Democritus was an ancient Greek philosopher often credited as the father of modern atomic theory. He proposed the existence of indivisible particles that he called atoms. However, his ideas about atoms were not based on experiments or observation but rather on reasoning about the nature of matter.
Democritus affirmed that the number of atoms is infinite. They are not created and are eternal, and the qualities of an object depend on the types of atoms that compose it. His theory laid the foundation for modern atomic theory.
The Democritus atomic theory was improved and developed by other eminent philosophers. Some were the Greek philosopher Epicurus (341-270 BC) and the Roman Epicurean poet Lucretius (99-55 BC).
The most significant point of Democritus' atom model is the concept of the atom as the smallest portion into which a chemical element could be divided.
How did the Democritus model evolve?
During the High Middle Ages in Western Europe, atomism was almost forgotten. In the 12th century, he became famous again in Western Europe thanks to references to him in the recently discovered writings of Aristotle.
At the beginning of the 19th century, in 1808, John Dalton developed an atomic model but this time with scientific bases. Dalton's atomic model also defined the atom as an indivisible particle in any chemical reaction.
Later, Thomson's atomic model discovered that an atom had other subatomic particles:
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a central nucleus (atomic nucleus) with positive charges,
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and other negatively charged particles (electrons).
Rutherford's atomic model states that electrons rotate in circular orbits around the atomic nucleus.
Finally, Bohr's atomic model introduced the concept of quantum mechanics to the structure of the atom.
What is the atomist doctrine?
Atomism is a natural physical and philosophical theory according to which sensually perceived (material) things consist of chemically indivisible particles - atoms. It has its origin in ancient Greek philosophy. It mainly developed in the field of philosophy and science of the Middle Ages and Modern Times.
Ancient sources describe atomism as one of several attempts by early Greek natural philosophers to respond to the challenge offered by Parmenides. Despite occasional challenges (Osborne 2004), this is how its motivation is generally interpreted by scholars today. Parmenides argued that it is impossible to change without something coming from nothing.
Democritus, along with Leucippus and Epicurus, proposed the earliest views on the shapes and connectivity of atoms. In their theory, the material's solidness depended on the atoms' shape.
The term atomism is used in two senses.
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In a broad sense, atomism is called any doctrine of atoms
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In a strict sense, the ancient Greek philosophical school of the 4th and 5th centuries BCE., whose teaching is the oldest historical form of atomism.
The atomists distinguished two fundamental kinds of realities composing the world, atoms and void. There is an infinite number of atoms and of kinds of atoms. They differ in size and shape of the atoms.
The Legacy of Democritus
Democritus is widely considered to be the father of modern atomic theory. This is because his work hugely influenced the development of the atomic model as we know it today.
Democritus developed a theory in which he held that all matter is made up of tiny, indivisible particles that he called atoms that interact with other atoms mechanically. He also suggested that atoms are in constant motion and interact with each other to create the observed properties of matter. This atom is an inert solid, excluding other bodies from its volume.
On the other hand, quantum-mechanical atoms interact via magnetic and electric force fields and are not inert. Therefore, the modern atomic model is quite different from his theory. Thus, it is more closely aligned with that of modern science than any other theory of antiquity.
While Democritus' ideas were not fully developed and lacked experimental evidence, they laid the foundation for the work of later scientists like John Dalton and Ernest Rutherford.
Dalton used these ideas to develop his atomic model based on empirical evidence. In turn, Rutherford's experiments with alpha particles led him to conclude that atoms are mostly empty space, with a small, dense nucleus containing most of the atom's mass.
Today, Democritus' legacy continues to be felt in the field of atomic physics. His work laid the foundation for our current understanding of the structure and behavior of atoms, and his Atomic Theory is still widely accepted as correct.
Democritus’s biography
Democritus was born in the city of Abdera in Thrace in 460 BCE. During his life, he traveled a lot, studying the philosophical views of various people. In addition, he listened to the Pythagorean Philolaus and Socrates in Athens.
In addition, it is said that as his teacher Leucippus, Democritus was familiar with Anaxagoras.
They say that Democritus spent a lot of money on these travels inherited from him. However, the embezzlement of the inheritance in Abderah was prosecuted. At the trial, he read excerpts from his work, "The Great World Construction." As a result, fellow citizens decided that his father's money was well spent and was acquitted.
They say that Democritus spent a lot of money on these travels inherited from him. However, the embezzlement of the inheritance in Abderah was prosecuted. At the trial, he read out excerpts from his work, "The Great World Construction," and was acquitted: fellow citizens decided that his father's money was well spent.
