Full Idea
They say that being does not exist more than non-being, because neither does the void exist more than the body.
Gist of Idea
Being does not exist more than non-being
Source
report of Democritus (fragments/reports [c.431 BCE], A006) by Aristotle - Metaphysics 0985b09
Book Reference
Democritus: 'Early Greek Phil VII: Democritus', ed/tr. Laks,A/Most,G [Harvard Loeb 2016], p.93
A Reaction
The claim that Being and Non-Being are the same thing is pretty startling. It seems to be an expedient to get Void into the picture, even though it is taken to be wholly devoid of qualities.
Related Ideas
Idea 20901 True Being only occurs when it is completely full, with atoms and no void [Democritus, by Aristotle]
Idea 20900 Defenders of the One say motion needs the void - but that is not part of Being [Parmenides, by Aristotle]