return to list of latest ideas

Single Idea 20905

[catalogued under 27. Natural Reality / C. Space / 1. Void]

Full Idea

They say that one argument for void is that otherwise local motion (that is, locomotion and growth) would not exist: for there would not seem to be motion if there were no void, for what is full is incapable of receiving anything.

Gist of Idea

Growth and movement would not exist if there were no void to receive them

Source

Democritus (fragments/reports [c.431 BCE], A019), quoted by Aristotle - Physics 213b03

A Reaction

The modern concept of a 'field' seems to have removed the possibility of a genuine 'void'.

Book Reference

Democritus: 'Early Greek Phil VII: Democritus', ed/tr. Laks,A/Most,G [Harvard Loeb 2016], p.101