Democrites of Abdera
Democritus from Abdera (ca 460 BC - ca 370 BC) was an ancient Greek philosopher.
For Democritus, the only true realities were atoms and the void. He believed that atoms are too small to be detected by the senses. They have existed forever and are in constant motion in the void or vacuum. The objects of everyday life are complexes of atoms brought together by random collisions.
He coined the word atomos (ἄτομος), meaning indivisible.
See also
Last modified:10 January 2026 12.17 p.m.