PHYSICIST

Life
Ancient philosopher, founder of the atomic theory. His birthplace is variously given as Miletus, Abdera and Elea. The Epicureans doubted his existence. Aristotle records that there was no essential difference between the teachings of Leucippus and those of his disciple Democritus. The powerful personality of the latter appears to overshadowed the former, and the disciple has remained famous while the master is forgotten.

Leucippus lived in the 5th century BC and was a contemporary of Empedocles and Anaxagoras. He is credited with two treatises, the "Great World System" (Megas Diakosmos), the fundamental textbook of the atomist school, and the "On the mind". While nothing definite is known of the second, a short account of the first has survived.