The Father of Modern Science – Democritus

Sometimes Democritus (c. 460–370 BCE) would laugh heartily, and to those around him, this laughter seemed senseless, occasionally interpreted as a sign of madness. Even Hippocrates was invited to check Democritus’ mental health. However, the “father of medicine” concluded that the philosopher was physically and mentally sound. Furthermore, he regarded Democritus as the most intelligent among those he had encountered.

But why did the “Laughing Philosopher” laugh? To Democritus, human folly, in the context of the infinite universe, seemed laughable. What made Heraclitus cry made Democritus laugh.

Of course, to a philosopher who recognized the atom 2,500 years ago, the ordinary human life and its problems were bound to seem ridiculous. A car traveling at 300,000 km per second would take a hundred thousand years to cross the Milky Way galaxy, from one end to the other. Meanwhile, in the Andromeda galaxy, which is approaching the Milky Way at 110 km per second, this time would be twice as long. In a few billion years, the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies will collide. The mysterious event, which will surpass human imagination, will mark the end of one era and the beginning of another.

For a brain capable of imagining and digesting such vast concepts, mundane things like which social media post has been viewed a certain number of times should not matter. The everyday adventures and “heroics” of ordinary people would appear laughable or perhaps even sad. One philosopher may laugh, while another may cry.

Democritus was from the city of Abdera in what is now Thrace. Born into a wealthy family, after his father’s death, Democritus spent the inheritance traveling. He visited Babylon, India, and Egypt before returning to Greece and delving into natural philosophy.

Democritus, also known as the “Father of Modern Science,” understood that the Milky Way galaxy is made up of stars. He stated that the stars appeared dim because they were so close together. Considering that the first telescope was invented two thousand years later, we can appreciate the brilliance of Democritus’ insight.

In 1610, Galileo proved that Democritus was not mistaken. Using a telescope, he observed that the Milky Way was indeed composed of a large number of stars. Three centuries later, in 1924, American astronomer and cosmologist Edwin Hubble, with a more advanced telescope, confirmed that the Andromeda nebula was not part of the Milky Way but an independent galaxy.

Thus, the existence of other galaxies in the universe and the fact that the universe is not just made up of our galaxy becomes known. Therefore, Earth should not be the only cosmic body with life. Democritus arrives at the same conclusion. He states that worlds are infinite, some of them are inhabited, while others are lifeless. Some are evolving, while others are in decay.

Indeed, the fact that Democritus and others arrived at the same conclusion centuries ago is an example of the power of human intellect. However, there is an atomic concept that overshadows Democritus’ theory.

This concept offers a solution to the primary problems of philosophy and to Zeno of Elea’s problem of infinite divisibility. According to atomic theory, a body no longer divides infinitely as Zeno and other Eleatics thought, because atoms are indivisible. Atoms resemble the elements of Empedocles and the seeds of Anaxagoras. However, while Anaxagoras claimed that matter could be divided infinitely, atomists held the opposite view.

Democritus denies that anything can be created or destroyed. The philosopher’s universe consists of atoms in empty space. Atoms are indivisible and eternal; they are the fundamental, unbreakable units of matter.

Democritus’s universe consists of an infinite number of atoms, which move chaotically in the vast void, colliding and creating bodies as a result. Atoms with the same density differ in shape, size, and position. The creation and destruction of bodies happen as atoms unite and separate. Fire, air, water, and earth are made of atoms.

Atomists explain why iron is harder than lead, yet lighter – hardness is due to atoms being unevenly distributed, while lightness is a result of more empty space. Lead has less empty space, and its atoms are evenly distributed, which makes it easier to fold and cut.

Infinite atoms moving in infinite space, colliding and creating infinite worlds. Our world, that is, the cosmos, was formed as a result of the swirling of atoms. Larger atoms united to form the Earth, and our planet occupies its place at the center of the universe.

Unlike Parmenides, Democritus and his followers believe that existence is diverse and in constant motion. Atoms move according to certain laws, so there is no such thing as chance. As we can see, Democritus, like Leucippus, bases his philosophy on rational science. Both philosophers emphasize that all processes and events occur based on the laws of nature and create materialist concepts. This is one of the fundamental achievements of atomist philosophy. Democritus, who analyzes all processes from a materialist perspective, is even called “the father of Materialism.” Materialism is a philosophical theory that asserts the fundamental substance of nature is matter, and that consciousness is a result of matter.

Atomists study the universe solely from a mechanical perspective and provide mechanical explanations. Like earlier philosophers such as Thales, Anaximander, and Anaximenes, they do not seek theological causes. Democritus is generally skeptical of religion and sees no reason for the existence of the universe. Thought and cognition are faculties unique to humans. No supernatural being possesses thought, and there is no free cognition in the cosmos. This is Democritus’s view.

A century after Democritus, the atomic theory is further developed by Epicurus, one of the leading philosophers of the ancient world, and half a century before our era by the Roman philosopher Lucretius. Epicurus adds to the properties of the atom presented by Leucippus and Democritus the concept of weight. He concludes that the weight of objects is related to the weight of the atoms that make up those objects.

With the rise of the Church’s power, Europe enters the most ignorant period of its history. The “Dark Ages,” lasting until the 15th century, halts not only the development of atomic theory but also the development of science in general. Atomic theory is only revived in the 17th century by Boyle and Newton and is incorporated into science. By the end of the century, it is already considered a scientific theory. A century and a half later, Dalton orally presents the atomic weight of certain substances.

In 1827, Robert Brown discovers “Brownian motion,” the chaotic movement of small particles in liquids and gases, thus confirming that matter is made up of individual particles—atoms. The rapid development of science becomes irresistible. By the end of the century, it becomes clear that the “indivisible” atom is not the smallest particle of matter.

In 1897, Joseph Thomson discovers the electron, and a few years later, his student Ernest Rutherford discovers the atomic nucleus. The atom is like the solar system, with a nucleus at its center and electrons moving around it.

According to the principle that if a situation does not contradict the laws of nature and is possible, then it has either already happened or will happen, since time and space are infinite, Democritus says that atoms move in the void at any speed and in any direction. Thus, knowing the cause of motion is not inherently necessary; it is only required when one wants to change its direction or speed.

The Earth is at the center of the infinite Great Void and consists of heavier atoms. The formation of the Earth occurred as a result of the swirling motion of atoms, so the creative force is the swirl of atoms. Worlds are infinite and of various sizes—because this situation does not contradict the laws of science and is possible. They are born, destroyed, and move in different directions. From this, the conclusion can be drawn that there are worlds similar to ours.

Democritus, the founder of materialist philosophy, states that there is no supernatural cause in the creation of the world. He declares that gods are the result of human imagination. People, unable to understand nature, assign the name of a god to any extraordinary event. The philosopher denies the immortality of the soul because the soul is made up of atoms, and it perishes when they separate. People have only invented the idea of an immortal soul out of fear of death.

However, Democritus does not deny the possible existence of gods. Gods are wise, long-lived, and large beings made of atoms. They are simply not immortal, and there is no reason to fear them. This belief results in Democritus being declared an atheist.

Democritus is the author of the first anthropological theory—he concluded that people in ancient times lived short lives. Due to the fear of animals, people formed groups, and societies were born. The first humans did not have the ability to speak or verbal language. Over time, these abilities were developed to share thoughts. Verbal language and writing emerged, fire was obtained, animals were domesticated, and agriculture was born.

To learn the truth, intellect must be used because the senses are subjective and, therefore, deceptive. What feels cold to one person may feel warm to another; what seems sweet to one may seem bitter to another. However, the truth is that there are only atoms and void. Therefore, to understand the truth, we must analyze the data coming from the senses through intellect and find the cause. This is how humans can understand reality. Unfortunately, even in our modern era, very few choose the intellect that Democritus proposed.