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Democritus
(1,541 words)

(Δημόκριτος; Dēmókritos).

[1] of Abdera Atomist philosopher, 2nd half of the 5th cent. BC

[German version]

A. Life and Writing

D. was active in the 2nd half of the 5th cent. and one of the main representatives of ancient  Atomism, which he adopted from  Leucippus. Their respective contributions to the theory of the atom are difficult to differentiate. It is characteristic in this context that the ‘Great World Order’ (Μέγας διάκοσμος; Mégas diákosmos) listed in a…

Cite this page
Bodnár, István (Budapest), Baltes, Matthias (Münster), Lakmann, Marie-Luise (Münster) and Degani, Enzo (Bologna), “Democritus”, in: Brill’s New Pauly, Antiquity volumes edited by: Hubert Cancik and , Helmuth Schneider, English Edition by: Christine F. Salazar, Classical Tradition volumes edited by: Manfred Landfester, English Edition by: Francis G. Gentry. Consulted online on 10 December 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1574-9347_bnp_e315110>
First published online: 2006
First print edition: 9789004122598, 20110510



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