Atomism
English Meaning
The doctrine of atoms. See Atomic philosophy, under Atomic.
- Philosophy The ancient theory of Democritus, Epicurus, and Lucretius, according to which simple, minute, indivisible, and indestructible particles are the basic components of the entire universe.
- Philosophy A theory according to which social institutions, values, and processes arise solely from the acts and interests of individuals, who thus constitute the only true subject of analysis.