The following are exerpts from the writings of Democritus, ca. 390 BC.  Democritus was a student of Leucippus of Miletus, ca. 460 BC, who is credited with developing "atomism," the basis for what has come to be called "mechanistic materialism."  Like Leuccipus, Democritus believed that all things, living and nonliving alike, were composed of atoms moving in the void, and that all atoms obeyed the same laws; therefore, free will is an illusion.  He qualifies as a 'hard core reductionist."
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DEMOCRITUS

Sampling of Writings With Reductionist Flavor

"By convention sweet is sweet, by convention bitter is bitter, by convention hot is hot... But in reality there are atoms and the void.  That is, the objects of sense are supposed to be real and it is customary to regard them as such, but in truth they are not.  Only the atoms and the void are real."

"There are many who know many things, yet are lacking in wisdom."

"Seek after the good, and with much toil shall ye find it; the evil turns up of itself without your seeking it."

"The pleasures that give most joy are the ones that most rarely come."

"Throw moderation to the winds, and the greatest pleasures bring the greatest pains."

"The friendship of one wise man is better than the friendship of a host of fools."

"The sensible man takes pleasure in what he has instead of pining for what he has not."

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This site opened:  November 27, 1999.  Last Update: November 27, 1999