(Originally written July 3, 2006 in Book 2)
The History of Western Philosophy
Bertrand Russell
1974
Chapter 9 - The Atomists
I would like to pause just a second with a little prayer. Lord, _ & I are struggling financially. Help us to budget well and succeed as you wish us to. We need help! Let us live to your standards and within our means. Help me to spoil her with non-expensive gifts rather than endlessly wasting money. Help me to stop wasting money on myself as well. Amen (thank you for providing and listening).
Leucippus & Democritus founded the Atomists.
Leucippus was from Miletus around 440 BC. He was scientific and a rationalist influenced by Parmenides and Zeno.
Leucippus is surrounded in myth (Epicurus denied he ever existed) but Democritus is a much more definitive figure.
Democritus was from Abdera (Thrace), flourishing around 420 BC. He was a contemporary of Socrates and the Sophists.
Atomists believed everything was composed of physically indivisible atoms (they were geometrically divisible).
The atoms collided and collected to form vortices.
Atomists were strict determinists.
Atomists believed everything occurred in accordance with natural law.
They did not believe in the notion of 'final cause', which is why everything happens.
By asking 'why' one asks either one of two questions:
1) What purpose did this event serve?
2) What circumstances happened prior to this event to cause it?
The answer to question 1 requires a teleological answer; the answer to question 2 requires a mechanistic explanation. The atomists asked and answered question 2.
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