The foundations of presocratic atomism

Abstract Why should one believe in the existence of atoms? Nowadays we are inclined to think that only explanatory considerations could justify such a belief; atoms are entities posited in order to explain the phenomena, such as the qualities and changes of visible objects. Of course, such explanations are part and parcel of Presocratic atomism as well, for example where Democritus ascribes certain shapes and sizes to the atoms involved in fire, the soul, or the experience of a bitter taste. But we should not forget that the atomistic theory did not come into being as the result of years of empirical research or even as a bold leap of the scientific imagination. Rather, Democritus believed in atoms because he thought he had a meta physical argument for their existence—an argument which would take into account the impressive arguments of Elea without yielding their devastating conclusions. Thus the foundations of Presocratic atomism were laid.