Talk:Democritus

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I am hesitant to update this page, but there are some grammatical issues that make reading it difficult, a source for the void thing would be awesome as I am currently in a course which looks at primary sources of astronomical thought. I will add a milky way quotation.. --[user:smkatz|Sam]

-- Would it just be a matter of translating the Dutch page, or is there an existing English document that just needs proofing? --[user:epsas|Epsas]

-- I've made a few changes in sentence structure (mostly dealing with tense or plurality) and I've made an approximation of Democritus's Greek spelling. If anyone can confirm or correct my estimation, I would appreciate it.Comrade42 04:02, 8 April 2006 (UTC)

I think I've found a source that confirms my approximation: http://www.geocities.com/lucretius5978/biography/democritus.html So it seems that it isn't necessary to go out of the way to check up on my spelling. Comrade42 04:05, 8 April 2006 (UTC)

Contents 1 Osthanes 2 Last Paragraph Appropriate? 3 Leucippus and Democritus 4 ? Democritus ? 5 Hooked atoms

[edit] Osthanes

An anon removed mention of Osthanes from this article. The only references I could find in a quick search to a relationship between the two is in the works of Henry Cornelius Agrippa, who (though fascinating) is not exactly an encyclopedic source. Does anyone have anything else on this relationship? --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 14:45, 30 July 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Last Paragraph Appropriate?

"Democritus is said to have had a happy disposition, and is sometimes referred to as the "laughing philosopher," as opposed to Heraclitus, who is known as the "weeping philosopher." In the Divine Comedy Dante sees the shade of Heraclitus in Limbo with those of other classical philosophers."

Is it relevant to an article on Democritus that Heraclitus is in Limbo in Dante's Divine Comedy? I shamefully must admit that I have not read Dante's Divine Comedy. Is Democritus mentioned there as well? If he is, I propose we amend the text to state that he sees the shade of Democritus. If not, I propose that this last bit be moved to Heraclitus' article if it is not present there already.

I agree that the last sentence of that paragraph is unnecessary, but we need to keep the first sentence. Jxn 21:26, 2 November 2005 (UTC)

No, Democritus is not seen in Limbo, although it is logical that he be there. Perhaps he was napping at the time.

[edit] Leucippus and Democritus

on the Leucippus page it says that the only surviving writing is "Nothing occurs at random, but everything occurs for a reason and by necessity." On this page it says that Democritus said this.

Huh. That can't be right. Best check the citations. I'm more inclined to believe that Leucippus said it, although it's possible that Democritus took the saying from his teacher and used it himself. T. S. Rice 01:14, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

wwww

[edit]  ? Democritus ?

Does anyone know Democritus's first name? (or can even give a guess?) In all the sources I have looked in, I have not found any refrence to him even having a first name. --69.251.94.183 02:27, 16 November 2006 (UTC)

Democritus IS his first name. All the ancient philosophers are called by their first name.

[edit] Hooked atoms

Hi! I'm helping in history of the molecule and have added some references to Democritus fragmenta about atoms connecting through their hooks. But I'm using a French edition and have no official English translation. Does anyone have an English edition and can give the translation of fragments DK 68 A 80, DK 68 A 37 and DK 68 A 43? Thanks, Benio76 15:11, 7 February 2007 (UTC)