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Democritus, Atomic Theory > 
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. Although little is known of his life, quite a lot is known of his physics and philosophy. There are two main sources for our knowledge of his of physical and philosophical theories. Firstly Aristotle discusses Democritus's ideas thoroughly because he strongly disagreed with his ideas of atomism. The second source is in the work of Epicurus but, in contrast to Aristotle, Epicurus is a strong believer in Democritus's atomic theory. This work of Epicurus is preserved by Diogenes Laertius in his second century AD book.
Certainly Democritus was not the first to propose an atomic theory. His teacher Leucippus had proposed an atomic system, as had Anaxagoras of Clazomenae. In fact traces of an atomic theory go back further than this, perhaps to the Pythagorean notion of the regular solids playing a fundamental role in the makeup of the universe. However Democritus produced a much more elaborate and systematic view of the physical world than had any of his predecessors.
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More on this Website >
• http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.a ... ians/Democritus.html
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democritus • Edit
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Aristotle, Greek Philosopher
He studied (367-347 B.C.) under Plato and later (342-339 B.C.) tutored Alexander the Great at the Macedonian court. In 335 B.C. he opened a school in the Athenian Lyceum.... |
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Epicurus, Pleasure is the Highest Good
Epicurus was born in the Greek colony on Samos, but spent most of his active life in Athens, where he founded yet another school of philosophy. At "the Garden," Epicurus... |
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John Dalton, First Useful Atomic Theory
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J. J. Thomson, Discovers the Electron, 1897
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Max Planck, Inventor of Quantum Theory
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Rutherford, Father of Nuclear Physics
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Albert Einstein, Relativity Theory - 1905
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Niels Bohr, Quantum Theory of Matter
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Harry Truman, 33rd President USA
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AtomicArchive.com
Explore the History of the Atomic Bomb: atomic bomb, atomic, nuclear, weapons, nuclear weapons,Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Trinity Test, Oppenheimer, Fermi, Szilard, atoms, nuc... |
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Werner Heisenberg, Uncertainty Principle
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Hirohito, 124th Emperor of Japan
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Oppenheimer, Inventor Atomic Bomb
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Richard P. Feynman
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World War 2, WW2
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Kim Jong-il, Leader of North Korea
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Atom Bomb on Hiroshima, WW2
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Chernobyl, Nuclear Power Accident
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