Main Points of Democritus Theory of Reality - Assignment Example

The Democritus theory of reality posits that atoms consist of an indivisible number of units. Additionally, atoms have different shapes and sizes but lack quality. The only qualities of an atom include solidity and impenetrability. Atoms are infinite in number thus they move in the void. The concept of the void is very interesting because it has attracted mixed interpretations. According to Parmenides, there is no reality of space. On the other hand, Pythagoreans acknowledged the idea that the void keeps units apart. However, they noted that the void was the atmospheric air. Democritus’ theory of reality affirms that space is not real and that it does not exist. In fact, the theory posits that “what is not” is real just like “what is.” Space or void is as real as the body. One important point about Democritus' theory of reality is that space or void is not corporeal.    

            The other major point of Democritus' theory of reality is that there is no place for immortality. According to the philosophy of atomism, the life of an animal or a human being only exists when atoms exist and operate collectively in the form of a body. It implies that the destruction of the body ultimately destroys the soul. For this reason, the soul cannot survive when the body has been destroyed. The reason is that the destruction of the body results in the atoms getting scattered. Democritus cautions that atoms do not cease to be because no atom can neither come into being nor pass away. Instead, atoms cannot survive individually because they become inert when they are separated from each other.

            About the idea of atomism and soul, Democritus' theory of reality posits that animals and humans are not different from other composite bodies. The popular belief is that humans are different from rocks because humans can move and think. However, Democritus posits that thinking is a special way of humans being alive as well as an animal. The common feature of humans and rocks is that they both have bodies composed of atoms. It is these atoms that are responsible for the mobility of humans and the immobility of rocks.        

Criticism of the Philosophy of Democritus

            The reality of 'space' received numerous criticisms, but Aristotle was the main critic of the philosophy of Democritus. Aristotle never believed that 'space' could exist because it was nothing. Consequently, Aristotle believed that atoms couldn't move into 'empty space'. A host of other philosophers also asked how atoms connected to each other because Democritus never explained what held these atoms together.