atomic philosophy
Preserved but no longer current.
The hypothesis of Leucippus, Democntus, and Epicurus, that the world is composed of a concourse of atoms, or particles of matter so minute as to be incapable of further diminution. Cp. CORPUSCULAR PHILOSOPHY.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “atomic philosophy” mean?
The hypothesis of Leucippus, Democntus, and Epicurus, that the world is composed of a concourse of atoms, or particles of matter so minute as to be incapable of further diminution. Cp. CORPUSCULAR PHILOSOPHY.
Is “atomic philosophy” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.