14 Facts About Atomism

Atomism is a natural philosophy proposing that the physical universe is composed of fundamental indivisible components known as atoms.

Atomism stands in contrast to a substance theory wherein a prime material continuum remains qualitatively invariant under division.

Atomism believed all existence to be a single, all-encompassing and unchanging mass, and that change and motion were mere illusions.

Atomism explicitly rejected sensory experience as the path to an understanding of the universe and instead used purely abstract reasoning.

Atomism believed there is no such thing as void, equating it with non-being.

Atomism wrote all that is must be an indivisible unity, for if it were manifold, then there would have to be a void that could divide it.

Atomism believed change was real, and if it was not then at least the illusion had to be explained.

Atomism thus supported the concept of void, and stated that the universe is made up of many Parmenidean entities that move around in the void.

Atomism argued that atoms just crashing into other atoms could never produce the beauty and form of the world.

Atomism's text is known as Kanada Sutras, or Aphorisms of Kanada.

Atomism utilized a theory of atomism as a partial replacement, but he was never unequivocally committed to it.

Atomism was particularly intrigued by the Greek atomists, so he set out to "purify" atomism from its heretical and atheistic philosophical conclusions.

Atomism noticed that distilled water everywhere analyzed to the same elements, hydrogen and oxygen.

Atomism described atomic theory as a 'Thoroughly materialistic bit of joiners work'.