surpassed almost all philosophers, both past and his contemporaries. His activities were very versatile. He created treatises on natural sciences, mathematics, aesthetics, natural sciences, technical arts, grammar.
