Single Idea 3357

[catalogued under 9. Objects / B. Unity of Objects / 1. Unifying an Object / b. Unifying aggregates]

Full Idea

Democritus appears to rule out from his austere ontology all so-called emergent entities - even mountains and rivers - on the ground that two or more entities can never combine to produce a new one.

Gist of Idea

Democritus denies reality to large objects, because atomic entities can't combine to produce new ones

Source

comment on Democritus (fragments/reports [c.431 BCE]) by José A. Benardete - Metaphysics: the logical approach Ch.24

Book Reference

Benardete,José A.: 'Metaphysics: The Logical Approach' [OUP 1989], p.193