Democritus on social and psychological harm

Abstract

One might take the view that at least within some general areas of philosophical thought, Democritus did take a systematic line. It seems clear that, despite various particular difficulties of reconstruction or interpretation, Democritus’ physics and epistemology were intended to form a coherent body of thought. Democritus can be offered a coherent and consistent account of the effects of crime and other forms of harm and their social and political importance. This chapter suggests in turn a tantalising clue to a possible interconnection between Democritus’ ethical and political thoughts and his psychological theories and the famous doctrine of atomic emanations, or eidola . Democritus cites the presence of ‘ancestral laws’ as support for his recommendation. Democritus was able to offer a physical, atomist account of the mechanism of interpersonal psychic harm. Keywords: Democritus; eidola ; psychological harm; social harm