Single Idea 5696

[catalogued under 27. Natural Reality / A. Classical Physics / 1. Mechanics / a. Explaining movement]

Full Idea

We see movement everywhere, but if there were no empty space, things would be denied the power of movement - or rather, they could not possibly have come into existence, embedded as they would have been in motionless matter.

Gist of Idea

If there were no space there could be no movement, or even creation

Source

Lucretius (On the Nature of the Universe [c.60 BCE], I.342)

Book Reference

Lucretius: 'On the Nature of the Universe', ed/tr. Latham,Ronald [Penguin 1951], p.37


A Reaction

This still seems a good argument, if reality is made of particles. People can move in a crowd until it becomes too dense.