Single Idea 20902

[catalogued under 7. Existence / A. Nature of Existence / 3. Being / d. Non-being]

Full Idea

They say that being does not exist more than non-being, because neither does the void exist more than the body.

Gist of Idea

Being does not exist more than non-being

Source

report of Democritus (fragments/reports [c.431 BCE], A006) by Aristotle - Metaphysics 0985b09

Book Reference

Democritus: 'Early Greek Phil VII: Democritus', ed/tr. Laks,A/Most,G [Harvard Loeb 2016], p.93


A Reaction

The claim that Being and Non-Being are the same thing is pretty startling. It seems to be an expedient to get Void into the picture, even though it is taken to be wholly devoid of qualities.

Related Ideas

Idea 20901 True Being only occurs when it is completely full, with atoms and no void [Democritus, by Aristotle]

Idea 20900 Defenders of the One say motion needs the void - but that is not part of Being [Parmenides, by Aristotle]