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Démocrite d’Abdère , né vers 460 av. J.-C. à Abdère et mort en 370 av. J.-C., est un philosophe grec considéré comme un philosophe matérialiste en raison de sa conception d'un Univers constitué d'atomes et de vide.

Il a été un disciple de Leucippe, le fondateur de l'atomisme ; Diogène Laërce attribua injustement l'ouvrage de Démocrite à propos de l'atomisme à Épicure. Ses contributions exactes sont difficiles à démêler de celles de son mentor Leucippe, car ils sont souvent mentionnés ensemble dans les textes des doxographes. Leurs spéculations sur les atomes se rapprochent de la compréhension du XIXe siècle de la structure atomique qui a conduit certains à considérer Démocrite comme le plus scientifique des philosophes grecs, mais leurs idées reposaient sur des bases très différentes. Largement ignoré dans l'Athènes antique, Démocrite était pourtant bien connu de son compatriote Aristote. Platon, lui, aurait tellement détesté Démocrite qu'il a souhaité que tous ses livres fussent brûlés. Aujourd'hui, beaucoup considèrent Démocrite comme le « père de la science moderne ».

Le concept de Démocrite, écrit en grec antique « η ιδέα ά-τομος » se traduirait par « E idéa atomos », composé de « idée » et de « insécable » ou « inséqué ». Mais « ά-τομος », un adjectif accordé en genre et en nombre, peut être traduit par « non-coupé » ou « non-sécable », plutôt que par « atome » en tant que substantif du genre neutre au sens moderne. Le substantif « atome » est apparu plus tard avec le sens de « partie de matière indivisible », chez Aristote, dans le Nouveau Testament, etc. Ce sont les physiciens modernes qui ont conçu « un atome » petit, corpusculaire, et nommé ainsi parce qu'initialement supposé par erreur « insécable . En 2015, le mot « το άτομο » , substantif neutre, signifie surtout, très communément, en Grèce : « individu, personne », ce qui est non seulement logique, mais d’une importance capitale pour notre sujet.

Il est souvent classé parmi les présocratiques du point de vue philosophique, bien qu'il soit un peu plus jeune que Socrate, et qu'il soit mort quelque trente années après lui.

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Démocrite Citations

“La terre toute entière s'ouvre à l'homme sage, car l'univers entier est la patrie de l'âme de valeur.”

Démocrite

Citation rapportée

univers , hommes , âme

“La parole est l'ombre de l'action.”

Démocrite

Thrasyle affirme que ce mot est de Démocrite ; et que ce dernier prétendait qu'un philosophe ressemble à un athlète.
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Démocrite: Citations en anglais

“Repentance for one's evil deeds is the safeguard of life.”

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Democritus

Source Book in Ancient Philosophy (1907), The Golden Sayings of Democritus

“In fact we do not know anything infallibly, but only that which changes according to the condition of our body and of the [influences] that reach and impinge upon it.”

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Democritus

Source Book in Ancient Philosophy (1907), The Fragments

“It is better to correct your own faults than those of another.”

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Democritus

Source Book in Ancient Philosophy (1907), The Golden Sayings of Democritus

“Now, that we do not really know of what sort each thing is, or is not, has often been shown.”

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Democritus

Source Book in Ancient Philosophy (1907), The Fragments

“And yet it will be obvious that it is difficult to really know of what sort each thing is.”

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Democritus

Source Book in Ancient Philosophy (1907), The Fragments

“Of practical wisdom these are the three fruits: to deliberate well, to speak to the point, to do what is right.”

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Democritus

Source Book in Ancient Philosophy (1907), The Fragments

“Many much-learned men have no intelligence.”

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Democritus

Freeman (1948), p. 152 [Democr. "Fragment B 64" http://remacle.org/bloodwolf/philosophes/democrite/diels.htm ("Demokrates 29" in Stobaeus, Anthologium III, 4, 81)]
Variante: There are many who know many things, yet are lacking in wisdom.

“Now his principal doctrines were these. That atoms and the vacuum were the beginning of the universe; and that everything else existed only in opinion. (trans. Yonge 1853)”

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Democritus

The first principles of the universe are atoms and empty space; everything else is merely thought to exist. (trans. by Robert Drew Hicks 1925)

“There are two forms of knowledge, one genuine, one obscure. To the obscure belong all of the following: sight, hearing, smell, taste, feeling. The other form is the genuine, and is quite distinct from this. [And then distinguishing the genuine from the obscure, he continues:] Whenever the obscure [way of knowing] has reached the minimum sensibile of hearing, smell, taste, and touch, and when the investigation must be carried farther into that which is still finer, then arises the genuine way of knowing, which has a finer organ of thought.”

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Democritus

Source Book in Ancient Philosophy (1907), The Fragments

“Coition is a slight attack of apoplexy. For man gushes forth from man, and is separated by being torn apart with a kind of blow.”

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Democritus

Freeman (1948), p. 150

“Fortune is lavish with her favors, but not to be depended on. Nature on the other hand is self-sufficing, and therefore with her feebler but trustworthy [resources] she wins the greater [meed] of hope.”

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Democritus

Source Book in Ancient Philosophy (1907), The Golden Sayings of Democritus

“We know nothing accurately in reality, but [only] as it changes according to the bodily condition, and the constitution of those things that flow upon [the body] and impinge upon it.”

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Democritus

Freeman (1948), p. 142

“Tis not in strength of body nor in gold that men find happiness, but in uprightness and in fulness of understanding.”

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Democritus

Source Book in Ancient Philosophy (1907), The Golden Sayings of Democritus

“We ought to regard the interests of the state as of far greater moment than all else, in order that they may be administered well; and we ought not to engage in eager rivalry in despite of equity, nor arrogate to ourselves any power contrary to the common welfare. For a state well administered is our greatest safeguard. In this all is summed up: When the state is in a healthy condition all things prosper; when it is corrupt, all things go to ruin.”

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Democritus

Source Book in Ancient Philosophy (1907), The Golden Sayings of Democritus

“Man should know from this rule that he is cut off from truth.”

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Democritus

Source Book in Ancient Philosophy (1907), The Fragments

“The enmity of one's kindred is far more bitter than the enmity of strangers.”

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Democritus

Source Book in Ancient Philosophy (1907), The Golden Sayings of Democritus

“One should emulate works and deeds of virtue, not arguments about it.”

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Democritus

Source Book in Ancient Philosophy (1907), The Golden Sayings of Democritus

“Men have made an idol of luck as an excuse for their own thoughtlessness. Luck seldom measures swords with wisdom. Most things in life quick wit and sharp vision can set right.”

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Democritus

Source Book in Ancient Philosophy (1907), The Golden Sayings of Democritus

“The man who is fortunate in his choice of son-in-law gains a son; the man unfortunate in his choice loses his daughter also.”

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Democritus

Freeman (1948), p. 169

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