What is Leucippus?
{{Infobox philosopher |region = Western Philosophy |era = [[Pre-Socratic philosophy]] |image = Pinacoteca Querini Stampalia - Leucippus - Luca Giordano.jpg |caption = Leucippus |name = Leucippus |birth_date = Early 5th century BC |birth_place =[[Abdera, Thrace|Abdera]] or [[Miletus]] |death_date = 5th century BC |school_tradition = [[Pre-Socratic philosophy]]; [[Materialism]] |main_interests = [[Metaphysics]] |notable_ideas = [[Atomic theory|Atomism]] |influences = [[Zeno of Elea]] |influenced = [[Democritus]]}} '''Leucippus''' or '''Leukippos''' ({{lang-grc|Λεύκιππος}}, first half of 5th century [[Before Christ|BC]]) was a Greek philosopher. He was an early philosopher of [[atomic theory|atomism]], the idea that everything is made up of many tiny things which always continue to exist, which he called [[Atom|Atoms]].<ref>Wheelwright P. 1966. ''The Presocratics''. Odyssey Press, p177.</ref> Leucippus was born at [[Miletus]] or [[Abdera, Thrace|Abdera]],<ref>''The Cambridge Companion to Early Greek Philosophy'', pg. xxiii. Some said Leucippus was from [[Elea]], for his philosophy is associated with the [[Eleatics|Eleatic philosophers]]</ref> although apparently [[Epicurus]] said he never existed.<ref>According to [[Epicurus]], as reported in [[Diogenes Laertius]]' ''Life of Epicurus''.</ref> There has long been a [[controversy]] about this. Leucippus may have been the first person to suggest the idea of empty space (a [[vacuum]]). It is difficult to know which ideas come from him, and which come from [[Democritus]]. == References == {{reflist}} {{Presocratics}} {{Authority control}} [[Category:Presocratic philosophers]] [[Category:5th-century BC births]] [[Category:5th-century BC deaths]] {{bio-stub}}