Democritus

Democritus was a pre-Socratic Greek philosopher who lived around 460–370 BCE. Known for his formulation of an atomic theory of the universe, Democritus posited that everything is composed of indivisible units called atoms. Although celebrated for his contributions to philosophy and science, later writers in the 15th and 16th centuries accused him of practicing magic, with some even attributing alchemical texts to him. Psellus claimed that Democritus blinded himself in pursuit of the mythical philosopher’s stone, a testament to his relentless quest for knowledge. However, accounts by Hippocrates suggest that Democritus may not have been physically blind but rather metaphorically so, indicating a separation from societal norms and superficial understandings.