Peter Jones

Ancient & Modern | 1 January 1970

From atoms to swerves to strings, Greeks got there first — after a fashion

issue 26 August 2006

It is astonishing how ancient thinkers chanced to anticipate certain developments in our understanding of the nature of the universe. From atoms to swerves to strings, Greeks got there first — after a fashion.

Ancient Greeks were the first people we know to propose that a single basic stuff lay at the heart of all matter.

GIF Image

Disagree with half of it, enjoy reading all of it

TRY A MONTH FREE
Our magazine articles are for subscribers only. Try a month of Britain’s best writing, absolutely free.

Comments

Join the debate, free for a month

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first month free.

Already a subscriber? Log in