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How does philosophical atomism explain complex forms found in nature?

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Bronze bust of Epicurus with a full beard and draped clothing, displayed on a round inscribed base at the National Archaeological Museum of Naples. — Atomism Epicurus, bronze bust from a Greek original, c. 280–270 bce; in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Naples.

Philosophical atomism explains the complex forms found in nature by viewing them as aggregates of minute, relatively simple, and immutable particles. Rather than treating observable objects as intrinsic wholes, this doctrine posits that the properties of a complex form are derived from the characteristics of its components and their specific configurations.12

In strict atomism, such as that proposed by Democritus, all qualitative differences in nature are reduced to quantitative differences—specifically the size, shape, and motion of atoms. Observable changes are explained as the rearrangement of these atoms within a void, while the atoms themselves remain unchanged.31

Modern atomic theory has evolved this perspective. While it still seeks to explain complex structures through elementary factors, it has moved beyond the concept of simple juxtaposition. Modern structures are often characterized by internal relationships where interacting entities form new entities, effectively bridging the gap between traditional atomistic and holistic thought.4