Democritus · Philosophy

Soul, Sense, and Image

Democritus’ thoroughgoing materialism of the mind: the soul itself is made of fine, swift, spherical atoms, and we perceive the world because thin films of atoms (<em>eidôla</em>) stream off objects and strike our senses.

What you'll be able to recall

You learned that Democritus held the soul to be composed of fine, smooth, spherical (fiery) atoms spread through the body, and that perception works by eidôla - thin films of atoms that stream off objects and strike our sense organs. Explain his materialism of soul and perception in your own words.

Leads to Epicurus.

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