Page:Ferrier Works vol 2 1888 LECTURES IN GREEK PHILOSOPHY.pdf/208



1. and Democritus were the propounders of the Atomic theory of the universe. The Atomic philosophy is founded on the supposition that the ultimate elements of the universe are particles exceedingly minute and absolutely least. By absolutely least is meant small in the last degree—so small that the particle cannot be smaller. Such a degree of smallness is, of course, a fiction, for we cannot conceive anything arrested at a stage at which its quantity cannot be supposed to be diminished. The Atomic philosophers, however, supposed that such an arrestment did take place in nature. They supposed that all things were composed of particles, so little that they could not be less, particles which could not be severed by any force; and these particles they called atoms, using that word to denote their indivisible character.

2. The atom may be further described as that which entirely fills the space which it occupies. You will observe that any aggregate of atoms, any