There is a time in ancient philosophy when it reached its peak in the development of materialism. It is difficult to say about the specific period when this happened, since thinkers from different eras of Antiquity participated in the development of the doctrine itself. Among the well-known can be called Leucippus, Democritus, Epicurus. The article will examine in more detail what kind of teaching it is and what its essence is.
The origins
Most historians believe that the author of the atomistic concept is Leucippus. It was he who formulated the basic principles of this philosophical doctrine.
Subsequently, it acquired its name - ancient atomism, which characterizes its essence: absolute emptiness and the smallest atoms moving in it. As you know, the word is of Greek origin: atomos means "indivisible".
The first philosophical system with an emphasis on materialism was created by Democritus, who relied on the ideas of Leucippus. It was quite consistent, therefore it is logical that the result was antique atomism as the pinnacle of ancient materialism.
Democritus of Abder authored about seventy works that were written on mathematical and natural science topics. In addition, the philosopher wrote a lot about morality. The ancient thinker had encyclopedic knowledge. This is evidenced by his treatises: “Medical science”, “Military science”, “About geometry”, “About nature”, “About planets”, “About poetry”, “About human nature”.
Unfortunately, not a single work of the philosopher has reached us in full, but only individual fragments. However, based on the surviving works, scientists were able to recreate the main points of the philosophical concept of Democritus.
Essence
The basis of the world is an empty space with indivisible atoms rotating in it. Here is the main idea proclaimed by ancient atomism and its founder Democritus. The philosopher believed that atoms are immutable in themselves, but are constantly in a state of motion. Atoms are different in shape, size and their position in space. There are infinitely many of them.
Ancient atomism explains the diversity of atoms and their properties by the fact that natural things and phenomena are also diverse and multi-quality. Separation of atoms leads to the fact that material bodies are destroyed and perish, and if the atoms are joined, then there is a picture of the emergence of a new phenomenon.
As for the human soul, it also consists of certain particles. They are called so - "atoms of the soul." These particles are filled with everything in the surrounding world: earth, air, stones and everything else. Democritus professed the position of hylozoism. He believed that nature is endowed with spirituality.
What did the philosopher come to?
How did this ultimately affect the provisions professed by ancient atomism? Democritus, proceeding from its position of hylozoism, following successively materialistic concepts, was able to approach the solution of the question of the basis of human life - the soul. In this light, he interprets the breath, which is necessary to ensure life, as an exchange of atoms of the soul between a living being and the environment. Therefore, death is the cessation of breathing. It is a natural process in which all the atoms of the soul, leaving the body, are scattered in the air.
Democritus, as the founder of ancient atomism, successively following materialism, came to atheistic conclusions. This means that there is no God, and the soul is mortal. One of the most famous idealists of antiquity, Plato called for the burning of the work of Democritus, calling him an atheist.
In general, atomism as a philosophical movement manifested itself in the attraction of ancient thought to the unification of the foundations of being. It is believed that the founder of ancient atomism is Leucippus (5th century BC), who put forward his hypothesis. However, this theme was especially developed by Democritus and his followers.
Reality and Objectivity
Democritus was at the origins of determinism. This direction got its name from the Latin word determine, which translates as “determine”. Determinism tells us about the existence of objective laws throughout the world. It is due to causal relationships, which are universal in nature.
The philosopher argued that there were no causeless phenomena. He said that everything in the world has its own reason. Thus, the identification of causality and regularity, as well as the denial of the presence of chance in the world, took place. This teaching suggested that some phenomena are called random events. This happens due to ignorance of the reason.
Gradually, denying randomness and absolutizing patterns, Democritus came to the conclusion that human freedom was impossible. In other words, man, as a creature that consists of atoms, is also subject to universal necessity along with all natural phenomena. Atoms of the soul are represented as thin, smooth, round and fiery particles that have greater mobility than the rest.
Epicurism
The ideas of atomists are naive and are explained by the underdevelopment of their views. However, this doctrine had a strong influence on the further development of natural science and the materialist theory of knowledge.
Another founder of ancient atomism is Epicurus (341–270 BC). He founded a school called the Garden of Epicurus. It is believed that this thinker has created about 300 works. Of these, separate fragments, letters and a book of sayings with the title “Main Thoughts” also survived to our times.
Giving characterization to atoms, Epicurus introduces a new concept - weight. He says that it is this property that determines their movement after the first push. In other words, atoms, under the influence of their gravity, begin to fall downward, passing through infinite space. If we return to the theory of Leucippus and Democritus, they determined the motion of atoms as uniform in all directions.
Conclusions of Epicurus and Ancient Atomism
In short, the follower of Democritus recognized the atomistic theory of the multiplicity of worlds, but actually abandoned the idea of the gods, who are the founders of the universe. According to the philosopher, they live in the space between worlds, being in eternal bliss, and in no way affect the fate of people. As a result, Epicurus was accused of atheism for such conclusions. And when Christianity became the main religion in Europe, his works were prohibited for a very long time.
Epicurus, like previous atomists, rejected the teachings of Plato, Aristotle. He considered the soul material. An important part of the soul is the mind. It is located in the heart.
Sensations
Adhering to the main idea that the atomism of ancient philosophers professes: atom is the material principle of all things, Epicurus devoted much time to the problem of knowledge. He considered sensation to be the main source of knowledge. Only with their help a person receives any information related to the world around him. Reason, accordingly, develops also solely on the basis of sensations. Epicurus brought the dependence of the mind on sensations to absolutism. He argued that different dreams, as well as visions of crazy people, are the result of any sensations, which means they are true.
Enjoyment
Yet the main thing in the philosophy of Epicurus was ethical teaching. He emphasized the subordination of physics to knowledge of ethics, saying that if you did not know mortal fear and did not worry about celestial phenomena and did not look for the boundaries of suffering and pleasures, then there would be no sense in the science of nature.
Epicurus, professing atomism in ancient philosophy and affirming the material principle in the essence of man and his personality, created an interesting doctrine of enjoyment, putting him at the forefront of the meaning of life. He believed that pleasure is the satisfaction of natural needs. It first leads to the achievement of ataraxia (peace of mind), and then to the state of eudaimonia (happiness). The real pleasure is the absence of bodily suffering and anxiety. To get complete happiness a person is prevented by fears. They rule over him. Therefore, fears must be overcome.
The philosopher said that when we mean pleasure, this does not mean to indicate laziness and gluttony. This does not mean to constantly hold festivities with the languor of young maidens and an abundance of tables. This suggests a sober discussion of the search for the latest reasons for choosing or refusing to expose the falsehood from which all emotional unrest occurs. Epicurus insisted that a person needs to satisfy the natural necessary needs that are directly related to the preservation of his life.
Important and unimportant in people's lives
According to Epicurus, a person who has understood the truth will be able to separate the necessary needs from excesses. And he refuses unnecessary voluntarily. In principle, the philosophical views of Epicurus can be considered ascetic.
To the fundamentally unnatural needs, the philosopher attributed classes to politics and social activities. His teaching was characterized by the exaltation of the private over the public. The main words of the school "Garden of Epicurus" - is "Live quietly!".
Subsequently, Titus Lucretius Car opts for antique atomism, whose representatives were Leucippus, Democritus and Epicurus. Among them, it is Epicurus who gives the greatest preference. Lucretius was born in the first century BC. He expressed his commitment to the ideas of Epicurus in his message "On the nature of things."
