Full Idea
It is clear that Democritus had no idea of laws of nature …for in Greek thought regularity of behaviour is associated with design by an intellect.
Gist of Idea
Greeks explained regularity by intellectual design, not by laws
Source
report of Democritus (fragments/reports [c.431 BCE]) by Michael Frede - A Free Will Intro
Book Reference
Frede,Michael: 'A Free Will' [Univ of California 2011], p.13
A Reaction
Ah. A simple realisation…! Seventeenth century laws of nature offered an explanation of natural order which didn't rely on God. Even though those scientists were all theists.