Atoms Quote by Sextus Empiricus
“Democritus sometimes does away with what appears to the senses, and says that none of these appears according to truth but only according to opinion: the truth in real things is that there are atoms and void. 'By convention sweet', he says, 'by convention bitter, by convention hot, by convention cold, by convention colour: but in reality atoms and void.'”
About This Quote
Source Treatise: Outlines of Skepticism, 2nd century CE
Sensory experiences are subjective; true reality consists of atoms and void beyond perception.
In simple terms: Our senses deceive; reality is atoms and empty space.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions about sensory truth.
Themes
philosophy
skepticism
metaphysics
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
skeptical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- science education
- philosophy classes
- critical thinking debates
Key Concepts
atomism
empiricism
Questions to Reflect On
- What do we accept as true without proof?
- How do conventions shape our perception?
A Different Perspective
Sensory evidence may still be useful despite its limits.
![“[Decoding the human genome sequence] is the most significant undertaking that we have mounted so far in an organized way in all of science. I believe that reading our blueprints, cataloguing our own instruction book, will be judged by history as more significant than even splitting the atom or…” quote by Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5c6/francis-collins-5281_atoms_decoding-the-human-genome-sequence-is-th_15604.jpg)
