Did you know that the ancient Greek philosopher Democritus was once thought to be mad because he laughed at almost everything, and that a most famous doctor invited to cure him found him saner than his fellow citizens?

Democritus was an ancient Greek pre-Socratic philosopher whose name when translated means "chosen of the people". He is primarily remembered today for his formulation of an atomic theory of the universe, and also as the laughing philosopher. Although many anecdotes about Democritus' life survive, their authenticity cannot be verified and modern scholars doubt their accuracy.

Democritus was said to be born in the city of Abdera in Thrace in c. 460, an Ionian colony of Teos. Ancient accounts of his life have claimed that he lived to a very old age, with some writers claiming that he was over a hundred years old at the time of his death. He died in c. 370 BC).

Influenced by his predecessor Leucippus, he championed the theory of atomism. The theory of Democritus held that everything is composed of "atoms," which are physically, but not geometrically, indivisible; that between atoms, there lies empty space; that atoms are indestructible, and have always been and always will be in motion; that there is an infinite number of atoms and of kinds of atoms, which differ in shape and size.

Of the mass of atoms, Democritus said, "The more any indivisible exceeds, the heavier it is." However, his exact position on atomic weight is disputed. His exact contributions are difficult to disentangle from those of his mentor Leucippus, as they are often mentioned together in texts. Their speculation on atoms, taken from Leucippus, bears a passing and partial resemblance to the 19th-century understanding of atomic structure that has led some to regard Democritus as more of a scientist than other Greek philosophers; however, their ideas rested on very different bases.

Democritus, along with Leucippus and Epicurus, proposed the earliest views on the shapes and connectivity of atoms. They reasoned that the solidness of the material corresponded to the shape of the atoms involved. Using analogies from humans' sense experiences, he gave a picture or an image of an atom that distinguished them from each other by their shape, their size, and the arrangement of their parts. Moreover, connections were explained by material links in which single atoms were supplied with attachments: some with hooks and eyes, others with balls and sockets.

Prescient, yes, but it didn’t give much material for artists to work with. Luckily, Democritus was also known as “the laughing philosopher.” As classicist Mary Beard explains in Confronting the Classics: "The most revealing ancient discussion of Democritus’ laughing habit is found in an epistolary novel of Roman date, included among the so-called Letters of Hippocrates – a collection ascribed to the legendary founding father of Greek medicine, but in fact written centuries after his death.

“The fictional exchanges in this novel tell the story of Hippocrates’ encounter with Democritus. In the philosopher’s home city, his compatriots had become concerned at the way he laughed at everything he came across (from funerals to political success) and concluded that he must be mad. So they summoned the most famous doctor in the world to cure him. When Hippocrates arrived, however, he soon discovered that Democritus was saner than his fellow citizens. For he alone had recognised the absurdity of human existence, and was therefore entirely justified in laughing at it.”

Democritus believed laughter could lighten the burdens of life and help us find joy even in difficult situations. Humour can provide a fresh perspective and allow us to approach life with a lightheartedness that brings happiness. He recognised the transformative effects of humour, as it alleviates stress, strengthens social bonds, and deepens our understanding of the world.

In an era of introspection and contemplation, Democritus emerged as a beacon of lightheartedness and joy, offering valuable lessons on navigating the complexities of existence with a smile. He believed that happiness was not an elusive goal to be chased but rather a state of mind that could be cultivated through a deliberate approach to life.

Democritus emphasised that true joy could be found by embracing simplicity, appreciating the natural world’s wonders, and harmonising one’s desires with the reality of existence. His teachings revolved around the notion that we could attain a profound sense of inner peace and contentment by relinquishing attachment to material possessions and external circumstances.

Some later commentators claimed that Democritus’s laughter was a mocking laughter at the follies of human existence. But there may be another reason for Democritus’s laughter. Although the remaining fragments show us that he was capable of sharpness in the face of what he perceived as human folly, they don’t give the sense of him as a philosopher concerned with mockery or disdain. So perhaps there was a sunnier side to Democritus’s laughter. And this sunnier side may lie in his view of ethics.

For Democritus, the root of ethics is a concern with euthymia, which means “possessing a happy spirit,” or “being cheerful.” In fact, Democritus was so preoccupied with this idea of cheerfulness that he wrote a book—now lost—called On Cheerfulness, in which he stared: "The goal of life is cheerfulness (euthymia), which is not the same as pleasure . . . but the state in which the soul continues calmly and stably, disturbed by no fear or superstition or any other emotion." (From A Presocratics Reader, p. 124).

Sources: Wikipedia | JSTOR | Medium | Looking For Wisdom 

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