Democritus: biography, interesting facts, discoveries and scientific activity

Very curious is the biography of Democritus. The summary of his works is no less interesting. If you have not yet become acquainted with this thinker, we suggest that you do this. Democritus - an ancient Greek philosopher, whose years of life - from about 460 to 360 BC. E. He is known for being the founder of atomistic teaching. According to Democritus, in the world there are only emptiness and atoms.

Atomism of Democritus

Atoms are material indivisible elements ("figures", geometric bodies), impenetrable, indestructible, eternal. They differ in size, position in the void, form. Atoms move in different directions. Thanks to these movements, countless worlds and separate bodies are formed. Atoms for man are invisible, but they affect our senses, thereby causing sensations. But we will not dwell on this in detail, since the future is the biography of Democritus. About physics, it can be read separately; If you are interested in it - finding information today is not difficult. We suggest to get acquainted now with the philosopher himself.

When was Democritus born?

We will consider that an interesting biography of Democritus begins in 460 BC. E. Although even in ancient times, the date of birth of this philosopher was a contentious issue. According to Apollodorus, he was born in 460 or 457 BC. E. However, Thrasill, who is the publisher of the works of this philosopher, expressed a different opinion. He believed that Democritus was born in 470 BC. E. This issue is still open.

Training and travel

A lot of dark spots leave the biography of Democritus, the summary of the works of which is of interest today (how sad that the originals have not survived!) This philosopher came from a rich family. According to the legend, given by Diogenes Laertius, he learned from the Chaldeans and Magi, donated by Xerxes, the Persian king, his father. Such a gift Xerxes allegedly made to him for the fact that he gave dinner to the Persian army, which passed through Thrace. Democritus spent a rich inheritance, left after his father's death, on travel. He visited Babylon and Persia, Egypt and India. For some time the philosopher also lived in Athens, where he listened to Socrates' incognito. It is possible that with Anaxagoras there was Democritus. His biography is full of many assumptions, but do not forget how long this philosopher lived . Recreating the life of many of his contemporaries is not easy.

Behavior of Democritus

Many curious details filled with the biography of Democritus. The most interesting, perhaps, is connected with his way of life. The behavior of this philosopher to many of his contemporaries seemed incomprehensible. Democritus often left the city. In order to escape from the city's fuss, he came to the cemetery. Here the philosopher was thinking. Often Democritus burst out laughing for no apparent reason: all human affairs seemed to him amusing amid the world order. Because of this feature, this thinker even received the nickname "a laughing philosopher". Many fellow citizens considered him insane. They even invited Hippocrates, the famous physician, for his examination. He actually met with the philosopher, but decided that he was absolutely healthy both mentally and physically. Moreover, he argued that one of the smartest people he could communicate with was Democritus.

His biography is allegedly interrupted in 370 BC. When this thinker died. Thus, he lived about a hundred years.

Synthesis of three schools

It is believed that the greatest influence on this philosopher was rendered by the atomist Leucippus. Nevertheless, the emergence of atomism as a universal doctrine in philosophy, which includes ethics, psychology, epistemology, cosmology and physics, is associated precisely with Democritus. His teaching is a synthesis of the problems of the three schools of Greece: Pythagorean, Eleatic and Milesian. Remained its imprint and the philosophy of other countries, which visited Democritus. His biography, as you remember, is associated with a lot of travel.

Works of Democritus

It is believed that Democritus is the author of more than 70 different works. The names of the works are quoted by Diogenes Laertius. The author is credited with writing works on physics, ethics, literature and language, mathematics, and applied sciences, including medicine. Moreover, Democritus was even considered the creator of the "Chaldean book" and "On the sacred inscriptions in Babylon" (within the framework of the "Chaldean" myth associated with the travels and education of this philosopher).

The beauty of the style of works

Democritus in antiquity gained fame not only because of the depth of its teachings, but also because of the beauty of the syllable of works. Many thinkers have noted this, including Cicero, Timon of Fliunte and Dionysius of Halicarnassus. The features of Democritus's style were: alliteration, rhythmic organization of phrases, brevity, neologisms, assonances, widespread use of rhetorical antitheses: "emptiness" and "atoms", "microcosm-man" and "macrocosm-universe"

We have already told you about atoms and emptiness at the beginning of the article. What else interesting can you learn about such a philosopher as Democritus? His biography is also marked by works on ethics, which is a continuation of the atomistic physics of this thinker.

Ethics of Democritus

Just like an atom, a person is a self-sufficient being. People are all the happier, the more they are self-contained. Democritus invented several terms for expressing his own understanding of happiness: "welfare", "complacency", "equanimity", "fearlessness", and also used traditional terms - "dimensionality" and "harmony." Evtium is the central concept of the ethic of this thinker. Even a separate book of Democritus is devoted to it. The doctrine of euthumy-complacency - is associated with criticism of this thinker belief in the fate of traditional religion. The meaning of this term is associated primarily with the notion of measure. That is, a person should limit himself in bodily pleasures. Democritus believed that eutiemia arises as a result of a measured life and moderation in pleasures. The sage rejoices at what he has, not envious of the glory and wealth of other people. He strives for lawful and just deeds.

Note that the bulk of the fragments of Democritus, which has survived to this day, refers specifically to ethics. However, today it is difficult to judge the degree of accuracy with which statements are conveyed by his words.

Cosmogonic representations

At their core, Democritus laid the concept of the existence of many worlds in the universe. For him, time has no beginning, for it signifies a change in being that takes place forever. The human organism Democritus likened the cosmos and called it a microcosm. It is known that this thinker recognized the existence of the gods, however in a very unusual form. For him they are compounds of fiery atoms. The immortality of the gods Democritus denied.

What is the soul according to Democritus?

The philosopher imagined a soul in the form of an atom. It was this atom, he believed, that explains the various features of psychic life. The main one is movement. The shower-producing soul must itself be mobile. Therefore, it must be represented in the form of fiery round atoms. Thinking is also a movement. And when we breathe, together with the air we get new fire atoms, replacing the spent atoms of our soul. That is why the termination of this process leads to death. The soul, Democritus believed, is the most essential in man. He advised to take care primarily of her, and not about the body. The philosopher believed that all objects are animate. The soul that fills the whole world is a deity. However, it obeys mechanical laws and does not differ qualitatively from material existence.

Aesthetics of Democritus

In it, the ancient Greek thinker, apparently, was the first to outline the line between requiring only skills in applied arts and artistic creativity, which is impossible without inspiration. In addition, in ethics Democritus developed the doctrine of immunity to affect (ataraxia).

Now you can also talk about who Democritus is. A brief biography and his discoveries are able to interest almost any person, so we recommend doing this. Surely many of your friends, relatives and acquaintances do not know what you know. Biography Democritus, facts from scientific work and interesting information about it - all this can be discussed for a very long time.