Leucippus
5th-century BCE Greek philosopher
Leucippus or Leukippos (Ancient Greek: Λεύκιππος, first half of 5th century BC) was a Greek philosopher. He was an early philosopher of atomism, the idea that everything is made up of many tiny things which always continue to exist, which he called Atoms.[1]
Leucippus | |
|---|---|
 Leucippus | |
| Born | Early 5th century BC |
| Died | 5th century BC |
| Era | Pre-Socratic philosophy |
| Region | Western Philosophy |
| School | Pre-Socratic philosophy; Materialism |
Main interests | Metaphysics |
Notable ideas | Atomism |
Influences | |
Influenced | |
Leucippus was born at Miletus or Abdera,[2] although apparently Epicurus said he never existed.[3] There has long been a controversy about this.
Leucippus may have been the first person to suggest the idea of empty space (a vacuum). It is difficult to know which ideas come from him, and which come from Democritus.
References
change- ↑ Wheelwright P. 1966. The Presocratics. Odyssey Press, p177.
- ↑ The Cambridge Companion to Early Greek Philosophy, pg. xxiii. Some said Leucippus was from Elea, for his philosophy is associated with the Eleatic philosophers
- ↑ According to Epicurus, as reported in Diogenes Laertius' Life of Epicurus.
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