Democritus
Awards & Honours
0
Awards Won
5
Honours
3
Rankings
3
Covers
2
Records
Democritus is consistently ranked among the most important pre-Socratic philosophers. He is credited as a father of modern science by many historians. His atomic theory, though not experimentally verified until millennia later, laid the groundwork for all subsequent materialist philosophy and eventually for modern chemistry and physics. The Democritus University of Thrace, a crater on the Moon, and an asteroid bear his name.
Honours & Distinctions
Bronze Statue in Abdera
Erected in his honor in antiquity.
Laughing Philosopher Epithet
Enduring nickname for his cheerful disposition.
Democritus University of Thrace
University named after him.
Democritus Crater (Moon)
Lunar crater named in his honor.
Asteroid 6129 Democritus
Main-belt asteroid named after him.
Rankings & Lists
Most Influential Philosophers of All Time
Greatest Scientists of the Ancient World
The 100 Most Influential Figures in History
Magazine Covers
Philosophy Now
2019-01-01
Pre-Socratics Issue
Scientific American
2008-08-01
Atomic Theory History
History Today
2015-03-01
Ancient Greek Science
Records & Feats
First to propose atomic theory of matter
Democritus was the first known thinker to assert that everything is composed of invisible, indestructible particles called atoms moving in a void.
Authored over 70 works, all lost
Diogenes Laërtius catalogued more than 70 works by Democritus, none of which survive in full.