Microcosmology Atom in Jain Philosophy and Modern Science

Author(s): Jethalal S Zaveri, Mahendramuni
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati

Page 26

Microcosmology : Atom The atoms of Democritus were purely passive and intrinsically dead particles moving in the void. They were all of the same substance but had different sizes and shapes. Each atom was eternally unchanging and, in fact, a Parmenidean one. Each atom was impenetrable and indivisible, because it contained no void. Between atoms there was empty space or void through which they could move, collide with each other and occupy different positions, and may combine with each other sometimes, according to some natural laws. But they had no other physical properties. They had neither colour, nor smell, nor taste. The properties of matter which we perceive by our senses were supposed to be produced by the movements and positions of the atoms in space.
Democritus is quoted to have said: "A thing merely appears to have colour, it merely appears to be sweet or bitter. Only atoms and empty space have a real existence".
The basic ideas of atomic theory were taken over and modified in part by the later Greek philosophers. Epicurus (342-270 B.C.) followed Democritus in believing that the world consisted of atoms and void, but he did not believe, as Democritus did, that atoms were at all times completely controlled by natural laws.
Plato (428-348 B.C.) who was not an atomist himself combined ideas that were near to atomism with the doctrines of the Pythagorean school and the teachings of Empe
edocles. Pythagoreans had established the connection between religion and mathematics which ever since has exerted the strongest influence on human thought. There was also much mysticism in the doctrines of the Pythagorean school which for us is difficult to understand. But by making 'mathematics a part of their religion, they touched upon an essential point in the development of human thinking.
Plato knew of the discovery of the regular solids made by the Pythagoreans and of the possibility of combining them with the elements of Empedocles. He compared the smallest part of the element earth with the cube, of air with the octahedron, of fire with the tetrahedron and of water with the icosehedron and so on. The common characteristics of the regular solids which