The biography of Democritus is very interesting. The summary of his works is no less interesting. If you have not met this thinker yet, we invite you to do so. Democritus is an ancient Greek philosopher whose years of life are from about 460 to 360 BC. e. He is known for being the founder of the atomistic doctrine. According to Democritus, only emptiness and atoms exist in the world.
Atomism of Democritus
Atoms are material indivisible elements ("figures", geometric bodies), impenetrable, indestructible, eternal. They differ in size, position in the void, shape. Atoms move in different directions. Thanks to these movements, both countless worlds and separate bodies are formed. Atoms are invisible to humans, but they act on our senses, thereby causing sensations. But we will not dwell on this in detail, since ahead is the biography of Democritus. About physics it can be read separately; if you are interested in her -finding information today is not difficult. We offer you to get acquainted now with the philosopher himself.
When was Democritus born?
We assume 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 controversial issue. According to Apollodorus, he was born in 460 or 457 BC. e. However, Thrasyll, who is the publisher of the writings of this philosopher, expressed a different opinion. He believed that Democritus was born in 470 BC. e. This question is still open.
Study and travel
Many dark spots are left by the biography of Democritus, a summary of whose works is of interest even today (what a pity that the originals have not been preserved!) This philosopher came from a we althy family. According to the legend transmitted by Diogenes Laertius, he studied with the Chaldeans and magicians, presented by Xerxes, the Persian king, to his father. Xerxes allegedly made such a gift to him because he treated the Persian army passing through Thrace to dinner. Democritus spent the rich inheritance left after the death of his father on travel. He traveled to 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 Democritus also met with Anaxagoras. His biography is filled with many assumptions, but do not forget about how long this philosopher lived. It is not easy to recreate the life path of many of his contemporaries.
Behavior of Democritus
The biography of Democritus is filled with many curious details. The most interesting, perhaps, is connected with his way of life. The behavior of this philosopher seemed incomprehensible to many of his contemporaries. Democritus often left the city. In order to hide from the bustle of the city, he came to the cemetery. Here the philosopher indulged in reflections. Often, Democritus burst into laughter for no apparent reason: all human affairs seemed to him amusing against the backdrop of world order. Because of this feature, this thinker even received the nickname "laughing philosopher." Many fellow citizens considered him insane. They even invited Hippocrates, the famous physician, to examine him. He actually met with the philosopher, but decided that he was absolutely he althy both mentally and physically. Moreover, he claimed that one of the smartest people he had ever communicated with was Democritus.
His biography is interrupted presumably in 370 BC. when this thinker died. Thus, he lived for about a hundred years.
Synthesis of the three schools
It is believed that the atomist Leucippus had the greatest influence on this philosopher. Nevertheless, the emergence of atomism as a universal doctrine in philosophy, including 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. Left its mark and the philosophy of other countries in which he visitedDemocritus. His biography, as you remember, is connected with many travels.
Works of Democritus
It is believed that Democritus is the author of more than 70 different works. The titles of the works are given by Diogenes Laertes. The thinker is credited with the authorship of works on physics, ethics, literature and language, mathematics, as well as applied sciences, including medicine. Moreover, Democritus was even considered the creator of the "Chaldean Book" and "On Sacred Inscriptions in Babylon" (within the framework of the "Chaldean" myth associated with the travels and education of this philosopher).
The beauty of the syllable of works
Democritus in ancient times gained fame not only due to the depth of his teaching, but also because of the beauty of the style of his works. Many thinkers have noted this, including Cicero, Timon of Phlius, and Dionysius of Halicarnassus. The signs of Democritus' style were: alliteration, rhythmic organization of the phrase, brevity, neologisms, assonances, the widespread use of rhetorical antitheses: "emptiness" and "atoms", "microcosm-man" and "macrocosm-Universe", etc.
We have already told about atoms and emptiness at the beginning of the article. What else interesting can be learned 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 arethe happier the more introverted they are. Democritus came up with several terms to express his own understanding of happiness: "well-being", "complacency", "equanimity", "fearlessness", and also used traditional terms - "regularity" and "harmony". Euthymia is the central concept of the ethics of this thinker. Even a separate book by Democritus is dedicated to her. The doctrine of euthymia - complacency - is associated with this thinker's criticism of beliefs in fate and traditional religion. The meaning of this term is associated primarily with the concept of measure. That is, a person must limit himself in bodily pleasures. Democritus believed that euthymia arises as a result of a measured life and moderation in pleasures. The wise man rejoices in what he has, not envying the fame and we alth of other people. He strives for lawful and just causes.
Note that most of the fragments of Democritus, which have come down to our days, refer specifically to ethics. However, today it is difficult to judge the degree of accuracy with which the statements convey his words.
Cosmogonic representations
Democritus based them on the concept of the existence of many worlds in the Universe. For him, time has no beginning, since it means a change of being that takes place forever. Democritus likened the human body to the cosmos and called it the microcosm. It is known that this thinker recognized the existence of the gods, however, in a very unusual form. For him they arecompounds of fiery atoms. Democritus denied the immortality of the gods.
What is the soul according to Democritus?
The philosopher imagined the soul in the form of an atom. It is this atom, he believed, that explains the various features of mental life. The main one is movement. The moving soul must itself be mobile. Therefore, it must be represented in the form of fiery round atoms. Thinking is also movement. And when we breathe, together with the air we receive new fiery atoms that replace the spent atoms of our soul. That is why the cessation of this process leads to death. The soul, Democritus believed, is the most essential thing in a person. He advised to take care of her first, and not of the body. The philosopher believed that all objects are animated. The soul that fills the whole world is the 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 mark the line between the applied arts that require only skills and artistic creativity, which is impossible without inspiration. In addition, in ethics, Democritus developed the doctrine of immunity to affects (ataraxia).
Now you can tell about who Democritus is. A short biography and his discoveries can interest almost any person, so we recommend doing this. Surely many of your friends, relatives and acquaintances do not know what you know. BiographyDemocritus, facts from scientific activity and interesting information about him - all this can be discussed for a very long time.
