[Footnote 18: _De Caelo_, iii, 4; _Generatio et Corruptio_, i, 21; and elsewhere.] [Footnote 19: _Academica_, ii, 38, 121.] [Footnote 20: Rougier, Louis, “Philosophy and the New Physics,” Pages 7-8, London, 1922.] [Footnote 21: Burnet, Dr. John, _Op. cit._, Page 153; and Note 2, Page 113. Dr. Burnet is Professor of Greek at St. Andrews University, Scotland.] [Footnote 22: Zeller, _Op. cit._, Vol. II, Page 253.] CHAPTER IV EPICURUS AND LUCRETIUS ATOMS NOT INFINITE IN VARIETY Epicurus (341-270 B. C.) agreed with Democritus in assuming that the atoms are infinite in number, but he denied that they were infinitely various in shape, though their variety of form was conceded to be very great, some smooth and round--like the soul atoms and those of fire--some rough and pointed, others again branched or hooked. While the number of forms is limited, there is an unlimited number of each form. None of these variously formed atoms was ever created, and none can ever be either created or destroyed. “Out of nothing, nothing comes.” MANY INHABITED WORLDS Since space is infinite in extent and the atoms infinite in number as well as varied in shape and weights, there must also be innumerable inhabited worlds (as asserted by Democritus), displaying the greatest diversity; yet some of them may nevertheless be exactly alike, since like causes acting upon like bodies or complexes must inevitably produce like effects. Metrodorus, of Chios, declared that “a single ear of corn on a wide-spreading champaign would not be more wonderful than a single cosmos in the infinitude of space.” MAN’S GREATEST ENEMY Study of Democritus convinced Epicurus that the greatest enemy of mankind is superstition, fear of imaginary gods and of punishment hereafter, making of man a mental slave. Epicurus was not a lover of science for science’s sake. He regarded its pursuit as having no greater justification than that through reasoning and observation it would free mankind from the fetters of supernaturalism, thus leaving an open road to peace and happiness. Pleasure is the highest good, and the highest form of pleasure is derived from cultivation of our mental faculties. “Protected as it was by the emperors, the (Epicurean) school destroyed what remained of the crumbling edifice of polytheism, and at the same time attacked the new religion and the supernatural Christian.”[23] ON THE GODS