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| Democritus; His Duality of Principles; His Cosmogony.
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Chapter
XI.—Democritus; His Duality of Principles; His
Cosmogony.
And Democritus96
was an acquaintance of Leucippus. Democritus, son of Damasippus,
a native of Abdera,97
conferring with
many gymnosophists among the Indians, and with priests in Egypt, and
with astrologers and magi in Babylon, (propounded his system).
Now he makes statements similarly with Leucippus concerning elements,
viz., plenitude and vacuum, denominating plenitude entity, and vacuum
nonentity; and this he asserted, since existing things are continually
moved in the vacuum. And he maintained worlds to be infinite, and
varying in bulk; and that in some there is neither sun nor moon, while
in others that they are larger than with us, and with others more
numerous. And that intervals between worlds are unequal; and that
in one quarter of space (worlds) are more numerous, and in another less
so; and that some of them increase in bulk, but that others attain
their full size, while others dwindle away and that in one quarter they
are coming into existence, whilst in another they are failing; and that
they are destroyed by clashing one with another. And that some
worlds are destitute of animals and plants, and every species of
moisture. And that the earth of our world was created before that
of the stars, and that the moon is underneath; next (to it) the sun;
then the fixed stars. And that (neither) the planets nor these
(fixed stars) possess an equal elevation. And that the world
flourishes, until no longer it can receive anything from without.
This (philosopher) turned all things into ridicule, as if all the
concerns of humanity were deserving of laughter.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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