History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps HoP 482 Indivisible, Under God: the Revival of Atomism
Dec 14, 2025
Discover the revival of ancient atomism in the 17th century and its pivotal role in modern science. Explore how thinkers like Sébastian Basso and Pierre Gassendi challenged Aristotle's elemental theories. Basso’s indivisible atoms contrasted sharply with Descartes' divisible particles. Gassendi blended Epicurean philosophy with atomism, defending concepts like void and divine guidance. The podcast also delves into the theological implications of atomism and its reconciliation with Christian doctrine. Ready for a philosophical journey?
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Atomism Replaces Substantial Forms
- Early 17th-century critics rejected Aristotelian substantial forms and proposed atomistic alternatives rooted in ancient sources.
- Sébastien Basso and others revived particle theories to explain phenomena like evaporation via shaped elemental atoms.
Basso’s Story Of Puddles And Sparks
- Basso explains evaporation as fire particles entering water and water atoms clustering around them to form vapor corpuscles.
- He says vapor droplets are tiny sparks of fire encased in watery sheaths that rise until the water squeezes the fire out as rain.
Corpuscles Versus True Atoms
- Not all anti-Aristotelians agreed: corpuscularians (like Descartes) saw particles as divisible extensions while atomists posited indivisible atoms.
- Basso's atoms remain indivisible but he still keeps Aristotelian element categories and denies void.
