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Which three features distinguish atomism in the strict sense?
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Atomism
Epicurus, bronze bust from a Greek original, c. 280â270 bce; in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Naples.
In the context of philosophy, atomism in the strict sense is defined by three specific features that distinguish it from other variations of the doctrine:1
- Absolute Indivisibility: The atoms are considered fundamentally indivisible, meaning they cannot be broken down into smaller components.12
- Qualitative Identity: Atoms are qualitatively identical to one another, differing only in their physical properties such as shape, size, and motion.12
- Juxtaposition: Atoms combine with one another solely through the process of juxtaposition, rather than through internal qualitative changes.1
These characteristics form the basis of the analytical doctrine, which explains the properties of observable wholes by the configurations and motions of these underlying, unchanging components.1