The Theory of Atoms

Abstract

THE brilliant achievements of Hellenic genius in literature, art, politics, philosophy and mathematics have cast a reflected glory upon those Greek theories which may be considered as lying within the province of natural science. This refulgence is apt to tire our mental retina, and we are perhaps too prone to assume an inherent luminosity where, in point of fact, none exists. There is a tendency easily comprehensible but nevertheless entirely illogical to imagine that, since the Greeks excelled in philosophy, a similar excellence is to be found in their scientific attitude and theories. It was, however, long ago pointed out by Whewell that “as soon as they had introduced into their philosophy any abstract and general conceptions, they proceeded to scrutinise these by the internal light of the mind alone, without any longer looking abroad into the world of sense. They ought to have reformed and fixed their usual conceptions by observation; they only analysed and expanded them by reflection.” Without going so far as to agree with his conclusion that “the whole mass of Greek philosophy therefore shrinks into an almost imperceptible compass when viewed with reference to the progress of physical knowledge,” we may yet admit the general truth of his criticism; and we should take especial care not to read into the ancient theories conceptions which are essentially modern.

The Greek Atomists and Epicurus: a Study.

By Cyril Bailey. Pp. ix + 619. (Oxford: Clarendon Press; London: Oxford University Press, 1928.) 24s. net.