Single Idea 5882

[catalogued under 15. Nature of Minds / A. Nature of Mind / 2. Psuche]

Full Idea

Since Democritus makes the soul consist of minute smooth round bodies brought together in some sort of accidental collision, let us pass him over.

Gist of Idea

Democritus says soul consists of smooth round bodies brought together in accidental collision

Source

report of Democritus (fragments/reports [c.431 BCE]) by M. Tullius Cicero - Tusculan Disputations I.xi.23

Book Reference

Cicero: 'Tusculan Disputations', ed/tr. King,J.E. [Harvard Loeb 1927], p.29


A Reaction

If we accept that Democritus thought the collision of atoms 'accidental', then it doesn't sound like a very good theory. What would Cicero say if we replaced 'accidental' with 'naturally selected'?