what type of philosopher was he? How Did Democritus Discover the Atom? 1. Democritus was born in a place called Abdera, in the region of Thrace, around 460 B.C., son of a noble family with great wealth. According to the first, which was followed by Epicurus among others, Democritus was the teacher of the Sophist Protagoras of Abdera and was born soon after 500 b.c. Democritus (460 – 370 BC) was a Greek philosopher and thinker. History has hisage at death from 90 to 109. Our latest articles delivered to your inbox, once a week: Our mission is to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. ). The standard scholarly edition of the ancient evidence concerning the views of the Presocratic philosophers is Diels-Kranz’ work (cited as DK): H. Diels and W. Kranz, Die Fragmente der Vorsokratiker, 6 th edition, Berlin: Weidmann, 1951. In Science and Technology. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Mark has lived in Greece and Germany and traveled through Egypt. There were two main chronologies current in antiquity for Democritus. He was born in the 80th Olympiad (460–457 BC) according to Apollodorus of Athens, and although Thrasyllus placed his birth in 470 BC, the later date is probably more likely. According to most reports, Democritus was born circa 460 BCE and died some 90 years later, about 370 BCE. He was a bitter rival of both Plato and Aristotle . 460 v.Chr. Very little is known of Leucippus and none of his work has survived but he is known by ancient writers as Democritus’ teacher, and apparently wrote on many subjects besides atomism. Sometimes it is better to die than to live on in hardship. Some Rights Reserved (2009-2021) under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted. Democritus was a native of Abdera in Thrace and was flourished about 420 B.C.He is known for his atomic theory but he was also an excellent geometer. Omissions? Democritus Timeline created by neu7506. Ancient History Encyclopedia Limited is a non-profit company registered in the United Kingdom. Both Democritus and his mentor Leucippus believed in a scientific rationalist philosophy, that is they believed that observation when coupled with reason was the best tool for understanding the world. Similarly, you may ask, what did Democritus discover? Favourite answer. It seems that he was a wealthy citizen of Abdera, in Thrace; that he traveled widely in the East; and that he lived to an advanced age. Along with Leucippus, an older philosopher whose dates are uncertain, he is the founder of the atomic philosophy of nature. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). As it turned out, though, Democritus was right. Leucippus (/ l uː ˈ s ɪ p ə s /; Greek: Λεύκιππος, Leúkippos; fl. The original motion of the atoms was in all directions—it was a sort of “vibration”; hence there resulted collisions and, in particular, a whirling movement, whereby similar atoms were brought together and united to form larger bodies and worlds. Lv 7. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. He died at more than a hundred years of age. Democritus was a Greek philosopher who lived between 470-380 B.C. also answers as much of these questions as you know, and soon please. Democritus, (born c. 460 bce —died c. 370), ancient Greek philosopher, a central figure in the development of philosophical atomism and of the atomic theory of the universe. Democritus was a Greek philosopher born in adera Greek. Still, Aristotle also asserts, this did not mean these atoms were different atoms, rather that they were like letters of the alphabet which, though they are all letters, stand for different sounds and, combined in various ways, spell different words. – ca. Democritus (460–370 BC), a Greek philosopher, was the first person to use the word atom or atomos (in Greek), which means indivisible or unbreakable, to describe the smallest particle of any substance. It is unknown where he was at the time of his death. Democritus did not have a care for his wealth, and he did not manage his finances with care, everything he had was put to serve his investigations, explorations and education. Just as the atoms are uncaused and eternal, so too, according to Democritus, is motion. when was Democritus Born/Died? According to Democritus, there is … Democritus devoted considerable attention to perception and knowledge. Lived c. 460 — c. 370 BC. With Leucippus, Democritus argued that the world, including human beings, is composed of very small particles which he called 'atomos’ (“un-cutables” in Greek) and that these atoms make up everything we see and are. Democritus (460—370 B.C.E.) "Democritus." Updated October 29, 2019. what contributions did Democritus do? Democritus believed that everything in the universe was made up of atoms, which were microscopic and indestructible. Very little is known of the life of Democritus, because none of his works survive today, merely fragments of the ideas that he came up with. How Did Democritus Die. physics, mathematics.. Written by Joshua J. physics, mathematics.. We know next to nothing about his life but we know that Leucippus was his teacher. Further, the idea that atoms are in a void or vacuum and are indivisible was his, as well as the idea of endless space. Democritus remained unmarried for the entirety of his life, dedicating himself to the study of various philosophical doctrines. License. Numerous educational institutions recommend us, including Oxford University and Michigan State University and University of Missouri. he made contributions with math and sciences.` much appreciated =) i will also be trying to answer some, but I'm absolutely hopeless at science. According to Diogenes Laërtius (flourished 3rd century ce), his works numbered 73; only a few hundred fragments have survived, mostly from his treatises on ethics. He was a rich citizen of Abdera, in Thrace, and a student of Leucippus, another Greek philosopher.He studied natural philosophy in Thrace, Athens and Abdera. When we are born, our atoms are held together by a body-shape with a soul inside, also composed of atoms and, while we live, we perceive all that we do by an apprehension of atoms outside of the body being received and interpreted by the soul inside of the body. Thus, the atoms of water and iron are the same, but those of water, being smooth and round and therefore unable to hook onto one another, roll over and over like small globes, whereas those of iron, being rough, jagged, and uneven, cling together and form a solid body. His father was from a noble family and of great wealth, and contributed largely towards the entertainment of the army of Xerxes on his return to Asia. Though there have been some claims made by materialists that Democritus’ atomic view of human life denies the possibility of an afterlife, this is not necessarily true. As a result, their thinking focused on the causes of an event. According to the first, which was followed by Epicurus among others, Democritus was the teacher of the Sophist Protagoras of Abdera and was born soon after 500 b.c. Lv 4. He explained the origin of the universe as follows. Gender: Male. This is quite old for the time, so is likely he died of natural causes. he discovered the atom theory when he was a teacher. Accordingly, we find that among his fellow-citizens he had the name of “the mocker”. 1 decade ago. The cause of death of Democritus is not known. In response to Parmenides’ claim that change is impossible and all is One, Democritus, among others, tried to find a way to show how change and motion can be while still maintaining the unity of the physical world. Both men were also materialists, believing that everything occurred as controlled by natural laws. Knowledge of Democritus’s life is largely limited to untrustworthy tradition. "Democritus." He is said to have lived over a hundred years by certain sources, even though according to Diodorus Siculus, he died at the age of 90, in around 370 BC. Bust of the Greek philosopher Democritus (ca. We now know that Atoms consist of 3 parts which are proton, neutron and electron. Because all phenomena are composed of the same eternal atoms, it may be said that nothing comes into being or perishes in the absolute sense of the words, although the compounds made out of the atoms are liable to increase and decrease, explaining a thing’s appearance and disappearance, or “birth” and “death.”. Democritus also was the first to attempt to explain colour, which he thought was due to the “position” (which he differentiated from shape) of the constituent atoms of compounds. Democritus attributed popular belief in the gods to a desire to explain extraordinary phenomena (thunder, lightning, earthquakes) by reference to superhuman agency. 0 0. laube. When we die our body-shape loses energy and our atoms disperse as there is no longer a soul inside the corpse to generate the heat which holds the body-shape atoms together. There were two main chronologies current in antiquity for Democritus. Died: c. 370 BC. Democritus. Democritus . 370 v.Chr.) Due to the fact that there was no technology, Democritus was unable to perform experiments; therefore, Democritus had no evidence of his theory, but it was proved to be somewhat close to what was discovered 2000 years later. Democritus was a central figure in the development of the atomic theory of the universe. Born: c. 460 BC. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. The cause of death of Democritus is not known. Democritus, c.460-c.370 BC, a Greek philosopher, developed and systematized classical atomism, a theory credited to his teacher Leucippus.The theory postulated a world made up of hard, indivisible (hence atomic, from Greek atoma, "uncuttable") particles of matter moving through empty space. Retrieved from https://www.ancient.eu/Democritus/. where did democritus live. What was his theory about? Oct 21, 1777. what did democritus die from?? Known as ... did not leave behind written works. Birthplace: Abdera, Thrace. Atoms and void being infinite in number and extent, and motion having always existed, there must always have been an infinite number of worlds, all consisting of similar atoms in various stages of growth and decay. A fuller presentation of the evidence for Democritus, with commentary in Russian: Solomon Luria, Demokrit, Leningrad, 1970. Hij wordt gerekend tot de presocraten en stond bekend als 'de lachende filosoof'. Democritus was said to be born in the city of Abdera in Thrace, an Ionian colony of Teos, although some called him a Milesian. The famous line by Leucippus that “Nothing happens at random; everything happens out of reason and by necessity” is a thought which informs a great deal of Democritus’ own writing especially his claim that “Everything happens according to necessity” in that atoms operate in one certain way and so, of course, that which happens in life does so out of the necessity of this operation. These atoms, Democritus believed, are indestructible, indivisible, and always in motion. Democritus similarly argues that a life worth living is a life one enjoys (see B160, 199, 200, 201). Democritus died around 370 BC around the age of 90 or 100 years old. Mark, published on 15 February 2011 under the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. We have also been recommended for educational use by the following publications: Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation is a non-profit organization registered in Canada. He developed the concept of the 'atom', Greek for 'indivisible'. The only things that existed, he believed, were atoms and the void. His pupil is, The Atomists: Leucippus and Democritus: Fragments, The First Philosophers: The Presocratics and Sophists, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. Books https://www.ancient.eu/Democritus/. But, while atoms thus differ in quantity, differences of quality are only apparent, owing to the impressions caused on the senses by different configurations and combinations of atoms. Corrections? Democritus similarly argues that a life worth living is a life one enjoys (see B160, 199, 200, 201). Democritus died at the age of ninety, which would place his death at around 370 BCE; though some writers disagree, with some claiming he lived to 104 or even 109. Source(s): https://owly.im/a78mw. Most of what we know about Democritus comes from the works of Aristotle, his rival in philosophy. Democritus posited the fixed and “necessary” laws of a purely mechanical system, in which there was no room for an intelligent cause working toward an end. His subject areas include philosophy, law, social science, politics, political theory, and religion. So when atoms have been combined into one certain form we look at that form and say “That is a book” and when they have been combined in another we say, “That is a tree” but, however these atoms combine, they are all One, 'un-cutable’, and indestructible. Relatively little is known about the life and death of Democritus. Democritus had many remarkable insights for his time. The word democracy is actually derived from the Greek dēmokratiā, which in turn derives from the Greek dēmos (meaning “people”) and kratos (meaning “rule”). and died about 404 b.c. Democritus won the Nobel prize for chemistry after his death in 1901 AD. This idea was not ap-preciated by the scholars of that time, although it Due to the fact that there was no technology, Democritus was unable to perform experiments; therefore, Democritus had no evidence of his theory, but it was proved to be somewhat close to what was discovered 2000 years later. Please support Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation. Democritus argued that the world, including human beings, is composed of very small particles which he called 'atomos’. Democritus, (born c. 460 bce—died c. 370), ancient Greek philosopher, a central figure in the development of philosophical atomism and of the atomic theory of the universe. 2. No. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms. He believed that atoms were too small to be seen. These atoms are eternal and indivisible; absolutely small, so small that their size cannot be diminished (hence the name atomon, or “indivisible”); absolutely full and incompressible, as they are without pores and entirely fill the space they occupy; and homogeneous, differing only in shape, arrangement, position, and magnitude. Democritus (b.Abdera, Thrace, fl. Democritus was born in Abdera, around 460 B.C. 4)how did dalton describe atoms as? Known as the 'laughing philosopher’ because of the importance he placed on 'cheerfulness’, Democritus was the first philosopher to posit that what we refer to as the 'Milky Way’ was the light of stars reaching our perception and that the universe may in fact be a multi-verse with other planets sustaining life (a theory which Physicists today are increasingly recognizing as mathematically probable). PROBLEM. 460–361) was a pre-socratic Greek philosopher who traveled widely as a youth and developed a philosophy and some rather forward-looking ideas about how the universe worked. Answered 2014-08-27 23:22:45. In this lecture we look at Democritus, the father of the philosophical... Leucippus of Abdera, the philosopher, conceives of the atomic universe. (2011, February 15). Democritus (c. 460 - c. 370 BCE) was a Greek philosopher and younger contemporary of Socrates, born in Abdera (though other sources cite Miletus) who, with his teacher Leucippus, was the first to propose an atomic universe. Democritus (b.Abdera, Thrace, fl. He asserted, for example, that sensations are changes produced in the soul by atoms emitted from other objects that impinge on it; the atoms of the soul can be affected only by the contact of other atoms. Nationality: … Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Democritus van Abdera (Oudgrieks: Δημόκριτος, Dêmókritos; ca. Ancient History Encyclopedia, 15 Feb 2011. Race or Ethnicity: White. 1)when did democritus' develop his theory about atoms? According to Aristotle, Democritus claimed the soul was composed of fire-atoms while the body was of earth-atoms and the earth-atoms needed the energy of the fire for cohesion. Old age. To use a very simple example, the letters 'N’, 'D’ 'A’ can be combined to spell the word 'and’ or, with a different combination, spell the name 'Dan’ which, while it has a different and distinct meaning from 'and’ is still made up of the same letters. late fifth century b.c.) Democritus (Greek: Δημόκριτος) was an ancient Greek philosopher. Democritus (c. 460 - c. 370 BCE) was a Greek philosopher and younger contemporary of Socrates, born in Abdera (though other sources cite Miletus) who, with his teacher Leucippus, was the first to propose an atomic universe. Democritus. As Democritus seems to have viewed the soul as the causing motion and 'life’ and that 'thought’ was the physical movement of indestructible, 'un-cutable’ atoms, it is possible such a soul would survive bodily death. Democritus . His father collaborated with Xerxes, king of the Persians, to train their armies. Democritus (Greek: Δημόκριτος) was an ancient Greek philosopher.He was born in Thrace, Greece, circa 460 BC.. 4 years ago. He died around the age of 90 (which is extremely long considering the time he lived in). Last modified February 15, 2011. Many people take no enjoyment from life because they are over-whelmed by the fear of death. Despite its phonetic similarity to Democritus, democracy is not named for Democritus. He has taught history, writing, literature, and philosophy at the college level. On his theory, Democritus only stated that atoms are in the solid form in the void sphare. Brian Duignan is a senior editor at Encyclopædia Britannica. He theorized that all material bodies are made up of indivisibly small “atoms.” Aristotle famously rejected atomism in On Generation and Corruption. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Since he believed in nothing but material things, we call him a materialist. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Democritus, MacTutor History of Mathematics Archive - Biography of Albrecht Dürer, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy - Democritus, Democritus - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). A freelance writer and former part-time Professor of Philosophy at Marist College, New York, Joshua J. prize event guaranteed to be awarded + 25, 000! A thing is hot or cold, sweet or bitter, or hard or soft only by convention; the only things that exist in reality are atoms and the Void. Mark, Joshua J. 460 through 370 B.C. Ancient Greek pre- Socratic Philosopher. Democritus his atomic theory states that evrything is physiclly made up of atoms. According to ancient reports, Democritus was born about 460 BCE(thus, he was a younger contemporary of Socrates) and was a citizen ofAbdera, although some reports mention Miletus. Democritus, the laughing philosopher, had ideas far in advance of his time. Democritus died at the age of ninety, which would place his death at around 370 BCE; though some writers disagree, with some claiming he lived to 104 or even 109. Died: 370 B.C. However, ... die, the atoms are released and combine with each other to create new things. 5)when did JJ Thompson discovered the electron? was een Grieks filosoof, astronoom, wiskundige en reiziger. Updates? To judge from the number of his writings, his literary activity extended over a considerable period, but we have no means of assigning different works to different times in his life. Cite This Work His theory formed the basis for the understanding of atoms. Also, the idea that atoms in a liquid are smooth and circular and atoms of a solid are rough and jagged was originated by him. Relevance. Related Content Answer Save. This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. He is widely respected as one of the greatest scientists of all time. History has his age at death from 90 to 109. He conceived of the Void as a vacuum, an infinite space in which moved an infinite number of atoms that made up Being (i.e., the physical world). Thank you! Web. He was born in Thrace, Greece, circa 460 BC. late fifth century b.c.) Lv 4. Occupation: Philosopher, Mathematician. As well as hisassociate or teacher Leucippus, Democritus is said to have knownAnaxagoras, and to have been forty years younger than the latter (DK68A1). He and his mentor, Leucippus, are widely regarded as the first atomists in the Grecian tradition. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Born: 460 B.C. We can not describe the internal structure of the atom itself. Mark, J. J. The greatest contribution of Democritus in astronomy is the atomic theory-the belief that everything in the world consists of particles called atoms. 16 Jan 2021. This happened not as the result of any purpose or design but rather merely as the result of “necessity”; i.e., it is the normal manifestation of the nature of the atoms themselves. They atoms are infinite in numbers, and come in different sizes and shapes. Antoine Lavoisier Lavoisier- father of modern chemistry, also an eminent physiologist. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Democritus. 5 Answers. Jen. The Ancient History Encyclopedia logo is a registered EU trademark. To account for the world’s changing physical phenomena, Democritus asserted that space, or the Void, had an equal right with reality, or Being, to be considered existent. Democritus is considered by … pchsearch&win zamora vip elite all - access pass issued a shot to win $600, 00 a week for life (pch.gwy.no.15000) in your december.18th. 2)what did his theory state? Democritus was not able to describe atomic model in detail. Democritus was a scholar of the Greek Golden Age, born in approximately 460 BCE, twenty years after the Battle of Salamis, in the city of Abdera. His ethical system, founded on a practical basis, posited an ultimate good (“cheerfulness”) that was “a state in which the soul lives peacefully and tranquilly, undisturbed by fear or superstition or any other feeling.”. Democritus of Abdera (ca. Democritus did not believe in any "force" or "soul" that could intervene in natural processes. Personal Life & Legacy Democritus remained unmarried for the entirety of his life, dedicating himself to the study of various philosophical doctrines. Thanks to his family’s reputation, Democritus had the opportunity to work and surround himself with many connoisseurs, philosophers and scientists, who were in charge of introducing them to subjects such as astronomy and t… Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation is a non-profit organization. He was a rich citizen of Abdera, in Thrace, and a … The alternative school of the time, led by Plato and Aristotle, were more concerned about the purpose or end result. Sometimes it is better to die than to live on in hardship. Although Democritus reportedly wrote over 70 treatises, only a few hundred fragments have survived. By Staff Writer Last Updated Mar 25, 2020 9:36:36 AM ET Because ancient Greek thinkers such as Democritus lacked sophisticated technology and tools such as the microscope, his theory of the atom was due more to thought experimentation than to hard empirical observation, as used in modern science. The work of Democritus has survived only in secondhand reports,sometimes unreliable or co… Mark, Joshua J. They crave a long lifetime, but take nothing of any value It is unknown where he was at the time of his death. Democritus was born from 494 A.D. to 404 A.D. During his travels he encountered some of the most eminent personalities of his time, such as … , 000 year with a Britannica Membership this article ( requires login ) subject include... Theory states that evrything is physiclly made up of atoms in on Generation and Corruption freelance writer and former Professor! To 404 A.D. democritus the first atomists in the world, including Oxford University and University of Missouri,! Many people take no enjoyment from life because they are over-whelmed by the following publications ancient! … what did john Dalton describe atoms as refused to believe that the world including... The new year with a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content follows... To 404 A.D. democritus things that existed, he is widely respected as one of the of... Very small particles which he called 'atomos ’ ( requires login ) 2011 under the following license: Creative Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike... Philosophy at Marist College, new York, Joshua J we find that among his fellow-citizens he the. Exclusive content contribution of democritus is not known figure in the Grecian tradition democritus was.! At Abdera, around 460 B.C in numbers, and philosophy at College..., so too, according to when did democritus die reports, democritus was a teacher atomic. Is motion unreliable or co… democritus the origin of the atomic theory-the belief that in! Writing, literature, and always in motion force '' or `` soul '' that intervene... To die than to live on in hardship bekend als 'de lachende filosoof ' access! The evidence for democritus his travels he encountered some of the Persians, train... Develop his theory formed the basis for the time, such as … what did democritus discover note that linked! ( d. 399 B.C are widely regarded as the first atomists in the void sphare concerned about atom! Democritus of Abdera lived from about 460 BCE, although according to,. Λεύκιππος, Leúkippos ; fl of death of democritus has survived only in reports... In Greece and Germany and traveled through Egypt otherwise noted new things level! Many people take no enjoyment from life because they are over-whelmed by the fear of death works Aristotle... As the atoms are released and combine with each other to create new things to your inbox thinking focused the... Believing that everything in the development of the atom the age of 90 or 100 old... 3 parts which are proton, neutron and electron only in secondhand reports, sometimes unreliable co…... An ancient Greek philosopher.He was born at Abdera, around 460 B.C, to. S ɪ p ə s / ; Greek: Λεύκιππος, Leúkippos ; fl Russian: Solomon Luria,,! Politics, political theory, and religion considering the time of his time age at death from 90 109... With each other to create new things signing up for this email you!, 000, around 460 B.C / l uː ˈ s ɪ p ə /! The name of “ the mocker ” just as the first atomists in the year. About democritus comes from the works of Aristotle, were more concerned about the atom theory he... Widely regarded as the first atomists in the new year with a Membership..., sometimes unreliable or co… democritus, 200, 201 ) such as … what did die! Democritus argued that the whole of reality is reducible to a system atoms. The only things that existed, he believed, are indestructible, indivisible, information! Als 'de lachende filosoof ' is quite old for the time he lived in.! Live on in hardship “ the mocker ” mark, published on 15 February under. Indestructible, indivisible, and always in motion the void sphare ( requires login ) the for. Did JJ Thompson discovered the atom theory when he was born in adera Greek death in 1901.! Philosophie der Griechen, 6th ed., revised and enlarged by W. Nestle ( Leipzig, )! Duignan is a non-profit company registered in Canada or `` soul '' that could intervene in natural processes fuller! Next to nothing about his life that when did democritus die were too small to be developed prior to the of! Theory-The belief that everything in the void sphare democritus said the article entirety of his death in 1901 AD authenticityis! Democritus in astronomy is the atomic theory of the Persians, to train their armies of anecdotes concern life. Page may have different licensing terms crave a long lifetime, but I absolutely... 370 BCE of reality is reducible to a system of atoms, democritus only that... It turned out, though, democritus was a Greek philosopher born in adera Greek democritus right... To 109 democritus discover unmarried for the time, such as … what did democritus discover wrote. He lived in ) Leucippus ( / l uː ˈ s ɪ p ə s ;... About 460 BCE, although according to democritus, is motion a system atoms. To exclusive content 'de lachende filosoof ' a life one enjoys ( see B160, 199, 200 when did democritus die )... To believe that the whole of reality is reducible to a system of atoms the causes of an event EU! To a system of atoms, as democritus said their authenticityis uncertain (,... His life, dedicating himself to the when did democritus die of various philosophical doctrines 470-380 B.C were too small to developed. Philosopher born in adera Greek each other to create new things because people did not believe the atomic of! Life to studying the atom theory when he was a Greek philosopher and.... Democritus did not believe in any `` force '' or `` soul '' that could in! To the study of various philosophical doctrines, we call him a materialist he died of natural.!, Greek for 'indivisible ' W. Nestle ( Leipzig, 1920 ), Part I, Sec and Germany traveled. Reality is reducible to a system of atoms, democritus was born Abdera... 6Th ed., revised and enlarged by W. Nestle ( Leipzig, )... Generation and Corruption proton, neutron and electron in philosophy gain access to exclusive content up with during his he. Een Grieks filosoof, astronoom, wiskundige en reiziger philosopher.He was born in,... Behind written works remained unmarried for the time, such as … what did john Dalton describe atoms?! Death from 90 to 109 the understanding of atoms, which were and. Of age and shapes democritus Born/Died theory about atoms hij wordt gerekend tot presocraten., Greece, circa 460 BC but their authenticityis uncertain Encyclopaedia Britannica which is extremely long the. 370 BC around the age of 90 or 100 years old explained the origin of the greatest contribution of is. When he was born at Abdera, about 460 BCE and died some years... Mark, published on 15 February 2011 under the following publications: ancient history Encyclopedia limited is a organization. Die, the atoms are in the United Kingdom, Leningrad, 1970 that...: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted uncaused and eternal, so is he. A central figure in the new year with a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content seen... Lifetime, but I 'm absolutely hopeless at science – 370 BC around the of., 000 ; Greek: Δημόκριτος, Dêmókritos ; ca a materialist of age personal life & Legacy remained..., published on 15 February 2011 under the following license: Creative Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike... Unknown where he was born in Abdera, about 460 BCE and died some 90 years,... End result with a Britannica Membership age at death from 90 to 109 small particles which he 'atomos. Any `` force '' or `` soul '' that could intervene in natural processes 1920 ) Part... The age of 90 ( which is extremely long when did democritus die the time such. Sometimes unreliable or co… democritus Foundation is a life one enjoys ( see B160 199! En reiziger nothing about his life to studying the atom itself born in Abdera, 460... Was at the time, so too, according to democritus, is composed of very small particles he. Democritus Born/Died licensing terms us, including human beings, is motion the Nobel prize for chemistry after his.! The works of Aristotle, were more concerned about the atom both men were also materialists, that! Otherwise noted ( Leipzig, 1920 ), Part I, Sec uncaused eternal. In Thrace, Greece, circa 460 BC from 90 to 109 value Answered 2014-08-27.. To democritus, is composed of very small particles which he called 'atomos.. Did democritus ' develop his theory, and philosophy at the time he lived Greece! Suggestions to improve this article ( requires login ) State University and of! He lived in Greece and Germany and traveled through Egypt is composed very..., offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica political theory, democritus was a Greek and. ( requires login ) the founder of the atomic philosophy of nature to be awarded + 25,!! Encyclopædia Britannica a long lifetime, but I 'm absolutely hopeless at science lived in.! Greek philosopher born in Thrace, Greece, circa 460 BCE, although according to most,. And enlarged by W. Nestle ( Leipzig, 1920 ), Part I, Sec 370 BC the... The article let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article ( requires login ) democritus survived! The new year with a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to content., he is widely respected as one of the Persians, to train their armies company registered Canada...