While Pierre Gassendi has been known to promote a lot of the views of Epicurus, he also heavily disagrees with certain ones. Gassendi agreed with Epicurus’ ideas of knowledge being derived from sense-experience and the theory of atomism – that everything is made up of atoms and that the interaction of atoms with each other results in events we can see in the world. Despite Gassendi’s promotion of atomism alongside Epicurus, there is one big part of the Epicurean theory he does not agree with. Unlike Epicurus, Gassendi believes that there are a limited number of atoms. Though there is a very, very big number of atoms in our universe, there is still a finite number of them.
This theory of Gassendi’s is interesting to me because he believes that time and space are infinite, yet he believes that the number of atoms is finite, even though these atoms must exist within space and time. But, Gassendi explains the significance of the separation of space and time from our universe and God, and the differences between existing things and does of existence. This second part of his atomism theory – in regards to space and time – directly opposes the views of Descartes.
In Gassendi’s final work, Syntagma Philosophicum, he goes into depth on his few objections to Epicurean ideas – most notably, his rejections of part of the Epicurean atomism theory. (Syntagma Philosophicum is translated in the final part of The Selected Works of Pierre Gassendi by Craig Bush).
Gassendi declares that these atoms were created by God, and if the number of atoms were infinite, then that would display a limitation of God’s power. If God is all powerful, then he should have the power to employ control on the number of atoms within our world. This argument is a direct contradiction of Epicurean atomic theory, which states that the number of atoms is infinite. It is important that we indicate the difference between the universe and space. Gassendi believes that space and time are categories of existence. Therefore, they exist outside of God and he does not have power over them. The universe is something that actually exists, so God does have power over it and the things that exist within it. Gassendi believes “that space extends through every position beyond mere place” and is “conceived as having been extended beyond any beginning of the universe and as extending without limit even if the universe were destroyed” (Bush, 391). He applies the same logic to time. He states that “in the same way space was described earlier as an incorporeal and immobile extensions in which it is possible to designate length, width, and depth so that every object might have its place, so time may be described as an incorporeal fluid extension in which it is possible to designate the past, present, and future so that every object may have its time” (Bush, 391). Essentially, Gassendi defines space and time as their own ‘things,’ other existing things can be categorized into space and time. The universe is not a category of existence – it is something that exists itself. Gassendi states that “a portion of place, or limitless space, has been carved out in which the universe is stationed, so a part of infinite time was selected in which the universe exists” (Bush, 395). He argues that since space and time are their own modes of existence, and have existed and will exist eternally, they can never be destroyed and nothing can end their existence. The universe is able to exist within space and time because they are the modes of existence allowing the universe to exist – the universe is simply an existing thing being preserved by the modes of existence. So, we can conclude that the universe cannot exist without space, but space can exist without the universe. Modes of existence can be independent, while an existing thing is dependent on a mode or modes of existence.
After explaining the concept behind space and time versus the universe, Gassendi breaks down his objections to Epicurean atomism.
Gassendi states that “the idea that atoms are eternal and uncreated is to be rejected and also the idea that they are infinite in number” (Bush, 399). He also states that “it may therefore be supposed that in the beginning God created as great a quantity of atoms as was necessary for the formation of this entire universe” (Bush, 400).
Gassendi proposes that atoms are an existing thing, like the universe. They are not eternal and not infinitely extended. They exist within the universe which exists within space and time. He argues that if atoms were eternal and infinite, as an existing thing, this would suggest that God does not have control over them and is in some sense powerless. God is all-powerful, so any suggestion that alludes to that being false is wrong.
The second part of Gassendi’s atomism theory – that all objects made of atoms (which are finite) exist within space and time (which are infinite and absolute) – directly oppose Descartes. Additionally, in all of his philosophy Descartes constantly rejected empiricism, which is a direct contrast to Gassendi’s theory of knowledge and empiricist views. Descartes believes in “absence of [the] void” and that matter is “infinitely divisible” (Fisher). Oppositely, Gassendi believes in atoms, the void, and that “matter is located in space” (Fisher). Gassendi defends his idea of the existence of the void through barometric experiments. He demonstrates the existence of a partial void. He also restates that “without disseminated void between the parts of bodies, one cannot explain division and separation of matter at the level of basic particles” (Fisher.) Although this reasoning is not very empirical, it draws attention to the existence of atoms within objects and how they cannot be infinitely divisible.
Gassendi explored many other aspects of science in his philosophical works, like astronomy and physiology, but his most striking theory is his atomist theory – the thought that there is a finite number of atoms in boundless space and endless time. Due to the fact that his theory directly opposes Descartes and rejects part of Epicureanism, I believe it is the most interesting and unique philosophical theory he has.
Glossary
Space: a boundless, infinite extent which is eternal and can exist outside of and without our universe. Objects can exist in space.
Time: a never-ending mode which gives objects a classification of past, present, and future.
Universe: a station that exists within infinite space (and time)
Works Cited
Primary source:
Bush, Craig B., editor and translator. The Selected Works of Pierre Gassendi. New York City, Johnson Reprint Corporation, 1972.
Secondary source:
Fisher, Saul, “Pierre Gassendi”, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring 2014 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = <https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/spr2014/entries/gassendi/>