Page 50 - STOLEN LEGACY By George G. M. James

These doctrines will be treated elsewhere, as regards their source and authorship.

(C) The Life and Teachings of Democritus
(1) His Life

Democritus (420–316 B.C.) is said to have been the son of Hegesistratus, and also a native of
Abdera, a city at Miletus, an island in the Aegean. Both Aristotle and Theophrastus have
regarded Leucippus as the founder of atomism, in spite of the fact that his existence is doubted.
Like all the other Greek philosophers, nothing seems to be known about his early life and
training. However he enters history as a magician and sorcerer. (Burnet, op. cit. p. 350; Wm.
Turner's Hist. of Phil. p. 65).

(2) His Doctrines

The name of Democritus has been associated with the following doctrines, summarized as
atomism in his explanation of (i) the nature of the atoms, and their behavior in relation to the
phenomena of (ii) creation (iii) life and death and; (iv) sensation and knowledge.

(i) The Description of the Atom

(a) The world-stuff. The atom is explained as a colorless, transparent and homogeneous powder,
consisting of an infinite number of particles.

(b) Their Qualities: The atom is described as full or solid, invisible, indestructible, un-created
and capable self-motion. The atoms differ in shape, order, position, quantity and weight.

(c) The Identity of the Atom with Reality: Every atom is equivalent to "that which is (i.e. To on);
and the void is equivalent to "that which is not" (i.e., To mē on). Reality is the movement of "that
which is," within that-which is not.

(ii) The Atom in Creation.

Owing to the difference in size, weight and mobility, and in particular to necessity, there is a
resultant motion, by means of which the atoms combine themselves for the formation of the
organic and inorganic worlds.

(iii) The Atoms in the Phenomena of Life and Death.

What we commonly call life and death, are due to a change in the arrangement of the atoms.
When they are arranged in a certain way, life emerges; but when that arrangement is changed to
another way, then death is the result.

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Stolen Legacy: Greek Philosophy is Stolen Egyptian Philosophy by George G. M. James
The Journal of Pan African Studies 2009 eBook