Miletan Leucippus (flourished c. 475 BC) was an Ionian Greek, born sometime after 500 BC somewhere in western Turkey or the islands of Aegean Sea. He was the founder of the atomic doctrine of matter. That theory has had a wide influence in both ancient and modern times.
Early atomism is often viewed as a reaction to the views of the Eleatics. It has been associated with the aptitude towards the world known sometimes as ‘philosophic meterialism’.
Leucippus, the first scientist to develop a complete theory for a universe based on the existence of an infinite number of atoms. Leucippus influences generations of physicist and chemists in their search to understand the basic structure the infinitesimal particles of the universe.
Democritus, born c. 460 was his student. It is likely that Leucippus proposed the atomic theory in the decade 440 - 430, His principal work was called
The Great World System.
Miletan Leucippus
