Necessity and Chance in Marx's Doctoral Thesis

Abstract

According to Marx's interpretation, in the Democritean system, atoms move in a vacuum according to a blind necessity. Applying the word "accidental" to the Democritus system does not imply the unpredictable or causeless movement of atoms; rather, it indicates the absence of a prior plan or specific end in the creation of the worlds. It's as if the atoms are moving in one direction, the end of which is the creation of worlds. Epicurus, unlike Democritus, does not believe in the existence of an inviolable necessity in the movements of atoms and includes the declination of the atom from the straight line as a sign of accidental movement in his atomistic system. It is with declination as an accidental movement that basically the creation of worlds begins. So the basis of the creation of worlds is chance. Epicurus believes in the accidental movement of atoms, and in the process of creating the worlds, he does not assume any prior plan. Epicurean chance indicates both the negation of the end and the accidental movements of atoms in declination from a straight line.

Keywords

• marx
• democritus
• epicurus
• necessity
• chance