Full Idea
The seventeenth century revolution reintroduced the classical concept of the atom in somewhat new attire as an essentially mathematical entity whose primary qualities could be precisely quantified as modes or aspects of Euclidean space.
Gist of Idea
The 17th century reintroduced atoms as mathematical modes of Euclidean space
Source
Mark Rowlands (Externalism [2003], Ch.2)
Book Reference
Rowlands,Mark: 'Externalism' [Acumen 2003], p.18
A Reaction
Obviously this very abstract view of atoms didn't last, once they began to identify specific physical atoms, such as oxygen. This view fits in with Newton's use of pure (abstract) points such as the 'centre of gravity'.