Single Idea 493

[catalogued under 26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 6. Early Matter Theories / g. Atomism]

Full Idea

Sweet exists by convention, bitter by convention, colour by convention; atoms and void alone exist in reality.

Clarification

'Convention' is the Greek word 'nomos', which also translates as 'law'

Gist of Idea

Experiences are merely convention; only atoms and the void are real

Source

Democritus (fragments/reports [c.431 BCE], B009), quoted by Sextus Empiricus - Against the Logicians (two books) 7.135

Book Reference

'Ancilla to the Pre-Socratic Philosophers', ed/tr. Freeman,Kathleen [Harvard 1957], p.93