Concept
Corpuscularianism
Overview
Corpuscularianism, also known as corpuscularism (from Latin corpusculum 'little body' and -ism), is a set of theories that explain natural transformations as a result of the interaction of particles (minima naturalia, partes exiles, partes parvae, particulae, and semina). It differs from atomism in that corpuscles are usually endowed with a property of their own and are further divisible, while atoms are neither. Although often associated with the emergence of early modern mechanical philosophy, and especially with the names of Thomas Hobbes, René Descartes, Pierre Gassendi, Robert Boyle, Isaac Newton, and John Locke, corpuscularian theories can be found throughout the history of Western philosophy.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).
Possible passages
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But in the sense of common people, not all the Universe is called Body, but only such parts thereof as they can discern by the sense of Feeling, to resist their force, or by the sense of their Eyes, to hinder them from a farther prospect. Therefore in the common language of men, Aire, and Aeriall Substances, use not to be taken for Bodies, but (as often as men are sensible of their effects) are called Wind, or…
Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan
States what Corpuscularianism is; the author is tied to Corpuscularianism in the knowledge graph.
So also in speaking, the thing understood or named is called hypostasis, in respect of the name; so also a body coloured is the hypostasis, substance and subject of the colour; and in like manner of all its other accidents. Essence and all other abstract names, are words artificial belonging to the art of logic, and signify only the manner how we consider the substance itself. And of this I have spoken sufficiently…
Thomas Hobbes, The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury, Volume 04
States what Corpuscularianism is; the author is tied to Corpuscularianism in the knowledge graph.
Hence arose the belief that there was more substance or body in rocks and metals than in air or water, because the mind perceived in them more hardness and weight.
René Descartes, Selections from the Principles of Philosophy
The author is tied to Corpuscularianism in the knowledge graph.
Philosophers who discussed Corpuscularianism
Related ideas
- General relativity
- Western philosophy
- Isaac Newton
- John Locke
- Meteorology (Aristotle)
- Leviathan (Hobbes book)
- Pierre Gassendi
- -ism
- Newton's law of universal gravitation
- René Descartes
- The Sceptical Chymist
- Thomas Hobbes
- Aristotle
- Aristotelianism
- Wave–particle duality
- Wave
- Mechanism (philosophy)
- Christiaan Huygens
- Robert Boyle
- Action at a distance
- Alchemy
- Atomism
- Classical element
- Empedocles
Place in the tradition
Part of Atomism.