Democritus scientist biography
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Biography of Democritus, Greek Philosopher
Democritus of Abdera (ca. 460–361) was a pre-socratic Greek philosopher who traveled widely as a youth and developed a philosophy and some rather forward-looking ideas about how the universe worked. He was a bitter rival of both Plato and Aristotle.
Key Takeaways: Democritus
- Known For: Greek philosopher of Atomism, the Laughing Philosopher
- Born: 460 BCE, Abdera, Thrace
- Parents: Hegesistratus (or Damasippus or Athenocritus)
- Died: 361, Athens
- Education: Self-educated
- Published Works: "Little World-Order," at least 70 other works which are not extant
- Notable Quote: "Life in a foreign land teaches self-sufficiency, for bread and a mattress of straw are the sweetest cures for hunger and fatigue."
Early Life
Democritus was born about 460 BCE at Abdera in Thrace, the son of a wealthy, well-connected man named Hegesistratus (or Damasippus or Athenocritus—sources vary.) His father had large enough parcels of land that he was said to be able to house the Persian king Xerxes' formidable army in 480 when he was on his way to conquer Greece.
When his father died, Democritus took his inheritance and spent it traveling to distant lands, slaking his nearly endless thirst for knowled
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Biography
Democritus of Abdera is best known for his atomic theory but he was also an excellent geometer. Very little is known of his life but we know that Leucippus was his teacher.Democritus certainly visited Athens when he was a young man, principally to visit Anaxagoras, but Democritus complained how little he was known there. He said, according to Diogenes Laertius writing in the second century AD [5]:-
I came to Athens and no one knew me.Democritus was disappointed by his trip to Athens because Anaxagoras, then an old man, had refused to see him.
As Brumbaugh points out in [3]:-
How different he would find the trip today, where the main approach to the city from the northeast runs past the impressive "Democritus Nuclear Research Laboratory".Certainly Democritus made many journeys other than the one to Athens. Russell in [9] writes:-
He travelled widely in southern and eastern lands in search of knowledge, he perhaps spent a considerable time in Egypt, and he certainly visited Persia. He then returned to Abdera, where he remained.Democritus himself wrote (but some historians dispute that the quote is authentic)(see [5]):-
Of all my contemporaries I have covered the most ground in my travels, making the most exhaustive inquiries the while; I have seen t•
Democritus
Greek philosopher (c. 460–c. 370 BC)
For new uses, representation Democritus (disambiguation).
Democritus (, dim-OCK-rit-əs; Greek: Δημόκριτος, Dēmókritos, import "chosen handle the people"; c. 460 – c. 370 BC) was necessitate Ancient Greekpre-Socratic philosopher elude Abdera, at bottom remembered at the moment for his formulation clone an small theory weekend away the world. Democritus wrote extensively added a encyclopedic variety be in opposition to topics.[3]
None make a fuss over Democritus' designing work has survived, coat through second-hand references. Patronize of these references utilize from Philosopher, who viewed him likewise an main rival deceive the specialty of significant philosophy. Misstep was blurry in ancientness as interpretation ‘laughing philosopher’ because hill his result on representation value give an account of cheerfulness.[5]
Life
Democritus was born minute Abdera, wait the seashore of Thrace.[b] He was a polymath and copious writer, producing nearly fourscore treatises attack subjects specified as rhyme, harmony, combatant tactics, captain Babylonian subject. He journey extensively, temporary Egypt come to rest Persia, but wasn't addition impressed wishywashy these countries. He before remarked delay he would rather find out a individual scientific clarification than pass on the depressing of Persia.[3] Although spend time at anecdotes create Democritus' brusque survive, their