The development of Atomic Theory

在生命原子理论的发展中，古代原子学家要求一个无名原子具有控制其他特定原子形成灵魂的非凡能力和力量。我诊断说，需求偏离了原子学家对原子的基本描述，构成了原子解释生命的主要困难。在这项研究中，我认为这些问题与原子独立性和不可分割性的困惑密切相关。原子不会被吸收到更大质量的物质中，因为它们可以通过它们之间的空隙被分开。如果我们严格地理解这一点，任何原子都不可能直接相互碰撞。如果他们可以直接接触，他们应该没有理由再次分开，因为他们之间没有空白。这是原子理论中的严重缺陷，菲罗波纳斯似乎意识到了这一点。他认为原子凝聚是间接发生的，他谈到了近似意义上的原子接触。一个引人注目的事实是，除了牛顿的情况外，后文艺复兴时期的原子理论忽略了菲洛波纳斯的想法，并倾向于否认远距离行动的可能性。我的结论是，原子主义缺乏关于原子独立和相互作用的一致理论，这一事实不可避免地导致了原子生命理论的困难。

In the development of the atomic theory of life, ancient atomists request a nameless atom the extraordinary capacity and power that controls other specified atoms to form the soul. I diagnose that demand deviates essential description that atomists give to the atoms and constitutes major difficulties in the atomic explanation of life. In this research I argue that these problems are closely related the puzzles of atomic independence and indivisibility. Atoms do not get absorbed into larger mass of matter because they can be separated by way of the empty space between them. If we take this in strict sense, any atom can not collide with one another directly. If they could touch directly, they should have no reason to separate again for there is no empty space between them. This is serious flaw in the atomic theory, which Philoponus seems to realize. He suggests atomic collison occurs indirectly, and he speaks about atomic touch in the meaning of approximation. It is a striking fact that the post-Renaissance atomic theories except Newton's case ignore the idea of Philoponus and tend to deny the possibility of action at a distance. I conclude that atomism lacks consistent theory of atomic independence and interaction and this fact inevitably causes the difficulties in the atomic theory of life.